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"You are a Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek."

Text: Hebrews 5:6

THE LESS WELL KNOWN MINISTRY OF JESUS

Jesus is well known as Teacher, Healer, and Saviour. The Gospels portrayed Him fulfilling those ministries most admirably. What is less well known is His ministry as High Priest.

“As He also says in another place:
‘You are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek.'”
Hebrews 5:6

1. As He also says in another place

a) It was God (“He”) who spoke through the psalmist David (Psalm 110:4).

b) This was a Messianic Psalm that prophesied of Christ as High Priest.

c) Christ would be inducted as “a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek”.

2. When did this take place?

If the ministry of Jesus as High Priest is important, then we must also ask when He actually became High Priest.

a) Prophetic roots

This is traced to Psalm 110:4. This Biblical support confirms the ministry of Jesus as High Priest.

b) The ordination of Jesus may be traced to His “baptism” (Cf. Matthew 3:11-17)

i) The Baptism of Jesus has greater significance than realized.

ii) He did not receive the baptism of repentance that John gave because He had no sins to repent of.

iii) The significance of Christ’s baptism must go much further to take in the concept of Jesus being “ordained” for His public ministry.

iv) God’s declaration must be especially noted.

“This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Matthew 3:17

v) We must tie in this declaration of Sonship with Hebrews 5:5.

vi) Thus Jesus was inducted into His ministry as priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek on the day of His baptism.