Prepare for Christmas: The Nineteenth Day of Advent

And Who Is Melchizedek?

Thursday, December 20, 2018

When Christ came as high priest . . . he entered the Most Holy Place once and for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. . . . For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance – now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. Hebrews 9:11, 12b, 15

When my youngest daughter Patience was in college, she travelled with a group one summer, singing for our troops in many places in the world. On one of those trips she was in Korea. After a performance, she went to the ladies’ room to change, rushing to be on time for the helicopter that would take the group to their next performance – I think it was in Japan. Once on the copter, she realized she had left three rings in the dressing room. One of them was a very special gift from her great aunt. A young pilot who was accompanying them saw her distress and promised to look for her rings when he was back in Korea. Knowing that finding them was highly unlikely, Patience accepted the fact that her rings were gone forever.

Later when the group was in the Philippines, she saw the officer again at a performance. He had found her rings. He had searched the local pawn shops in Seoul and had found all three together. He had paid the price for the rings and had brought them to her. Imagine her surprise, joy, and gratitude!

That’s what Jesus has done for us. He saw God’s grief that we were lost – separated from him. So he came to earth to find us. He knew when he came that blood was the only “currency” that could buy us back. So as our perfect lamb and high priest, he offered his own blood, and with it paid the price for us. No more bloodshed for our redemption. His was enough!

Prayer: Father, thank you for buying us back, once and for all, from the clutches of sin and the fear of death! Amen.

And Who is Melchizedek?

An Advent Devotional Guide
prepared for Rehobeth United Methodist Church, Winter 2012,
by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator

messiahcob.com