Jesus is our great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14). So, what does that mean for us? An examination of today’s passage can help us answer that question.

What did an ancient priest do? Well, he wore on his shoulders two onyx stones engraved with the names of the tribes of Israel. He also wore a breastpiece made of cloth, on which were set twelve precious stones, each one engraved with the name of one of the tribes of Israel. The priest was thus bearing the names of the people into the Holy Place, “to bring them to regular remembrance before the Lord” (Exodus 28:29). In the same way, Jesus, Who is seated at the right hand of God, is continually interceding for all His people (Romans 8:34), bringing remembrance of us and our needs before the Father.

But that’s not all the priest did. For inside that breastpiece were Urim and Thummim (Exodus 28:30). We don’t know exactly what these objects were, but their names mean “lights” and “perfection.” And we know they were used in some way to get God’s answer to specific questions, allowing Him to shed perfect light on a point of confusion. Just so, Jesus came to bring light and truth into our world (John 1:4), clearing away the darkness and deception of sin.

And how was the priest prepared for his office? He was anointed with oil and with the blood of a sacrifice, setting him apart for his duties and cleansing him of sin (Exodus 29:7, 21). His ears, hands, and feet were specifically cleansed and set apart for God’s use (Exodus 29:20).

All these things point to Jesus as well. Hebrews 10 quotes Psalm 40:6-8, saying that Jesus’ ears were opened to God’s word, and that His delight was to do God’s will. And it was God’s will that “we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Hebrews 10:10).

But the role of the priest wasn’t just reserved for just one man. No, in Exodus 19:6, God said that all His people would be a kingdom of priests. And Peter repeats that statement, applying it to all who trust in Christ: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (I Peter 2:9). Aaron had on a golden crown, which was inscribed, “Holy to the Lord” (Exodus 28:36), but all who belong to Christ wear something even more precious – we are clothed with His righteousness (Isaiah 61:10), holy in the sight of God.

So, what was true for the Old Testament priests is not only true for Jesus, but somehow for all of us as well. We are all called to pray for the needs of one another. We are all called to share the perfect light of God’s Word with those around us, especially those wandering in the darkness and confusion of sin. All of our ears should be open to more of God’s Word, and all of our hands and feet should be devoted to do only God’s will. Will we consider ourselves “Holy to the Lord,” set apart for the love and service of God and of others today?

Exodus 29:43-46 (NASB)

43 “And I will meet there with the sons of Israel, and it shall be consecrated by My glory.
44 “And I will consecrate the tent of meeting and the altar; I will also consecrate Aaron and his sons to minister as priests to Me.
45 “And I will dwell among the sons of Israel and will be their God.
46 “And they shall know that I am the LORD their God who brought them out of the land of Egypt, that I might dwell among them; I am the LORD their God.