Chest Pieces

After God delivered the 10 commandments to Moses, He gave Moses specific instructions for the ark that would carry them, the tabernacle for the ark and the garden where the ark would be located.  God then directed Moses to provide his brother Aaron with fine clothing that would be fitting for a priest, setting him apart from the other Israelites.  The clothing would include a chest piece with 12 jewels.  Each of those jewels would be engraved with the name of one of the tribes of Israel, symbolizing Aaron's leadership of all of the tribes when he came before the Lord.  The instructions to Moses were over 3500 years ago, but the meaning is as current today as it was then.  We all have people in our lives that we have a special responsibility to lead - a spouse, our kids, our friends, an organization.  We should have all of them covering our heart as we go before the Lord to pray for them.  Likewise, the names on that chestpiece should serve as a shield from the forces of the world that are counter to the plans of God.  

But God had further instructions for Aaron's attire.  He was to wear a medallion of pure gold around his head with the inscription, "Holy to the Lord" so he may take on himself any guilt of the people of Israel.  (Ex 28:38).  This is clear foreshadowing of Jesus who would take on the sins of the entire world by his death on the cross.  It is also a reminder to us that God will go before us in ordering our steps towards Him, and others seeing those steps should be directed back to Him.

 

Sons of Thunder

James and John were two of Jesus' disciples and were also considered two of his closest friends.  Jesus nicknamed them "Sons of Thunder" for their often fiery and zealous personalities.  On one occasion, Jesus was traveling with his disciples through Samaria and looking for a place to stay.  The Samaritans refused due to their prejudice against Jews when they learned the group was headed for Jerusalem.   James and John asked Jesus, "Do you want us to call fire down from Heaven to destroy them?", but Jesus rebuked them and traveled on to another city.

Fast forward to the time when Jesus was warning the disciples of his approaching arrest and crucifixion.  James and John's mother made a request of Jesus.  When Jesus returned to the throne, she wanted one of her sons to be seated on the left and the other to be seated on the right of Jesus.  When the other disciples heard about this, Jesus overheard them grumbling amongst themselves.  He explained to them, "whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave, for even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many."  

James was the first disciple to be killed, and John was the last to die from old age.  After John had walked with Jesus as one of the Sons of Thunder, he wrote the Gospel of John and John 1-3.  While he still speaks strongly about deceivers, his words are tempered with the love that he no doubt learned from his walk with Jesus.   John's new nickname became the Apostle of Love.

God, please help me to live more like Jesus.