The Royal Priesthood

Did you know that Israel’s tabernacle tent was a symbolic garden of Eden, where Adam and Eve served as proto-priests? God’s plan was for humanity to serve as royal priests over creation—a destiny fulfilled through Jesus, bringing this priestly drama to its ultimate resolution.

Melchizedek is one of the most intriguing characters in the Bible, first introduced in the story of Abraham. He’s a mysterious priest king who rules a city that will later be called Jerusalem, and he gives God’s blessing to Abraham. In this video, we’ll explore how Melchizedek fits into the larger biblical theme of the coming royal priest.

After Moses leads Israel out of slavery and to Mount Sinai, God invites them to become “a kingdom of priests.” But things do not go as planned for the Israelites, showing the need for an ultimate royal priest who would one day intercede for his people and sacrifice himself for their failures.

By the time Israel becomes a nation, their priesthood is already totally corrupt. So the people ask for a king to lead them, and God anoints David. The story of David ultimately points to the arrival of Jesus, the true priestly king who will bring the blessings of Eden to all creation and restore humans to their divine calling.

After humanity’s failure as royal priests in Eden, God promises a descendant who will restore what was lost. While many leaders arose throughout Israel’s history, all fell short. However, their stories point forward to the ultimate royal priest, Jesus. Through him, we can once again take up our calling as God’s royal priests.

After Jesus’ disciples receive the Holy Spirit, they become God’s temple and the physical embodiment of Jesus on Earth. The New Testament writers show us that followers of Jesus carry that responsibility forward into eternity, reclaiming humanity’s calling to represent God and rule the world on his behalf.