Exodus 39:22-26: a reflection

22He made the robe of the ephod of woven work, all of blue. 23The opening of the robe in the middle of it was like the opening of a coat of mail, with a binding around its opening, that it should not be torn. 24They made on the skirts of the robe pomegranates of blue, purple, scarlet, and twined linen. 25They made bells of pure gold, and put the bells between the pomegranates around the skirts of the robe, between the pomegranates; 26a bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate, around the skirts of the robe, to minister in, as the LORD commanded Moses.

As the priestly garments are made for Aaron the high priest, the account describes the robe with its bells and pomegranates, worn so that he might minister before the LORD. The high priest was clothed in these garments to stand before God on behalf of the people, to bear them before the LORD, to make offerings and intercession in the holy place. He entered God's presence not for himself alone but as the representative of the people, ministering before God on their behalf. And this high priest and his ministry point beyond themselves to a greater High Priest, Christ, who ministers before God for us, bearing us before the Father and interceding on our behalf.

Notice the high priest's role, foreshadowing Christ: he ministered before God on behalf of the people. Aaron, in his priestly garments, went before the LORD not for himself only but as the people's representative, bearing them before God, offering and interceding on their behalf. He stood in God's presence for the people who could not stand there themselves. And this points to Christ, our great High Priest, who ministers before the Father on our behalf, bearing us into God's presence, interceding for us. What Aaron did in shadow, Christ does in fullness: he stands before God for us, our representative, our intercessor, ministering on our behalf. The high priest's ministry pointed to Christ's, who bears us before the Father.

That is worth resting in, for we have in Christ a great High Priest who ministers before God on our behalf. We can feel that we have no standing before God, no way to enter his presence; but Christ, our High Priest, ministers before the Father for us, bearing us into God's presence, interceding on our behalf, as the high priest bore the people before the LORD. We do not approach God alone; Christ our High Priest represents us before the Father. Do not think you have no way into God's presence; Christ, your High Priest, ministers before God on your behalf, bearing you before the Father. Rest in Christ, your great High Priest, who ministers before God on your behalf, bearing you into the Father's presence and interceding for you, as the high priest ministered before the LORD for the people; for we have in Christ a High Priest who stands before God for us, and through him we are brought into the presence of the Father, represented and interceded for by our High Priest.

Lord, as the priestly garments are made for Aaron the high priest, the account describes the robe with its bells and pomegranates, worn so that he might minister before you. The high priest was clothed in these garments to stand before you on behalf of the people, to bear them before you, to make offerings and intercession in the holy place. He entered your presence not for himself alone but as the representative of the people. And this high priest and his ministry point beyond themselves to a greater High Priest, Christ, who ministers before you for us. Show me the high priest's role, foreshadowing Christ: he ministered before you on behalf of the people. Aaron, in his priestly garments, went before you not for himself only but as the people's representative, bearing them before you, interceding on their behalf. He stood in your presence for the people who could not stand there themselves. And this points to Christ, our great High Priest, who ministers before you for us, bearing us into your presence, interceding for us. What Aaron did in shadow, Christ does in fullness. Let me rest in that, for I have in Christ a great High Priest who ministers before you on my behalf. I can feel that I have no standing before you, no way to enter your presence; but Christ, my High Priest, ministers before you for me, bearing me into your presence, interceding on my behalf. I do not approach you alone; Christ represents me. Keep me from thinking I have no way into your presence; Christ, my High Priest, ministers before you on my behalf, Lord. Help me rest in Christ, my great High Priest, who bears me into your presence and intercedes for me.