DYNAMIS!
A publication of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral
Wichita, KS

Thursday, December 28, 2006                           The Twenty-Thousand Martyrs of Nicomedia

5th Vigil Nativity of Christ: Baruch 3:35-4:4                                             Epistle: Hebrews 7:1-6

Gospel: St. Mark 11:27-33

 

Resembling: Hebrews 7:1-6, especially vss. 1, 3: “Melchizedek, king of Salem....is without father or mother or genealogy, and has neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest for ever.”  In this portion of the Epistle to Hebrews, St. Paul presents a carefully crafted interpretation of two passages from the Old Testament (Gen. 14:17-20 LXX and Ps. 109:4 LXX).  These passages focus on the shadowy personage of Melchizedek, king of Salem, and display the wonder of the greatness of our Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God.  St. Paul focuses attention on seven specifics that show Melchizedek resembling Christ our God, inviting us to consider how the Lord Jesus fulfills the Prophecy of David: “From the womb before the morning star have I begotten Thee.  The Lord hath sworn and will not repent: Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek” (Ps. 109:4 LXX).

As Melchizedek was wondrous (Heb. 7:1), so the Lord Jesus is greater, being the ultimate Priest of God, for He was both the One offering and the Sacrifice offered for the sins of the world.  Thus, St. Paul calls the Lord “a High Priest...Who is holy, innocent, undefiled, separate from sinners and has become higher than the heavens...Who offered up Himself” (Heb. 7:26,27).

The Lord Jesus, like Melchizedek, is worthy to receive tithes from the Faithful (Heb. 7:2).  But as St. Paul notes, tithes in this world are presented to mortals, while Christ our High Priest exists eternally, presenting the offerings of our hearts “upon His holy, heavenly, and ideal Altar.”

Melchizedek is called “king of righteousness” resembling “the Lord our righteousness” (Jer. 33:16) through Whom grace reigns to eternal life (Rom. 5:21).  For God said to the Only-Begotten: “Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Thy Kingdom.  Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness” (Heb. 1:8,9).  Using the measure of Melchizedek - king of Salem, Christ is in fact king of peace (Heb. 7:2), but He is such, not in a limited, finite temporal or physical manner, like Melchizedek, but as the One Who comes to all earthborn mortals bringing peace and good will as angels have declared  (Lk. 2:14).

St. Paul notes that Melchizedek emerges on the stage of human history “without genealogy” and, therefore, “without father or mother” (Heb. 7:3).  Similarly, the Lord, as the Church proclaims, is the Divine High Priest born “in the flesh...without father, Who before eternity was begotten of the Father without mother.”

This resemblance in birth between Melchizedek and the Lord Jesus falters in part because the ancient king of Salem appeared without a recorded genealogy and without mention of his birth.  Therefore, he seems to be one who has no “beginning of days” (vs. 3); but, in fact, only the Lord Jesus may be said to have no beginning; for, as God, He is outside of time and incidentally also at the beginning of time.  Of course, in time, the Lord was born of the Virgin, and so He has a temporal beginning; but His birth divides mankind’s history into two periods, BC and AD.

Similarly, it may be said of the Lord Jesus that, like Melchizedek, He has no “end of life” (Heb. 7:3); yet here the difference between the two is immeasurable.  Presumably, Melchizedek died and was buried, as happens to all men, but our Lord Jesus died and was buried, and He trampled down death by His death and rose from the dead.  Now He reigns in the heavenly places (Eph. 1:20) - a deed which Melchizedek never did nor could accomplish.

Yes, Melchizedek was great (Heb. 7:4), yet He only resembled the Lord Jesus.

Behold, the King hath appeared; the Hope of Israel hath come.  Rejoice, O nations; for the Light appeareth.  The divine Light hath been manifest in the flesh.  Receive us, O Holy One.

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