Melchizedek Sunday

This Sunday, pewsitters get to hear a name rarely spoken, Melchizedek. Who was he and why was he considered important enough to be mentioned in the same breath as Jesus in Hebrews 5:5-10?

"So also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming a high priest, but was appointed by the one who said to him,

‘You are my Son,
   today I have begotten you’;
as he says also in another place,
‘You are a priest for ever,
   according to the order of Melchizedek.’

In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, having been designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek."

Melchizedek first appears in the Bible back in Genesis as priest of God Most High when he blessed Abraham and was presented with the first tithe,

"Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying,
'Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
    Creator of heaven and earth.
And praise be to God Most High,
    who delivered your enemies into your hand.'
Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything." Genesis 14:18-20 (NIV)

Later on, the sons of Aaron (who sinned and were struck down), and then the sons of Eli (who also got struck down) served a priestly function. Not exactly what you want of an eternal priesthood. 

Jesus was of David's lineage so how could the writer of Hebrews make the connection between Melchizedek, Jesus, and an eternal priesthood? Probably from his intimate knowledge of the Psalms and Psalm 110 in particular, 

Psalm 110 of David
1 The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand,
until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
2 The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion:
rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.
3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power,
in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning:
thou hast the dew of thy youth.
4 The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent,
Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
5 The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath.
6 He shall judge among the heathen,
he shall fill the places with the dead bodies;
he shall wound the heads over many countries.
7 He shall drink of the brook in the way:
therefore shall he lift up the head.

So the eternal priesthood referenced by David may be the connection between Jesus and the order of Melchizedek. That should be something that an ancient reader of the letter to the Hebrews would understand.

I really think the lectionary editors should have included Psalm 110 and Genesis 14 as options for this Sunday's readings. Otherwise, some Sunday preachers might gloss over Hebrews 5 and their pewsitters would not understand the eternal priesthood of Jesus.

Harvey E. Finleyin Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology puts it this way,

"Melchizedek of Salem came out to pronounce a blessing on Abraham who was on his way back to Hebron after rescuing Lot from Kedorlaomer, king of the East ( Gen 14:18-24 ). Melchizedek provided food and wine for a sacral meal. As they ate, Melchizedek pronounced a blessing on Abraham in the name of God Most High.
The willingness with which Abraham acceded to Melchizedek as a priest of God Most High is a most interesting aspect of this narrative. This name apparently connoted the same meaningful theology to Abraham as the name "God Almighty" ( Exod 6:3 ). Abraham also equated God with 'Creator of heaven and earth' ( Gen 14:22 ; cf. v. 19 ) in his ascription-confessional to the king of Sodom.
A Priest Forever. Psalm 110:4 reads: 'The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.' This is a royal psalm. Two significant points are made about the One who is to sit at God's right hand. First, the order of Melchizedek is declared to be an eternal order. Second, this announcement is sealed with God's oath. Neither of these affirmations applied to the Aaronic order of priesthood.
Jesus Christ as the Great High Priest after the Order of Melchizedek. The Book of Hebrews presents Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior, as a priest after the order of Melchizedek (4:14-7:28, esp. 5:5-11 ; 6:13-7:28). The author draws directly from Psalm 110:4 several crucial points to explain that the high priesthood of Christ has superseded and is superior to the priesthood of Aaron.
First, the priesthood of Melchizedek is an 'order forever' ( 5:10 ). In contrast, the priesthood of Aaron had a history of disruptions and termination.
Second, the references to being 'without father or mother' ( 7:3 ) and to being an 'order forever' ( Hebrews 7:3 Hebrews 7:16 Hebrews 7:17 Hebrews 7:24 ) are to be understood as referring to the kind of priestly order rather than to the longevity of a particular priest of Abraham's time. Jesus even carries the longevity of his priesthood back to the Godhead ( Hebrews 7:15 Hebrews 7:26 ; cf. 1 Peter 1:20 ).
Third, the divine guarantee for the priesthood of Melchizedek rests on God's oath.
For the writer of Hebrews to look at these Old Testament passages about Melchizedek along christological lines is in keeping with the practice of other New Testament writers. Early Christians were convinced that it was they upon whom the end of the ages had come and hence felt that the Old Testament was written in some divinely intended way to point to them."

I don't think it will happen, but from now on let's just call today Melchizedek Sunday.