How Can We Deal with Life’s Mysteries? 

“For it is witnessed of him, ‘You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.’” – Hebrews 7:17

Melchizedek shows up out of nowhere, blesses Abraham, and disappears just as quickly, but Hebrews refuses to let us ignore him. Who is this prophet-priest-king without beginning or end, without family or origin? His name means righteousness; he rules over peace, and he brings bread and wine long before communion. Melchizedek matters because he points us straight to Jesus.

Hebrews 7:1-3, a New Testament commentary on Genesis 14, says:
“For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham… He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness… then king of Salem, that is, king of peace… resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.”

There’s been a lot of speculation about Melchizedek—even a short-lived cult that claimed he was greater than Jesus. Some say he was an angel or a divine being; others view him simply as a unique human figure with no recorded ancestry, standing apart from the Levitical priesthood and outside the genealogies of Genesis. Either way, he prepares the stage for Jesus.

Jesus is called our “high priest” or “great high priest” in Hebrews 3:1, 4:14, and 9:11—yet He wasn’t a descendant of Aaron. This is where Melchizedek becomes crucial. His priesthood, like Jesus’, isn’t based on lineage—it’s based on divine appointment. This opens the door for understanding Melchizedek in two ways: as a typology or a Christophany.

Typology is visual prophecy—God using people and events to point forward to something greater. Genesis is full of them: Adam, the first man, points to Jesus, the greater Adam. Abel, the first martyr, foreshadows Jesus, the innocent one slain by jealous brothers. Noah preaches righteousness and prepares salvation through judgment, just like Jesus. Abraham leaves his father’s house to be a blessing to the nations—Jesus leaves Heaven to become the ultimate fulfillment of that promise.

Melchizedek, too, may be a typology—pointing forward to Jesus as our eternal King of righteousness and peace. But some believe he’s more than a type—that he’s a Christophany, a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus. Just like in Genesis 18, where Abraham shares a meal with “the Lord,” or Genesis 32, where Jacob wrestles all night with God, Melchizedek may be one of those divine moments where Jesus showed up early, previewing what was to come.

So, is Melchizedek a typology or a Christophany? We don’t fully know. But the point isn’t to solve the mystery—the point is to see Jesus in the midst of it. Scripture is filled with mysteries by design, because we walk by faith, not by sight. And when it’s all said and done, we’ll see clearly.

In a world that demands black-and-white answers, Melchizedek reminds us that some truths are wrapped in mystery. Is he a type of Jesus or Jesus Himself? We may not fully know until we meet Him face to face. But here’s what we do know—every thread in Scripture leads to Jesus. Whether in shadow or in substance, God is always revealing His Son. So, when something mysterious shows up in your life, don’t dismiss it.

Are you paying attention to God’s leading?

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