The First Communion in the Bible

Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High. Genesis 14:18

Now why would anyone draw attention to this verse? First of all it describes a time hundreds of years before there was a priesthood that we usually associate with Israel, the Aaronic priesthood.

How much earlier? To satisfy different chronologists let me block it out in round numbers. Abraham lived about 2,000 B.C. Moses and his brother Aaron lived about 1,500 B.C. So Melchizedek is a very mysterious person indeed.

And so is this communion of bread and wine, if indeed that is what it was, for Melchizedek was a priest. The book of Hebrews gives us a thorough exposition on the person and nature of this man. Some like to say that he was the pre-incarnate Christ. But scripture uses the words "in the similitude" (Hebrews 7:15) when comparing Melchizedek and Jesus.

So he was not Christ, but we can learn much from him and this incident. A priest, who offered a ceremony, without shedding of blood, and this, 2,000 years before Jesus presided over the Last Supper.

When we study Abraham we see that this father of all who believe (Romans 4:16), is our guide in so many ways. It is popular now days for many Christians to imitate Jews in observances and language, as if they think they are getting closer to their roots. Let me say that our Christian roots are in Abraham, not Israel.

Israel is a chosen nation with a wonderful future after God has called out his church. But Christians are not the "latest model" of Judaism. Our roots go back much farther. Not the blood of animals, though our churches all seem to have "altars". The ten commandments were given to a rebellious nation that had lost its way and needed the revelation of God's righteousness.

No one is justified by the keeping of the law, nor has anyone ever kept it. But millions have followed Abraham's example of righteousness through faith.

Melchizedek's bread and wine are our way, not the blood of a lamb. Jesus is our Lamb.