Sermon for July 28

The reading

Hebrews 4:14--5:10

4:14 Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. 

5:1 Every high priest chosen from among mortals is put in charge of things pertaining to God on their behalf, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He is able to deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is subject to weakness; 3 and because of this he must offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. 4 And one does not presume to take this honor, but takes it only when called by God, just as Aaron was. 5 So also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming a high priest, but was appointed by the one who said to him, "You are my Son, today I have begotten you"; 6 as he says also in another place, "You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek." 7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8 Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; 9 and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, 10 having been designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.
The message

Melchizedek is part of a very odd encounter in the early days of God's communication and saving work in the world. We meet him in and only in Genesis 14

After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley).

¹⁸ Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, ¹⁹ and he blessed Abram, saying,

“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
    Creator of heaven and earth.
²⁰ And praise be to God Most High,
    who delivered your enemies into your hand.”

Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

²¹ The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself.”

²² But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “With raised hand I have sworn an oath to the Lord, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, ²³ that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the strap of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’ ²⁴ I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me

The writer of Hebrews picks up on this to answer a very specific question plaguing, nagging at and dulling the church, how can Jesus be the High Priest, how can he offer a sacrifice of atonement once and for all.  The High Priest was selected in different ways but was always a party insider, with the right training, education and family lineage. Jesus had none of that.  The main responsibility, just for the high priest was to offer a sacrifice annually in the holiest of holies, the inner most part of the temple. This sacrifice was for the forgiveness of their own sins as well as the sins of the community.  (today, we know our sins are forgiven because Christ died and rose again, we hear it in scripture, experience it in communion.  then, people knew because of this sacrifice and God's promise)

The writer of Hebrews, their answer is simple, Jesus is like Melchizedek.  Melchizedek was also an outsider, not part of any of the traditional claims to authority the people in charge of Jerusalem had, He is the one who blesses Abram, the great partaricah of Israel, he is the one who accepts Abrams tithe, the 10 percent that goes to God, Melchizedek is part of God's plan, unexpected, untraditional but of great importance. 

In addition to understanding that Christ is our great High Priest, the one who's sacrifice brings the forgiveness of sins, this text today invites the church to seek diverse, different and creative leaders, lifting up the gifts and skills of all people, God has never been about business as usual.