Genesis 14:18: And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
The name Melchizedek consists of two Hebrew words; the first being “melchi,” and the second being “zedek.” “Melchi” comes from “malach” or “melekh,” which means to rule or reign as king, whilst “zedek” means righteousness, and comes from “zadak,” meaning, to make right, or to justify. As “melchi” refers to the kingship, so “zedek” refers to the priesthood; thus the name of Melchizedek incorporates Jesus’ dual offices of King and Priest.
Under the Law, no person could be both king and priest; but Melchizedek as the Priest-King gave His blessing to Abraham long before the Law was given to Moses. The natural kingship and priesthood were to come forth from Abraham’s loins, and when it did so, the kingship (the Melchi) came through the house of David, and the priesthood (the Zedek) through the house of Aaron. Whereas the Law commanded that the kingship and priesthood be kept separate, yet it was prophesied that one day the two would be joined together in Jesus Christ.
Jesus was born of the house of David to which the kingship belonged; but for Him to take back the priesthood, He would have to receive the blessing of it from the house of Aaron. This happened at the River Jordan when Jesus came to be baptized by John, who was a descendant of Aaron and therefore a true priest of Israel. It was at the River Jordan that Jesus received back the blessing He gave to Abraham, and the priesthood was transferred away from the house of Aaron to the royal house of David. In that moment, the Melchi (the kingship) and the Zedek (the priesthood) were reunited.
Matthew 3:13-15 records: Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. Jesus was baptized of John in order to fulfil all righteousness. The Hebrew word for righteousness is “zedek;” so it had to be done to fulfil the zedek, to bring the Kingship and the Priesthood back together, to reunite the Melchi and the Zedek in the person of Jesus Christ. As Melchizedek, Jesus is the King who also atones for sin, He is the righteous Servant who justifies the many (Isaiah 53:11). Our Judge and King is also our defence attorney, so that there is now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1).