“There were twelve stones with their names according to the names of the sons of Israel. They were like signets, each engraved with its name, for the twelve tribes.” – Exodus 39:14
Throughout the many centuries the High Priests of Israel served in the Tabernacle and later Temples, they wore a breastplate with twelve engraved gemstones representing the twelve tribes of Israel. They also wore stones engraved with the names of the tribes on their shoulders. Whenever the priest went before the Lord, he put on these representations of all God’s people. This was because the role of the priest was to represent the people before God. To make sacrifices for their sins, offer incense to God, and intercede on their behalf in prayer.
All of that pointed forward to what Jesus does for His people. The Book of Hebrews proclaims that Jesus is our eternal great high priest, always representing us to God the Father and making intercession on our behalf. However, Jesus doesn’t wear a breastplate or shoulder pieces to represent us. Instead, He put on humanity itself. The eternal and divine Son of God took on a human body and nature, being born into our world. He become fully human in addition to being fully divine. He did this so He could represent us, offer Himself as a sacrifice for our sins, and continue to intercede for us up to this very moment.
Jesus is our great and perfect high priest! He doesn’t merely wear engraved stones to represent us, He became flesh and dwelt among us. He doesn’t have to make atonement for any sins of His own, so He made complete atonement for all who believe in Him. Unlike the high priests of old, Jesus never takes off His priestly garb. He remains in a glorified human body, always making intercession for us from the right hand of the Father. If Jesus is your Lord, then He is also your great high priest, able to save you to the uttermost and always interceding on your behalf. #FollowJesus