Engraved on His Armor

There’s a great deal of rich theology in the Old Testament sacrificial system, and one of the more wonderful parts is when God commanded Moses to make the uniform of the High Priest which included a breast plate which was fashioned with twelve stones: twelve different kinds of precious stone, including a sapphire, a diamond, a jasper, a topaz, and others (Ex. 28:21).

But not only that, God instructed Moses to have the names of the tribes of Israel engraved on the precious stones, one tribe on each stone. This is already an indication of something glorious: God considers His people precious and valuable. In fact, this is what God had said when Israel first showed up at Mt. Sinai: “You shall be to me a peculiar treasure above all people.” This is symbolized in engraving the names of the families of Israel on precious stones on the breastplate of the High Priest. 

But it doesn’t stop there. 

The whole point of having the names engraved on the stones on the breastplate of the High Priest is so that the High Priest can wear the breastplate with the names of the tribes of Israel into the Holy Place as a memorial before the Lord continually (Ex. 28:29). In fact, the text says that God wants the Priest to bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart whenever he goes into the Holy Place. 

All of this is fulfilled in Christ, who is our new High Priest. Christ stands in Heaven, ever interceding for us. But the thing to catch is that Jesus does not merely save sinners from their sin. He does not merely bring us out of the dungeons we have created for ourselves. But Christ pays our debts, brings us home, and then in His infinite grace determines to wear us as His glory-armor. In Heaven, Jesus stands before God continually and our names are engraved on His heart. And this is why you are most welcome here. You did not come here on your own, your name was engraved on His heart on the cross, and so you were carried all the way in. 

So come and welcome to Jesus Christ. 

Photo by Nik Shuliahin on Unsplash