"And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place, for a memorial before The LORD continually." [Ex 28:29]
When The LORD gave commandment to Moses concerning the tabernacle and its effects, which were a “shadow of heavenly things,” (for as it says, “Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle…‘make all things according to the pattern shewed thee in the mount.’” [Heb 8:5]), He said regarding the breastplate, “thou shalt make the breastplate of judgment with cunning work…of gold, of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine twined linen.” [Ex 28:15] This article was to be worn by the high priest. It was ornate and beautiful, containing twelve gems, as The LORD said, “the stones shall be with the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet.” [Ex 28:21]
If the law was indeed a shadow of that which was and is heavenly and eternal, (as Hebrews said, “[a] shadow of heavenly things”), then what was the figure upon which the light was cast? The Holy Spirit shows us through Paul’s writings that the figure was and is Jesus Christ, as he wrote, “[these things] are a shadow of things to come, but the body is of Christ.” [Col 2:17] If there is anything to be gleaned of the law and its ordered vessels, garments, and other like-things, it is that which pictures and points to Jesus Christ; for Paul said, “but the body is of Christ.” Therefore, when we see the description of the breastplate, for example, we should think to ourselves: what does this show us of Jesus Christ? For in the New Covenant, Jesus is our high priest, as it says,
“Christ [has] become an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building.” [Heb 9:11]
Just as God tells us regarding the blood, “it was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these,” [Heb 9:23] so too the concept holds true for the high priest’s garments. “The heavenly thing” – in this case Jesus Christ – must be “better” than that which was on earth, “the patterns of things in heaven,” that is, the high priestly garments. Therefore, let us read again the verse for today,
“And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place, for a memorial before The LORD continually.” [Ex 28:29]
The thought upon which we shall expound is simple. It does not take much understanding to hold it, but it may take a thousand understandings to fully plunge its depth and appreciate its beauty. It is this: that just as Aaron, the high priest, was to “bear the names of the children of Israel…upon his heart,” (for, “the stones [upon the breastplate] shall be with the names of the children of Israel, twelve”), so too Jesus Christ our High Priest bears our names upon His heart. May Jesus be ever praised even for this simple truth, for as one begins to meditate upon it, it becomes ever sweeter. For we must also notice the name of this particular piece of clothing: “the breastplate of judgment.” The breastplate that Jesus wears as it were, is that of judgment: it is that of the judgment He bore for our sakes, that we might be righteous and don in our priestly garb, “the breastplate of righteousness.” [Eph 6:14] And in that breastplate is all of our names. The Lord does not just bear our judgment in general, but individually; even as Paul said, “I live by the faith of The Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” [Gal 2:20] It was for each of us individually that Jesus died, and as He performs His priestly duties in the heavenlies, He bears our names with love and joy upon His heart. Jesus has not forgotten what He has done, nor has He forgotten us, as it is written,
“Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.” [Isa 49:15-16]
Yes, even more thoroughly and lovingly than a nursing mother, Jesus remembers us, knows us, and sees us. He says through the prophet, “I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands,” and truly, this word from our Lord is not just symbolic but literal: for Jesus said to Thomas, “reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands;” [Jn 20:27] and John records, “I beheld, and, lo…[there] stood a Lamb as it had been slain.” [Rev 5:6] The scars upon Jesus’ hands, which He received when “He was pierced for our transgressions,” [Isa 53:5] remain upon His body. And surely, as He sits at God’s right hand, exalted and high, His scars remind Him of the pains He bore for our sakes. But praise be to God that His wounds do not stir up regret, bitterness, nor wrath, but only love, for the cross was, and still is, “the joy being set before Him.” [Heb 12:2] And again, we have great confidence that Jesus shall accept us with grace and love because, speaking of time to come, The LORD says, “He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing.” [Zeph 3:17]
It is a great thing that Jesus knows us and that we are upon His heart. And let us see also, that this knowledge of us is not general but specific. For if The LORD “calleth [all the heavenly host] by names by the greatness of His might,” [Isa 40:26] yes, if our great God “telleth the number of the stars…[and] calleth them all by their names,” [Psa 147:4] whose estimated number is two-hundred trillion billion, then surely He can keep our names too. But again, it is not just that The Lord Jesus knows our names: no, the love and mercy of God goes far beyond mere acquaintance – He bears our names upon His heart specifically and individually. The very heart of God, the heart of The Savior, The Redeemer, our Glorious High Priest, Jesus Christ – He personally bears each of our names upon His heart. And so, we conclude, that as Jesus “walketh in the midst of the seven golden lampstands,” [Rev 2:1] that is, in the church’s midst, He bears our names upon His heart, thinking and meditating upon us, even as it says, “The Lord thinketh upon me.” [Psa 40:17] May God therefore be praised continually for His great love and tender heart; may He be lauded and thanked for His zeal toward us, His steadfast love: for He bears our names upon His heart.
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