............................

Each individual in the Body of Christ has his place,
....a responsiblility to magnify Jesus,
........that doesn't belong to anyone else

.....................................The Father views the Body with the righteousness of Christ.

...................We can't see but God can see us in Christ, in His Righteousness.

Memorial Day 2012 .................. click picture to enlarge

Each of the 12 tribes of Israel had its place and its own
stone.

...........Each stone had its own beauty.

..................Each were different but didn't rival each other and each filled its appointed place before God.

....God 's able to create variety without inferiority.

No matter the failures of Israel, their names glittered before God.

.......................Jehovah had set them where no man could pluck them.

......No one could enter the Holy place to dim their lustre.

Exodus 28:15-29 and Exodus 39:8-21 tells of the breastplate with the names of the twelve tribes engraved upon precious stones.

The priesthood was God's way to bring Israel into His presene and keep them there.

.........................It was God's way for spiritually-dead Israel that they might have a way to come to Him.

Jesus' life was a rare union of man and God.

................There was a mysterious distinction between His humanity and His Deity.

................He went from the realm of His human ability to the realm of His divinity with ease.

Both were seen at the grave of Lazarus.

The priestly garments were considered a part of the work of the Tabernacle.

...........The robes of the High Priest express the functions of the High Priest.

...........................The materials are specified, gold and fine twined linen; the others, blue, purple and scarlet, are colors emblazened upon the fine twined linen and everywhere interlaced with gold.

"And they did beat the gold into thin plates, and cut it into wires, to work it in the blue, and in the purple, and in the scarlet, and in the fine linen, with cunning work."
........................Exodus 39:3

"These are the garments which they shall make; a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre, and a girdle."
..........................Exodus 28:4

Without these Aaron couldn't be a High Priest.

...............They are a type of the various powers, responsibilities and qualities connected to that office.

God gave his word; he won't take it back:
.........."You're the permanent priest."
......................This makes Jesus the guarantee of a far better way between us and God—one that really works! A new covenant.
......................Earlier there were a lot of priests, for they died and had to be replaced. But Jesus' priesthood is permanent. He's there from now to eternity to save everyone who comes to God through him, always on the job to speak up for them.
......................Hebrews 7:20-25

The priests of the house of Levi were cut off from the priesthood, as in the case of

.................Nadab and Abihu and Eli's line.

Throughout His human life, the Lord Jesus, was perfected for priesthood.

......................................He was able to sympathize because He had been tempted in all points like we are, yet without sin.

....................The awful murmurings of the enemy that He had to endure, taught Him to feel pity for us who are subject to the assaults of Satan.

...............................Hebrews 4:14-16
"14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."

"1 For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:
2 Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.
3 And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.
4 And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron."
...........................Hebrews 5:1-4

..............The High Priest, under the Law, had to have compassion upon the ignorant and on them that were out of the way, because he was conscious of his own infirmities.

........................................The fact of his being a sinner himself was one qualification for the priesthood.

"Take unto thee Aaron and his sons with him that he may minister."



..................Aaron and his sons formed one ministry in the priest's office and Aaron could not exercise his service unless his sons were taken with him.

One of the epistles to the Hebrews pointed out that the Lord Jesus Christ in His Resurrection, combined in Himself, the various offices
......of the Lord,
............Mediator,
..................Apostle,
........................Surety,
..............................Captain
.....................................and Shepherd.

The leadership or kingship of Moses, as well as mediator, was kept apart from the priesthood which belonged to Aaron and his sons.

..These offices were appointed to different persons.

.......Happy 64th Birthday, Israel !