So, if the Ark in the Tabernacle represented the presence of the Father and the Table and the Lampstand and the Bronze Altar pointed to Christ, the light of the world and the bread of Heaven, who were the priests supposed to symbolize? Well, let’s take a look at what they wore to see if we can find some clues.

And, unlike everything else in the Tabernacle, the high priest had labels on him. On the shoulder straps of his ephod, which was a sleeveless garment reaching to his waist, he wore two black onyx stones – and on them were engraved the names of the twelve tribes of Israel (Exodus 28:11). And just to make sure no one missed the point, he also wore a folded cloth pouch on his chest, decorated with twelve different precious stones. Once again, each stone had the name of one of the twelve tribes engraved on it (Exodus 28:21). Thus, it is obvious that the High Priest represented the people of God, literally carrying their names before the Lord whenever he went into the Tabernacle.

But at the same time, he also represented Christ. After all, when the people brought their sacrifices to the Tabernacle, it was the priest who shed their blood and offered them up on the Bronze Altar. The priests thus pointed to the greater work of Christ, Who offered Himself as a sacrifice for all of His people: “through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption” (Hebrews 9:12).

So, how could the priests represent both the people of God and Jesus Christ? We find one more clue on the crown, the golden plate that the priest wore on the front of his turban. For it was engraved with the inscription, “Holiness to the Lord” (Exodus 28:36). Because the blood of Christ washes all His people clean of our sins, so all those who trust in Christ are wrapped in the robe of His righteousness (Isaiah 61:10).

We forgiven sinners have therefore become “a royal priesthood, a holy nation” (I Peter 2:9). Indeed, we have become part of the Body of Christ Himself (I Corinthians 12:12-13). The High Priest thus represents both the Christ Who sacrifices Himself and the people who have become one with Him through that sacrifice.

And so, since our great High Priest has washed us clean of our sins, let us draw near to Him “with a sincere heart and full assurance of faith” (Hebrews 10:22), bringing our sacrifices of praise and prayer into His presence. But, just as those ancient priests made atonement for the sins of the people, let us also “hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering” (Hebrews 10:23). As priests of Christ, may everything we do and say point to the complete, final sacrifice of our great High Priest, even as we urge everyone to receive by faith the cleansing power of His blood.

Exodus 28:1-4 (NASB)

“Then bring near to yourself Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the sons of Israel, to minister as priest to Me – Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons.
2 “And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty.
3 “And you shall speak to all the skillful persons whom I have endowed with the spirit of wisdom, that they make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him, that he may minister as priest to Me.
4 “And these are the garments which they shall make: a breastpiece and an ephod and a robe and a tunic of checkered work, a turban and a sash, and they shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother and his sons, that he may minister as priest to Me.”