A Picture of the Gospel of Jesus’ Ministry<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Exodus 28; 39:1-31<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty. <\/i>Exodus 28:2<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n And thou shalt take the garments, and put upon Aaron the coat, and the robe of the ephod, and the ephod, and the breastplate, and gird him with the curious girdle of the ephod: And thou shalt put the miter upon his head, and put the holy crown upon the miter. <\/i>Exodus 29:5, 6<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The items of clothing that Aaron and the other High Priests wore are a wonderful symbol of various characteristics of Jesus, our great Heavenly High Priest, and the different aspects of His ministry on our behalf. Since we are to have characters like His, these also represent what we are to be like.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.<\/i> Hebrews 4:14<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n In giving the instructions for the High Priest’s garments, God gave specifications for their materials and colors. Here is a brief summary of what those colors symbolized:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n White<\/b>–perfect purity and righteousness (Revelation 19:8)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Scarlet<\/b>–blood, sacrifice, atonement<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Purple<\/b>–royalty<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Blue<\/b>–the Law, Commandments (Numbers 15:38-40)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Gold<\/b>–divinity<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Breeches<\/b> (Exodus 28:42, 43)–These were undergarments that all Priests wore, made of fine white linen, covering the waist and thighs. Their purpose was to cover their nakedness, the private areas of their body, so that they would not bear personal iniquity. This is a symbol of purity and righteousness in private matters.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Coat<\/b> (Exodus 28:39; 39:27)–This was a long garment covering the body down to the ankles, made of fine white linen. All the Priests wore a similar garment. It symbolizes purity and righteousness of the whole body, in public matters.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. <\/i> 1 Thessalonians 5:22, 23<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.<\/i> Revelation 19:8<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Robe of the Ephod<\/b> (Exodus 28:31, 32; 39:22, 23)–This was a half-length garment, approximately to the knees, made entirely blue. It is a symbol and reminder that obedience to God’s Law is to be seen in our lives. Jesus was totally obedient to His Father’s will. We must be, also.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.<\/i> John 6:38<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.<\/i> John 8:29<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue: And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring: <\/i> Numbers 15:38, 39<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Pomegranates<\/b> (Exodus 28:33, 34; 39:24-26)–These were tassels made of blue, purple, and scarlet twine in the shape of this fruit. Pomegranates were a fragrant fruit, considered a delicacy. (see Song of Solomon 4:13; 6:11; 7:12) These symbolize, in Jesus, the fruit of keeping the Law (blue), of being Royalty from Heaven (purple), and of being an unselfish Sacrifice (scarlet). We are made members, with Him, of the Royal family, children of the King of Heaven. As such, we abide by the principles and laws that Heaven functions under and we are willing to give ourselves unselfishly in service to the Kingdom. The outgrowth and evidence of this (the fruit) is seen in our lives.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n You shall know them by their fruits.<\/i> Matthew 7:16<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.<\/i><\/span> Galatians 5:22<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. <\/i> 2 Peter 1:5-8<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Bells<\/b> (Exodus 28:33, 34; 39:24-26)–These were made of gold and were for the purpose of making a sound that would indicate that the High Priest was alive when he was ministering in the Holy Place since he was hidden from the view of everyone outside by the beautiful veil at the entrance. This did not apply to his ministry in the Most Holy Place since he changed from these beautiful, colorful garments into plain white garments for his ministry on the Day of Atonement. This is a symbol of the fact that, though Jesus is hidden from our view in His Continual mediation on our behalf, we have evidence of His activity through His Word and the ministry of His Spirit and the Angels.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. <\/i> Hebrews 7:25<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Ephod (<\/b>Exodus 28:6, 7; 39:2-4)–This was a colorful garment, similar to a vest, worn over the blue robe. It was made of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine-twined linen embroidered with gold wire. It again symbolizes Jesus’ obedience, royalty, and unselfish sacrifice on our behalf, along with His Divinity.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Shoulder Stones<\/b> (Exodus 28:9-12; 39:6, 7)–These were beautiful onyx stones set in gold and engraved with the names of the 12 sons of Jacob in the order of their birth, 6 names on each stone. This showed that the High Priest would bear their names upon his shoulders at all times before the Lord, taking responsibility for their welfare and ministering on their behalf. This tells us that Jesus, as our High Priest, carries each of us on His shoulders, caring for our needs spiritually and physically.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bore them, and carried them all the days of old. <\/i>Isaiah 63:9<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Breastplate of Judgment<\/b> (Exodus 28:15-29; 39:8-21)–This item was one span wide (about 9 inches) and two spans long (about 18 inches) and doubled like a pouch. It was made of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine-twined linen embroidered with gold wire, similar to the Ephod. It had 4 rows of 3 stones each set in gold, engraved with the names of the 12 tribes, apparently in the order they camped around the Tabernacle. (see Numbers 2) The High Priest was to bear their names upon his heart in judgment before the Lord continually. This reminds us that each one of us is intimately important to our Great High Priest. He bears us “upon His heart.” We have a righteous Advocate who represents us before the righteous and impartial Judge of the universe, who sees to the very core of all our motives and actions. This may be scary to the person who is deliberate in their sin and unrepentant; but to a repentant sinner it is a great comfort and confidence.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. <\/i>1 John 2:1, 2<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Urim and Thummim<\/b> (Exodus 28:30)–These were stones set in the Breastplate for the purpose of guidance, communicating God’s specific will in certain matters. Jesus wants to guide us through life by His Holy Spirit.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n At the right and left of the breastplate were two large <\/i>stones of great brilliancy. These were known as the Urim and Thummim. By them the will of God was made known through the high priest. When questions were brought for decision before the Lord, a halo of light encircling the precious stone at the right was a token of the divine consent or approval, while a cloud shadowing the stone at the left was an evidence of denial or disapprobation.<\/i> (Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets<\/u>, p. 351)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask counsel for him after the judgment of Urim before the LORD: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation. <\/i>Numbers 27:21<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets. <\/i>1 Samuel 28:6<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The word Urim is a plural form of the word “light” (H216) in Gen. 1:3. It seems to be referring to the dawn, the first light, the strengthening light (the beginning, the Morning Star) Jesus is the Light of the World, the Author of our faith, the Alpha, the First.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The word Thummim is a plural form of H8537 “integrity” (Ps. 25:21), “perfect” (Ps. 101:2) and seems to be referring to completeness and fullness of integrity, perfection. Jesus is the ultimate example of integrity and perfection. He is the Finisher of our faith, bringing us to perfection and completeness, returning us to innocence. He is the Omega, the Last.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Girdle<\/b> (Exodus 28:8; 39:29)–This was a sash or belt around the waist made of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine-twined linen embroidered with gold wire. It served to hold the other garments in place.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Miter<\/b> (Exodus 28:39; 39:28)–This was a turban made of fine white linen wound around the head of the High Priest. It symbolized the perfect purity and righteousness of Jesus’ mind and reminds us of God’s ideal for our minds.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world<\/i>; Philippians 2:15<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Crown<\/b><\/span> (Exodus 28:36-38; 39:30, 31)–This was a band of pure gold mounted on a ribbon of blue around the High Priest’s forehead and engraved with the words “Holiness to the Lord” as a signet or seal would be engraved. Its stated purpose was to show that the High Priest would continually bear the iniquity of the holy things. There is much symbolism in this Golden Crown. Jesus is bearing our iniquity, carrying our debt of guilt, so that we will not receive the retribution for it\u2014eternal death. God’s Law was permanently established in His mind and He was holy, totally pure, and consecrated to God. We need to have God’s Law in our minds so that we will be holy and can be sealed with the Seal of God.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: <\/i> Hebrews 8:10<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. <\/i> Revelation 7:3<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Zion, and with him a hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.<\/i> Revelation 14:1<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Anointing Oil<\/b> (Exodus 30:22-33; Leviticus 8:12; 21:10; Psalm 133:2)–This was a special and exclusive spice and oil mixture. It was made of pure myrrh, sweet cinnamon, sweet calamus, cassia, and olive oil. God said it was holy and was not to be used for any personal or common purpose. (This should indicate to us how God feels about what we do with what He has declared holy, specifically His holy day, the Sabbath) This special oil was used only for anointing holy things–the Sanctuary, its Furniture, the Priests, etc. [All the Priests were anointed (Exodus 28:41) but the High Priest was the only one who was anointed on his head (Leviticus 8:12; 21:10)] This oil symbolizes the Holy Spirit which came down on Jesus’ head and consecrated Him as the Messiah, the Anointed One. “Messiah” means “the Anointed One.” The only ones who were anointed during Bible times were priests and kings. Also, Elisha was anointed by Elijah. (1 Kings 19:16) Jesus was a Prophet, a Priest, and a King. We also need the Holy Spirit to be active in our minds and hearts in order for us to fulfill God’s purposes.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A Picture of the Gospel of Jesus’ Ministry Exodus 28; 39:1-31 And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty. Exodus 28:2 And thou shalt take the garments, and put upon Aaron the coat, and the robe of the ephod, and the ephod, and the breastplate, and gird him … <\/p>\n