David writes in Psalm 110 about the Messiah: “1 The Lord says to my Lord: Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool. … 4 You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.”

Melchizedek means “My king of righteousness of peace”. He is a picture of the reconciling ministry of Jesus who is at the right hand of God (Mark 16:19 / Luke 22:69). 

Genesis 14:18-20 describes how the king priest Melchizedek put blood-stricken Abraham back under the blessing of God through bread and wine. He directs the view from the normaly peaceful Abraham to God, who is actually the one who is acting, and Abraham gives ten percent to Melchizedek as an expression of thanks.

Jesus is from the royal lineage of David and represents a priestly, reconciling ministry. Through bread and wine, he expresses that we are reconciled to God through his incarnation and death on the cross. Jesus gives bread and wine as signs of renewal. We place ourselves under the blessing of God by accepting it as Abraham did. God is the doer, and we express our thankfulness to Him.