Questions for Personal Reflection or Group Discussion:
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Shalem, or Salem, is later known as Jerusalem. Moriah, a mountainous region in Jerusalem, is later called the “mount of the LORD” (Genesis 22:14) and the “temple mount” (2 Chronicles 3:1). With all of this in mind, compare Genesis 14:17-20 with Genesis 22:1-14. How do you see God providing for Abraham in these similar settings?
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Learn more about Melchizedek by reading Hebrews 7 aloud as a group. Discuss some of the ways the author compares Jesus to Melchizedek.
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As you review Hebrews 7, notice how the author assures their audience that Jesus is better than any other priest. What are some of the reasons the author provides? How is this good news for everyone?
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Take time to discuss other themes, questions, or key takeaways from what you learned together.
What is a priest?
A priest cares for the sacred space of the temple, represents the people to God, and announces God’s blessing over the people. The high priest is the only one who can enter the innermost part of the tabernacle, the holy of holies. This is where God’s presence dwells and the priest mediates that presence to the people.
The biblical authors use Eden imagery to describe the temple, making it clear that God’s ideal calling for humans is to be royal priests over creation—God’s cosmic temple. Even though humans forfeited their priestly vocation through rebellion in Genesis 3, Jesus fulfills God’s plan and restores humanity to their role as royal priests. The biblical story contains a priestly drama that leads to Jesus, and that’s what this video series is all about.
A gateway between Heaven and Earth
Priests embody God’s wisdom and fully experience God’s presence in the temple. They act as gateways between Heaven and Earth. And when humans live into their vocation as royal priests, all of creation becomes a sacred space where Heaven and Earth intersect.
If humans are God’s royal priests, where is our temple?
Priests care for the sacred space of the temple. And humans are the royal priests who are to care for the sacred space of God’s creation. We are called to work and worship so that our communities can flourish. We represent God’s presence so his Heaven-on-Earth blessings flow into the world.
In this series, we’ll explore God’s plan for humans to serve as royal priests over creation, and we’ll learn how Jesus fulfilled that plan after humans forfeited their vocation.
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