Was Melchizedek Jesus?

Answer: Donna, thank you for the question.

The idea that Jesus said or implied He was Melchizedek in John 8 is untrue. While there is certainly some debate within Christianity that Jesus was Melchizedek, Christ never said it. I covered most of these details in “Who Was Melchizedek?”

In this study, I’m going to discuss a conversation Jesus had with the Jews. Moreover, I will also take a look at the word “Melchizedek,” as that is also cited to make the case that Melchizedek was Jesus.

Is Jesus Melchizedek?

When we study Scripture, it is imperative that we understand the subject. Without the subject, we do not have context. Without context, we are left confused and susceptible to incorrect beliefs.

To understand the subject of John 8:56-58, we must begin by reading John 8:31. That is where the Jews of the synagogue told Jesus, “We be Abraham’s seed.” In John 8:37, Jesus acknowledged their claim by saying, “I know that ye are Abraham’s seed.”

So this tells us, the conversation concerned the genealogy of the Jews, being Judeans. That is why Abraham was interjected into the conversation.

Jesus then told the Jews, “I proceeded forth and came from God… If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death,” (John 8:42, 51).

This really got them riled up!

The Jews responded, “Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead,” (John 8:52).

They continue.

Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?

John 8:53

All right, we have the subject and context.

Now we can begin by reading the verses you are asking about.

Abraham Rejoiced To See My Day

Let’s see what Jesus said.

John 8:56
Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.

However, how could Abraham have known about Jesus, much less have “saw” His day?

How Did Abraham Know?

It was known since the time of Adam and Eve there would be a Savior. In Genesis 3:15, God told the Serpent, Eve’s seed would “bruise thy head.” In verse 20, Adam even called Eve “the mother of all living,” even though she had not yet had a child.

Essentially, two prophecies were spoken which ultimately were fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

Let’s see what Galatians tells us.

Galatians 3:16
Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

For the record, this statement correlates to Genesis 21:12. Abraham’s “seed” would ultimately be fulfilled through Jesus Christ, (Romans 4:13).

Did Abraham know about this?

Absolutely.

God told us, His will was revealed to Abraham.

“Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do.”

Genesis 18:17, also: Galatians 3:7-9

Abraham certainly knew, that through his seed would come Messiah. It is through Abraham’s “seed” (singular) being Messiah that all nations are blessed, (Hebrews 11:18, Galatians 3:27-29).

How Did Abraham See?

Turn your Bible with me to,

Hebrews 11:1, 8, 13
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

Therefore, Scripture confirms Abraham ‘rejoiced to see Jesus day: and he saw it, and was glad’ through “faith,” by seeing it “afar off” through the promises God had made. Namely, that Messiah would be the fulfillment of Abraham’s “seed.”

Since Abraham “died in faith,” and did not ‘receive the promises,’ he could not have literally seen Jesus day, otherwise, Hebrews 11 would contradict John 8. Moreover, “Jesus’ day” did not come until His birth.

There is another possibility, a Heavenly aspect.

Scripture explains, Abraham hugged Lazarus in Heaven, (Luke 16:23). Therefore, it’s reasonable to believe, Abraham “rejoiced” and “saw” Jesus leave Heaven to fulfill prophecy, becoming the promised “seed” whom “all nations are blessed.”

On the night of Christ’s birth there were “shepherds abiding in the field.” “Suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,” (Luke 2:8, 13).

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Luke 2:14

Abraham could certainly have been one of the many “heavenly host” who were present.

Regardless, the answer in Hebrews is certainly sufficient and Biblically accurate.

Before Abraham Was, I Am

All right, let’s summarize, and then pick back up in John.

So we have the Jews who were extremely upset with Jesus when He said, “I proceeded forth and came from God.” They responded, “Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead?” Jesus replied saying, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day.”

John 8:57-58
57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?

58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

The word “was” means, “come into being.” Jesus simply told the Jews, He existed before Abraham was born, Jesus existed before Abraham ‘came into being’.

This is what we have been told all along.

It is Jesus,

Colossians 1:15
Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature.

Jesus speaking.

John 17:5
And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

Jesus is not only “The firstborn of every creature,” He existed before “The world was.” This is why Jesus said, “…Before Abraham was, I am.” Jesus existed before Abraham was even born, before everyone, and everything.

As you can see, Melchizedek is never mentioned or even implied.

How then can some insert Melchizedek there in John 8:58, and claim he was Jesus there with Abraham?

That completely compromises Scripture and distorts the meaning of John 8:58. It’s false teaching, and it’s done in order to support other such claims. The fact is, it’s simply not Biblical as we just learned.

Now let’s take a look at the word Melchizedek itself.

What Does Melchizedek Mean?

In Scripture, Melchizedek’s name is spelled two ways.

• Melchizedek (Old Testament)
• Melchisedec (New Testament)

Since the word originates in the Hebrew language, let’s look up the meaning of the word there.

‘From H4428 and H6664; king of right; Malki-Tsedek, an early king in Palestine: – Melchizedek.

“Melchizedek” means, “king of right.”

Let’s go a bit further.

Notice, Melchizedek is made up of two Hebrew words identified as H4428 and H6664 in your Strong’s Concordance. Go ahead and open it up.

The first portion of his name is “melek” which means,

A king: – king, royal.

All right, now let’s look up the second portion of his name which is “tsedeq” meaning,

The right (natural, moral or legal); also (abstractly) equity or (figuratively) prosperity: – X even, (X that which is altogether) just (-ice), ([un-]) right (-eous) (cause, -ly, –ness).

So Melchizedek means, “king of right,” “king of justice,” or “king of righteousness.”

This is where portions of Christianity tie Melchizedek to Jesus, over the meaning of a name. This simply creates more confusion through new doctrine, while ignoring other Biblical facts. Those I outlined in my study, “Who Was Melchizedek?”

The Name Of Jesus

Nevertheless, if we are willing to make such claims over the meaning of a name, and disregard the rest of Scripture, what are we to say about the name of Joshua?

• “Joshua” means, “Jehovah-saved.”
• “Joshua” is the exact Hebrew name of “Jesus.”

Are we to conclude then, that Joshua was actually Jesus who roamed the wilderness with Moses?

That would be absurd, right?

Therefore, we can firmly and confidently conclude, Melchizedek was an example of Jesus Christ who would later come. Always remember, all of Scripture must align, if it does not. Then we have made an error.