Christ, who anchors us to the Father and secures the promises of God by
breaking down the obstacle of sin.
Notice what Hebrews 6:20 tells us about the Lord Jesus who secured these
promises. The verse tells us that he went before us as a forerunner, “having
become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” There are two
details I want to point out from this phrase.
First, this phrase tells us that Jesus became a high priest forever after the
order of Melchizedek. The Old Testament priests only served for a short
time. Death would come to all of them. Death is the fruit of sin in this
world. Every priest in Aaron’s order was under this curse. They ministered
on behalf of God’s people, but death, as the fruit of sin, still came to every
one of them. Not one of them was able to overcome death.
The priesthood of Jesus, after the order of Melchizedek, however, was not
subject to death. The Lord Jesus did what no priest of Aaron’s order could
do –He gained victory over sin and death. His priesthood will never end.
There is nothing that can stop His ministry on our behalf. Throughout all
eternity, He will be our great high priest. He will be our anchor, securing
our connection to the Father. Nothing will ever separate us from God, for
Jesus’ intercessory priesthood is eternal. His life pleads for us before the
Father. His work continues to keep us. His ministry for us as a priest of the
order of Melchizedek is forever. Throughout all eternity, He will be our
anchor, guarantee and strong encouragement.
Second, the context of Hebrews 6:20 and its reference to Melchizedek’s
order is the promise of God to Abraham. That promise was to bless him and
make him into a mighty nation. As a chosen nation of God, they would be a
blessing to the entire world. Salvation would spread from them to the ends
of the earth. The Messiah would come through them. Out of Israel would
come a new priest from an ancient order –the order of Melchizedek. When
Aaron’s priesthood came to an end, another priestly order would take its
place. This priesthood would not serve Israel only but the Gentiles as well.
The High Priest of Melchizedek’s order would, according to Hebrews 6:19-
20, enter the inner place behind the curtain and secure our position with the
Father. He would tear down the curtain that separated the Father from His