Tues.’s Devo - The High Priest

Read: Exodus 28:1-43; Matthew 25:31-26:13; Psalm 31:9-18; Proverbs 8:12-13 Moses called Aaron and his sons Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar to tell them what God wanted them to wear as priests. Aaron’s garments were to be glorious and beautiful and were to distinguish him as the high priest. He was to wear a chest piece, an ephod, a robe, a patterned tunic, a turban, and a sash. They were to be made of fine linen with gold, blue, purple and scarlet thread. He would represent God’s high priest in heaven who was Melchizedek at the time. Melchizedek would be succeeded by Jesus once he ascended to heaven after the cross. The ephod was like a vest that Aaron was to wear over his robe. It would have stones engraved on it with the names of the tribes of Israel. Each stone was different to represent that tribe and they were arranged in rows of three across and in the birth order of Jacob’s sons. Two big onyx stones were engraved to sit on the shoulders of Aaron. On one would have six of the names of the tribes and six on the other side. So the names of the tribes could be seen by the people across his chest and as God looked down from heaven he could see them on the shoulders. The priests literally carried the children on Israel across his heart and on his shoulder as he represented them before God. Every piece of Aaron’s garment and the colors were sacred. The colors represented the royal colors of heaven. He wore a turban on his head to cover his head to show that he was under the authority of God. He wore linen so he wouldn’t sweat because he was to be the picture of rest and peace. Jesus rose to be our high priest and he carries us on his shoulder and across his heart. First Peter 2:9 says that we are a peculiar people and a royal priesthood before God. As a part of the priesthood of God, we do the same. We carry the Ecklesia in our hearts and on our shoulders. We pray and intercede for one another and even for the world. Aaron’s robe was to be made out of a single piece of cloth like the robe that Jesus wore. There were to be bells and pomegranates alternated around the hem of his garment that tingled when he walked. Bells announced his coming and pomegranates represent the Word of God since every pomegranate has the same amount of seeds and the number of laws in the Bible. The priest walked out the Word. Even their undergarments were made of linen to show that there was no hidden sin in them. In Matthew, Jesus continued explaining the end of time and the judgment. the ones who will live eternally were the ones that recognized Jesus in his followers and acted as priest for them. Jesus told them that the Passover was in two days and he would be turned over to be crucified. At that very moment, the leading priests were meeting and plotting his death. They planned to wait until after the Passover but God had other plans. You can tell by the next scene that the disciples didn’t understand what Jesus had told them. A woman came in with expensive perfume and poured it over his head. The disciples were indignant over the waste. They couldn’t get out of the natural into the spiritual. Jesus said that she was preparing his body for burial. They didn’t get that either. This woman did what her heart told her to do and is now a part of the salvation story. Everyone of us play a part in God’s story. All we have to do is to obey and do what we feel is the right thing to do. Little did this woman think she would be remembered for generations for her obedience. Lord, may we walk as priests in this world having our garments cleansed with your blood. May our obedience further your Kingdom.