Jesus: The Unmatched High Priest | Unmatched Part 7
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Unmatched: The Royal Priesthood and Our Original Calling
As we continue our series, Unmatched, we dive into the profound truths found in Hebrews Chapter 7. While this chapter discusses the mysterious figure of Melchizedek, its ultimate focus is Jesus. To understand the significance of Jesus’ priesthood, we have to look back at the very beginning of the human story.
From the beginning, God crowned humanity with a specific calling. Adam and Eve were the original royal priests. They were installed with a vocation of dominion, not over each other, but over the earth. As kings and queens in their own right, they were meant to reflect God’s authority over the visible and invisible realms. However, the choice for autonomy and the entrance of sin corrupted this behavior and stripped humanity of its vocation.
The Loss of Kingship: Instead of ruling the earth, sin led humans to try and rule over one another, leading to a history of conflict and oppression.
The Struggle of Labor: The original ease of dominion was replaced by a "wrestle" with the earth to produce fruit.
The Broken Vocation: We were stripped of our high priesthood and our direct, unhindered access to God’s presence.
But the story doesn't end with the fall. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, God did something very new by doing something very old. He restored the royal priesthood to its rightful place.
The Order of Melchizedek: A New Kind of Priest
In the Old Testament, the priesthood was exclusive. To be a high priest, you had to belong to the Levitical line, the descendants of Aaron. Genealogy was everything. If you weren't from that specific seed, you were never even considered for the role. This created a barrier between the average person and the "Holy of Holies."
God’s plan, however, was always to bring all of humanity back to His original calling. In Hebrews 7, we see that Jesus is a priest not through the Levitical line, but in the order of Melchizedek. By establishing this new priesthood through the blood of Jesus, God opened the door for everyone to step back into their identity as priests.
As 1 Peter 2:9 declares: "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."
This means that your identity is not defined by your past or your lineage, but by your relationship with Christ. When you say "yes" to Jesus, He restores your royalty and your priesthood.
High Priests on Mondays
It is easy to view "priesthood" as a title reserved for pastors or religious leaders, but the Gospel tells a different story. We often hold pastors to a higher standard while neglecting our own calling, but the truth is that you are a high priest too.
Identity is not just for Sundays; it’s for every moment of your life. You are called to be a high priest:
To your family and children.
To your friends and coworkers.
To your community.
Even to the barista at your local coffee shop.
Don't look at "high priest" as a title to be earned. Look at it as your restored identity. You carry the presence of God into every environment you enter.
You Are the Tabernacle: The Presence Within
In the Old Testament, the Tabernacle was a physical location that held the manifest presence of God. It was so holy that it had to be handled with extreme care; even touching it inappropriately could result in death. It was meant to be carried, not shuttled around on a cart.
The beauty of the New Covenant is that God shifted the location of His presence. Through the Holy Spirit, you have become the location. Instead of having to go into a physical Holy of Holies, the Holy of Holies now dwells within you. This means the presence of God goes wherever you go.
Because that same Spirit that was in the Tabernacle now dwells in you, you have authority over the enemy. You can tell the devil: "You can't touch me. You can't touch my family. You can't touch my legacy." You are a living tabernacle, a vessel of the living God.
Actionable Insights for the Week
To live out your calling as a royal priest, consider these steps:
Find Your Community: If you feel isolated, join a small group or homestead. Transformation happens in the context of relationship.
Own Your Identity: Remind yourself daily that you are a royal priest. Let this truth dictate how you speak to your spouse, how you work at your job, and how you treat others.
Carry the Presence: Recognize that you are a carrier of God's Spirit. When you walk into a room, the atmosphere should change because of the "location" of God's presence within you.
Stay at the Altar: As Pastor Cody shared, it is better to be found at the altar, broken and seeking God, than to be found alone in your own mess. Stay in a posture of surrender.
Conclusion
The message of Hebrews 7 point to one central truth: Jesus is unmatched in His ability to restore what was lost. He has taken us from being a people who had not received mercy to being the very people of God. He has moved His dwelling place from a tent in the desert to the hearts of His people.
You are no longer defined by the curse of the fall or the limitations of your lineage. You are a chosen person, a royal priest, and a holy nation. This week, walk in the fullness of that authority. Be the priest your family needs, the leader your community requires, and the witness the world is searching for. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God.
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