Jesus, Our Great High Priest
Exodus 28:36-38: "You shall make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it, like the engraving of a signet, 'Holy to the Lord.' And you shall fasten it on the turban by a cord of blue. It shall be on the front of the turban. It shall be on Aaron's forehead, and Aaron shall bear any guilt from the holy things that the people of Israel consecrate as their holy gifts. It shall regularly be on his forehead, that they may be accepted before the Lord."
Yesterday, we read about how God has gifted each of us for his service. Up to now in the book of Exodus, the focus has primarily been on the person of Moses. In chapters 28 and 29, that focus shifts from Moses to Aaron. While Moses was the leader of the nation of Israel, Aaron and his sons were called to serve the Lord and his people as priests in the tabernacle. As priests, they would represent the people before God; they would make sacrifices on their own behalf and on behalf of the people. This calling was a serious one indeed. As we have read, the Lord was holy; his tabernacle was to be holy; and the people serving him in the tabernacle must be holy as well.
In chapter 28, the Lord provided the instructions for the garments of Aaron. If you read carefully, you will notice that his garments match the articles within the most holy place - the linen, the yarn colors, the stones, and the gold. These were special garments to be worn only in the service of the Lord in his tabernacle. When a priest was not working in the tabernacle, he wore clothing just like any other man. While in the tabernacle, he wore these holy garments because he was serving a holy God.
As the priest, Aaron wore two garments representing the twelve tribes of Israel. There were the shoulder pieces with stones bearing the names of each tribe and the breastpiece of judgement that Aaron wore over his heart. On this breastpiece there were twelve stones with the tribes engraved upon them. When Aaron went in before the Lord, he brought the remembrance of his people; he represented them to the Lord. This representation carried a heavy price. As we read in verses 36 through 38, Aaron was to bear the guilt of his people. All of his work, all of his worship, had to be done according to the laws of God. No variance was allowed. Aaron was to wash, to be consecrated, to make an offering on behalf of his sins and the sins of his people, and to place that blood upon the mercy seat as an atonement for the sins of Israel. The work of Aaron was a high and holy calling.
Aaron, the high priest who had to make a sacrifice for his sins and the sins of his people, pointed to something much greater than himself. He pointed to the great high priest who would be without sin. The author of Hebrews writes, "But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption" (Hebrews 9:11-12). Jesus came as the great high priest and offered himself as the perfect, unblemished sacrificial lamb on behalf of our sins. He was both the priest and the sacrifice.
Through Jesus, we can now come boldly before the Father, trusting that the blood of Jesus has washed us clean of our sin. Through Jesus, we are declared holy and can have fellowship with the Father. Not only does God dwell with us but within us. What a glorious gift we have been given!
Reflection:
What does it mean to you to know that Jesus took the full responsibility for your sins? In knowing that truth, are you choosing to live as one forgiven, as one truly set free from the shame and guilt of your sin?
Yesterday, we read about how God has gifted each of us for his service. Up to now in the book of Exodus, the focus has primarily been on the person of Moses. In chapters 28 and 29, that focus shifts from Moses to Aaron. While Moses was the leader of the nation of Israel, Aaron and his sons were called to serve the Lord and his people as priests in the tabernacle. As priests, they would represent the people before God; they would make sacrifices on their own behalf and on behalf of the people. This calling was a serious one indeed. As we have read, the Lord was holy; his tabernacle was to be holy; and the people serving him in the tabernacle must be holy as well.
In chapter 28, the Lord provided the instructions for the garments of Aaron. If you read carefully, you will notice that his garments match the articles within the most holy place - the linen, the yarn colors, the stones, and the gold. These were special garments to be worn only in the service of the Lord in his tabernacle. When a priest was not working in the tabernacle, he wore clothing just like any other man. While in the tabernacle, he wore these holy garments because he was serving a holy God.
As the priest, Aaron wore two garments representing the twelve tribes of Israel. There were the shoulder pieces with stones bearing the names of each tribe and the breastpiece of judgement that Aaron wore over his heart. On this breastpiece there were twelve stones with the tribes engraved upon them. When Aaron went in before the Lord, he brought the remembrance of his people; he represented them to the Lord. This representation carried a heavy price. As we read in verses 36 through 38, Aaron was to bear the guilt of his people. All of his work, all of his worship, had to be done according to the laws of God. No variance was allowed. Aaron was to wash, to be consecrated, to make an offering on behalf of his sins and the sins of his people, and to place that blood upon the mercy seat as an atonement for the sins of Israel. The work of Aaron was a high and holy calling.
Aaron, the high priest who had to make a sacrifice for his sins and the sins of his people, pointed to something much greater than himself. He pointed to the great high priest who would be without sin. The author of Hebrews writes, "But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption" (Hebrews 9:11-12). Jesus came as the great high priest and offered himself as the perfect, unblemished sacrificial lamb on behalf of our sins. He was both the priest and the sacrifice.
Through Jesus, we can now come boldly before the Father, trusting that the blood of Jesus has washed us clean of our sin. Through Jesus, we are declared holy and can have fellowship with the Father. Not only does God dwell with us but within us. What a glorious gift we have been given!
Reflection:
What does it mean to you to know that Jesus took the full responsibility for your sins? In knowing that truth, are you choosing to live as one forgiven, as one truly set free from the shame and guilt of your sin?
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