The Wounds of our High Priest

St. Augustine remarked, “The New Testament is concealed in the Old, and the Old Testament is revealed in the New.” 

The following texts from Exodus can be tedious for our 21st century minds to read through. But please read them carefully. The symbolism, as it applies to Jesus our High Priest, will not mean as much if you skim the texts. 

Along with the pattern for the Tabernacle and its furnishings, God also gave Moses the design for the High Priest’s clothing. One of the pieces of clothing was the ephod – a breastpiece worn over his chest. Here is a portion of the description from Exodus 28:16-21. Notice especially the stones: 

"It shall be square and folded double, a span in length and a span in width. You shall mount on it four rows of stones; the first row shall be a row of ruby, topaz and emerald; and the second row a turquoise, a sapphire and a diamond; and the third row a jacinth, an agate and an amethyst; and the fourth row a beryl and an onyx and a jasper; they shall be set in gold filigree. The stones shall be according to the names of the sons of Israel: twelve, according to their names; they shall be like the engravings of a seal, each according to his name for the twelve tribes." 

God then told Moses: “Aaron shall carry the names of the sons of Israel in the breastpiece of judgment over his heart when he enters the holy place, for a memorial before the Lord continually.” Ex 28:29 

I’m coming to the point. Give me another moment or two.

We know that even in His resurrected body, Jesus bore the wounds of His scourging and His crucifixion. “Then He said to Thomas, “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.” (John 20:27) 

The New Testament identifies Jesus as our High Priest. For example:

“Therefore, He [Jesus] had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation [sacrificial atonement] for the sins of the people.”  (Hebrews 2:17) 

And again in chapter nine: “But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.” (Hebrews 9:11-12) 

Now the application: 

Just as the Old Testament High Priest wore precious stones over his heart when he met with God – the stones representing the names of the tribes of Israel – even so, when Jesus our High Priest intercedes for us to the Father, He always wears those precious wounds – not only on His chest, but over His entire body from the scourging and crucifixion. 

Think of that! Jesus forever wears those wounds -- across His back, His chest, His sides, His hands and feet and forehead -- wounds that represent YOUR name, my name, and the names of every other precious soul for whom He died. 

God asks us a question through Isaiah: “Can a woman forget her nursing child and have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you. Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands . . . (Isaiah 49:15-16).

As far back as Moses – even to the first chapters of Genesis – God set in place the message of His love and His offer of redemption for all who want to be remembered before God’s throne.

Thanks be to God for His most precious gift!