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LESSON 1:
I was thinking
about the color red!
Red as it is
used in the Bible.
"Scarlet" would
be the King James Bible's word for it.
Red, which is
probably the favorite color on earth, has such meaning!
In the Bible it
appears that scarlet is an emblem of blood, particularly the
Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Then I began to
wonder something else.
Of all the
Bible's chapters, which contains the most references to scarlet
... red ... perhaps giving us a great overview of the color and
its implications?
Well, according
to my concordance, Exodus 39 holds the honor of being the
"reddest" of all 1189 chapters of
Scripture!
There the word
("scarlet") occurs seven times!
Hear me: seven
... not eleven or six or any other number ... just seven times!
That's the Bible
number that seems to imply spiritual perfection!
And, yes, Jesus'
Blood is perfect and incorruptible and redemptive and precious
and powerful and ...! This list is perhaps inexhaustible!
But, Preacher
Bagwell, could a chapter in the Old Testament (written by Moses
3500 years ago) really have any bearing on the Lord Jesus
Christ?
Certainly!
Because Jesus,
who was born miraculously only 2,000 years ago, has been the
Second Person of the Trinity for all of
eternity!
He once said to
the unbelieving Jews: "Verily,
verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am."
John 8:58
Sounds eternal,
doesn't He?
Paul furthermore
tells us that Jesus is the Creator of this world!
Read Colossians
1:16 --- "For by him (Jesus) were all
things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth,
visible and invisible."
And just in case
you still have doubts, listen to Hebrews 13:8 ---
"Jesus
Christ the same
yesterday, and to day, and for ever."
Therefore ... I
say unto you this last Saturday in July ... when Exodus 39
describes the Bible's brightest color ... 7 times ... it has
more than Old Testament ritual in view! The "scarlet" there
points forward in time to an old rugged Cross ... fixed atop
Golgotha's Hill ... where the darling Son of God shed His
precious (red) Blood for lost sinners to be saved!
Thank God for the
Blood!
And thank God for
the existence of color ... particularly red ... to remind us
again and again of the greatest Truth in all the universe!
"The blood of Jesus Christ his Son
cleanseth us from all sin." 1st John 1:7
Amen!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 2:
In Exodus 39 we
see the color "scarlet" mentioned seven times!
That's more often
that it's found in any other chapter of the whole Bible!
And in each of
those seven occurrences it is used in conjunction with two other
colors, blue and purple!
For example,
here's verse one: "And
of the blue, and purple, and scarlet, they made cloths of
service, to do service in the holy place, and made the holy
garments for Aaron; as the LORD commanded Moses."
The noun "cloths"
(in Hebrew = "beged") means garments or clothes or apparel or
raiment or vestures or even wardrobe!
So ... the
clothing of the High Priest of Israel is being described, the
Holy Garments for Aaron.
Do notice that
they are heavily accented with red or "scarlet!"
In fact, today's
verse highlights three colors; blue, purple and scarlet.
And I've noticed
this: they always occur in the same order!
Blue invariably
comes first, then purple, followed by scarlet!
That happens 19
times in the Old Testament!
Here's a
paragraph about "blue," the color of the heavens as
they are viewed from
the earth. Its first uses in Scripture are always associated
with the Tabernacle. This combines the Heavens (The Place of
God's Abode) with Worship ... the Tabernacle particularly
depicting the Lord Jesus Christ! He is God come from Heaven to
earth ... to die for sinners! The old time fundamentalist
Preachers of past days used to tell us that blue was the color
of Grace! They taught it emphasized Heaven come to earth to
tabernacle among us ... seeking and saving that which was lost!
The Hebrew word
for "blue" is "takeleth" and is derived from a root verb that
means "to roar" ... like an ocean! It is believed that the
brightest blue dyes of that day came from a little sea creature
who had to give his life to produce such vivid color!
Next is
"purple." Here's a good Bible "hint" about its meaning:
"And purple raiment that was on
the Kings ...." (Judges 8:26) It is also associated
with wealth in Luke 16:19. Originally the first dozen or so
appearances of "purple" occur in "Tabernacle" settings! The
application of all this: Purple depicts Royalty and opulence
and worthiness of honor and adoration! The Hebrew word here ("argaman")
is found 38 times in the Old Testament while its Greek
counterpart ("porphura" or "porphurous") occurs but 9 times in
the New Testament.
THEN we come to
"scarlet." This color is first referenced in Genesis 38:28,
where a newborn boy is being "marked" from birth! (Talking
about a Special Son ... that's got to be fulfilled in Jesus and
His Virgin Birth!) The dye used in Bible times to produce this
blood red color was obtained from a little worm ("tola") that
had to be crushed and processed!
By the way, the
"purple" (the middle color) is necessary to properly blend the
blue and the red. In fact, it IS the blending of the blue and
the red!
So here's the
Gospel story in color. Blue: God
from Heaven sent His Son ... to die for sinners!
Purple: Jesus, though a King ...
though very God, made Himself a man. He became poor for our
sakes! Then Scarlet: The color of
Blood! This represents Jesus' vicarious Death of Calvary! He
died in our stead!
And in Exodus
39:1 the garments, the very clothes, the High Priest is to wear
visually picture the blue and purple and scarlet (red) truths of
Jesus' life and ministry!
Aaron literally
was to WEAR the Gospel Story!
Now, come to
think of it ... that's exactly what we Believers are to do
also! Listen to Paul the Apostle: "But
put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the
flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof."
Romans 13:14
And again in
Galatians 3:27 --- "For
as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on
Christ."
There's a quick
overview of Exodus 39:1. "And of the
blue, and purple, and scarlet, they made cloths of service, to
do service in the holy place, and made the holy garments
for Aaron; as the LORD commanded Moses."
This week every
time we see the colors blue, purple and red ... let's give them
spiritual significance and meditate a bit on Jesus our great God
and Saviour!
Amen!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 3:
Exodus 39
describes the garments worn by the High Priest of Israel.
One of them is
called an "ephod" (pronounced EE-fod).
It was similar to
a long vest, yet made of two pieces ... a front and a back which
were joined at the shoulders and tied near the bottom with a
rope-like band.
It was worn over
a blue robe.
The point I would
like to emphasize today is that this ephod was colored partly
with the color "scarlet" or blood
red.
The major
significance of the ephod is found in the beautiful items which
were attached to it.
On the shoulders
were encased two onyx stones engraved with the names of all the
tribes of Israel!
On its front was
fixed the breastplate, a larger item of beauty bearing twelve
stones, each representing one of the tribes of God's people.
Now here's what
Exodus 39 says about the ephod: "And he
made the ephod of gold, blue, and purple, and
scarlet, and fine twined
linen."
The ephod
contains the color of Blood, scarlet red!
Get this:
The people of
God, engraved into the shoulders of their High Priest's
clothing, rest upon a garment stained in RED! The "shoulders"
in Scripture represent strength and power and stability!
Now as saved
folks, we do not look to Aaron the Brother of Moses as our High
Priest! No! We have a much Greater High Priest, the Lord Jesus
Christ! And just to think that He has us on His mighty
shoulders is thrilling. We old former sinners are engraved into
the very place of Strength and Power, the omnipotent Power of
God!
And how is that
possible?
Because of the
scarlet Blood of Jesus!
Furthermore, the
breastplate also representing God's redeemed, is fixed to the
front of the ephod! The part that covers the heart of the High
Priest! And in the Bible the "heart" is the place of love and
warmth!
We human beings,
those of us who are saved by Grace, are resting on the very
heart of God! Yes!
Yet, how can this
be?
Remember ... the
breastplate bearing our very names is linked to the ephod of
scarlet, that color of Blood, teaching us that God loves us
because of the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross!
And that's just a
quick glimpse of the teaching of the ephod, as described in
Exodus 39:2. By the way, Exodus 39 mentions
"scarlet" more than any other
chapter in the whole Bible. It accurately could be called
Scripture's reddest chapter!
What we enjoy
today because of Jesus' shed Blood:
A position of
security and strength ... on His shoulders! (Please remember
that when the Shepherd of Jesus' Luke 15 parable found the
little lost sheep for which he had been so diligently searching
... "He layeth it on his shoulders,
rejoicing." Amen!)
And a life of
love ... loved by the Triune God ... leaning on His very breast
... resting there on a foundation of the ephod of scarlet!
Loved because of Calvary! We are, Paul says,
"accepted in the Beloved!" The
"Beloved" is Jesus; the crucified, buried, risen, ascended and
coming again Jesus! Ephesians 1:6
I am so glad
Exodus 39 tells us that the ephod was colored ... not only
colored with gold and blue and purple, but also
SCARLET, the emblem of Blood!
We are today
loved and strengthened and made secure ... by the Blood of the
Lamb!
Worship Him
today!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 4:
Exodus chapter 39
mentions the color "scarlet" 7 times!
That qualifies it
as the "reddest" chapter in the whole Bible!
The word
"Scarlet" occurs in verses 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 24 and 29.
And what does the
chapter describe?
The High Priest
of Israel!
It tells us all
about Aaron and his clothing, his garments of beauty and glory!
Surely in this we
have a type of Christ Jesus, our great High Priest!
But WHY would the
color red (a blood red truthfully) be so predominant in the High
Priest's clothing?
Because in
Scripture it seems to symbolize Blood!
And not just any
blood, but ultimately ... the Blood of Jesus!
For example,
verse 3 of Exodus 39 says: "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."
Here we have a
description of the way the holy Ephod was made ... at least a
"color" description. Now the Ephod was an apron-like garment
worn on top of a full blue robe which was itself draped over an
even fuller white robe.
But this same
color pattern (blue, purple and scarlet) was used elsewhere in
the Priest's wardrobe and constantly throughout the Tabernacle.
What does it
mean?
Especially the
"gold" now being added to the tri-color palate?
Gold in the Bible
has always represented Deity. So much so that Heaven, the
eternal city, is described as "pure gold" in Revelation 21:18.
And New Jerusalem's street was gold also ... as it were
transparent glass! Revelation 21:21
One of the first
things offered to baby Jesus, the only begotten Son of God
incarnate, was gold and frankincense and myrrh! These are
gifts appropriate for the Triune God!
And the Word of
God is always being compared to gold! The Scriptures, in Psalm
19:10, are said to be: "More to be
desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold:
sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb."
Well then ...
since gold is a Type of God Himself, the High Priest's garments
must be threaded with that emblematic metal!
Gold was actually
beaten into thin plates then carefully cut into thin wires ...
which were subsequently sewn into the fabric!
Gold ... then
blue, purple and scarlet!
How lovely that
outer apron (the Ephod) would have been!
What does this
color scheme teach us?
Gold ... That
Jesus, our Great High Priest --- much greater than Aaron, is
God! (Again, gold pictures God!) Our Lord Jesus is not part God
or nearly God or want-to-be God ... HE IS GOD!
Blue ... That
Jesus is Heavenly in nature! That's where He is right now, at
the Right Hand of the Throne of God!
Purple ... That
Jesus is King! I know He is yet to be King of the Jews and King
of all the earth ... but RIGHT NOW He is already crowned with
many crowns! "Crowned with glory and
honour" says Hebrews 2:9.
And Scarlet ...
That Jesus is the Saviour, the Son of God Who shed His Blood
that sinners might be saved!
Put it all
together:
Jesus is God!
(Gold)
Jesus is full of
Grace and the character of Heaven itself! (Blue)
Jesus is Royalty,
the Messiah, the King of Glory! (Purple)
And Jesus is the
One who made Blood Atonement for you and me! (Scarlet)
I've been reading
a book on the history of color! It especially explains how
mankind has learned to dye cloth into various colors. The
challenge to find appropriate "dyes" was formidable! Constant
work was involved!
Yet God took the
fruit of those labors and commanded man to make clothing that
was color drenched! Especially the High Priest's clothing!
Then ... surely
these tints and hues have significance!
And that
significance we have briefly discussed today!
Why, these things
to me simply add to the beauty of our Saviour!
Think what it's
going to be like when we see Him!
Jesus, Our
Redeemer and Bridegroom and Great High Priest!
After all, in
Hebrews 3:1 the Holy Spirit describing our Lord says:
"Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of
the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and
High Priest of
our profession, Christ Jesus, Who was faithful
...."
Yes!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 5:
It's called the "curious girdle."
It was part of
the wardrobe worn by the High Priest of Israel.
Exodus 39:5
describes it: "And the curious girdle of
his ephod, that was upon it, was of the same,
according to the work thereof; of gold, blue, and purple,
and scarlet, and
fine twined linen; as the Lord commanded Moses."
You can readily
see that it is part of the garment known as the "ephod," which
was the apron-like top layer to a very lovely and sophisticated
suit! And a holy one too!
The reason we are
focusing on the "curious girdle" today is that it is crafted
with the color red ...
scarlet ... a Bible emblem of Blood. (And ultimately not
just any blood ... but the Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ! The
Blood that washes away sin!)
A "girdle" in
this case is simply a belt! Some Bible teaches call it a
"sash." Or a waistband ... or even a thick cord.
Exodus 28:8 tells
us that the girdle here is "of the same" as the ephod. In other
words it is not just attached to the ephod, but made one with
it.
Since a girdle
usually typifies "service" and "faithfully doing one's duty" in
the Bible, and since the Ephod definitely now pictures Jesus as
our Great High Priest ... it is logical to assume that the
"curious girdle" is also a picture of Jesus in some way.
What if I told
you this?
Everything Jesus
did (or is now doing in Heaven as our
Mediator) is done in service to His Father and out
of love to His children ...
through the power of the
Blood He shed on Calvary!
All our Lord's
Ministry, all His Service ... is Blood energized!
It's critical
that we remember ... the "scarlet" in the girdle is an emblem of
Jesus' Death and Blood Atonement on the Cross!
That means ...
every soul Jesus saves is forgiven through His powerful
redemptive Blood!
That means ...
every prayer He answers is granted because of the Same Crimson
Flow!
That means ...
every enemy He overcomes is through the Blood of the Lamb!
That means ...
that even His return to earth is based upon the fact of the
Blood having been offered 2,000 years ago ... and accepted by
His Father in Heaven! (When He does return, riding that glorious
white horse, His garments will be "clothed
with a vesture dipped in Blood" according to Revelation
19:13.)
That means ...
that even our fellowship with Him today, our very communion or
lifeline with Jesus, is predicated upon the finished work of
Jesus on the Cross, where He gave His Blood so freely.
ALL JESUS DOES,
ALL HIS SERVICE, ALL HIS MINISTRY is Scarlet Red in Color! Is
Blood drenched! (I personally believe that the Blood Jesus
offered on Calvary is in Heaven right now. Sitting right there
at the Throne of God ... sprinkled on the Mercy Seat of Glory
... and Jesus operates today via the Power of that Liquid
Victory! Yes, I am so old fashioned that I still accept the
fact: "There is power in The Blood, the Blood of The Lamb!")
A red girdle ...
so what?
A scarlet belt
... an emblem of work and service and duty well performed?
WHEN APPLIED TO
JESUS ... A BEAUTIFUL PICTURE OF HOW HE DID (AND STILL DOES)
EVERYTHING THAT PLEASES HIS FATHER!
AND HOW HE SAVED
US AND WILL GET US TO GLORY!
BY MEANS OF THE BLOOD!
And in days of
old, when Aaron the High Priest appeared in public wearing his
garments, that girdle was an outstanding and very
visible feature of his attire!
Service ...
through the Blood!
How obvious!
And ... if Jesus
did and does all His Work through the Blood, what about you and
me, dear friend?
What should be
our basis of service?
That Very Same Blood!
Often today ...
let's remember Calvary ... then our High Priest in Heaven Who is
still operating on the Victory won there so long ago!
Amen!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 6:
The Lord has given me an interest in
the Bible word "scarlet."
It's a deep and
dark red color, one which symbolizes the Blood of Jesus!
I naturally
wanted to find a Bible Passage that was saturated with
"scarlet."
Using my
concordance, I quickly discovered that one Bible chapter
contained our word seven times!
Only one chapter
does so!
That's the 39th
chapter of Exodus and it happens to describe the garments of the
Jewish High Priest, Aaron.
"Scarlet" occurs
in verses 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 24 and 29. Count them ... seven times!
For example,
verse 8 says this: "And he made the
breastplate of cunning work, like the work of the ephod;
of gold, blue, and purple, and
scarlet, and fine
twined linen."
The Breastplate
contained scarlet in its design!
It was made of
cloth, apparently doubled so that a "pocket" was formed within,
and upon it were positioned 12 stones of beauty, each one
representing one of the Tribes of Israel!
But still ... it
was emblazoned with scarlet red!
The Hebrew word
for "breastplate" in its root form likely means "to contain" or
"to sparkle!"
It did contain
something, two stones called the Urim and the Thummim, used in
discerning God's will!
And it did
sparkle in bright light, reflecting the beauty of those twelve
precious jewels on its front!
But, most of all,
the Breastplate is known for its symbolic meaning. It, covering
the heart of the High Priest, pictured love and
compassion and kindness!
Now Jesus is our
Great High Priest ... sitting in Heaven at the Right Hand of God
... interceding on our behalf!
And He has on His
heart someone too! His Own children!
Yes, the
Breastplate Jesus wears also expresses love and concern for each
Believer in His Name, each son or daughter of God!
And that Love ...
heartfelt love, is also colored with "scarlet!"
Stained by the
Blood, the Blood of the Lamb of God, the Blood of the Cross!
As Aaron's
breastplate was blood-red ... so is it with Jesus!
Can you today see
any Bible connection between God's Love for you ... and that
precious Old Rugged Cross?
I sure can!
Here's one:
"For God so loved the world, that He gave
his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should
not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16 (God
The Father "gave" Jesus The Son on Mount Calvary!)
And another:
"Herein is love, not that we loved God,
but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the
Propitiation for our sins." 1st John 4:10 (That
"propitiation" occurred on the Cross!)
Then ...
"For scarcely for a righteous man will one
die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to
die. But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we
were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:7-8
(This one is self evident!)
In each case ...
the Lord's love for us is illustrated by the Cross of Calvary!
Mix the Scarlet
Red of Jesus' Blood with the Breastplate of His High Priestly
Love and you have a composite of Exodus 39:8.
"And he made the
breastplate of
cunning work, like the work of the ephod; of gold,
blue, and purple, and
scarlet, and fine twined linen."
Wow!
Friend, sometime
today ... thank Him and adore Him and worship Him for so loving
you! And doing so with a sacrificial Blood-sprinkled Love!
How beautiful is
that Crimson Flow!
Scarlet!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 7:
Positioned squarely across the heart
of the Jewish High Priest was a piece of clothing called a
Breastplate.
Covering his
heart, the seat of one's emotions, that lovely Breastplate
depicts for us who (or what) Aaron was to love!
The fact that the
Breastplate was made partly of red or scarlet material tells us
that this love is based upon some type of sacrifice, blood
sacrifice!
These facts are
all "tools" the Holy Spirit uses to teach us about a much
greater High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour ... Who
is in Heaven today sitting at the Right Hand of God The Father!
Our Lord's
Breastplate typifies His great Love!
It, being
streaked with crimson scarlet red, illustrates that Jesus' Blood
is the empowering factor behind His Love!
But ... whom was
Aaron (the earthly High Priest) to love?
And whom does
Jesus (the Heavenly High Priest) love?
The answer is in
the Bible!
Exodus 39:8-14
tell us precisely.
Upon the
Breastplate were "set" 12 precious stones!
Each stone
represented one of the twelve Tribes of Israel. In other words,
all God's redeemed people were loved by their High Priest!
"And they set in it four rows of stones:
the first row was a sardius, a topaz, and a
carbuncle: this was the first row. And the second row,
an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond. And the third row, a
ligure, an agate, and an amethyst. And the fourth row, a beryl,
an onyx, and a jasper: they were inclosed in ouches of
gold in their inclosings. And the stones were according
to the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to
their names, like the engravings of a signet, every one
with his name, according to the twelve tribes." Exodus
39:10-14
Let's briefly
look at the words used for these stones ... and see if they in
any way can describe the corporate people of God!
Sardius = "odem"
from "adam" in Hebrew = Red! The first stone is blood-red! One
source says it means "to show blood!" Do you how God loves His
people? Through the precious Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ!
Notice this beginning point!
Topaz = "pitdah"
in Hebrew = perhaps meaning "to seek!" We have been saved
because Jesus came "to seek and to save
that which was lost!" We are on His Breastplate because
He sought and found us!
Carbuncle = "bareqeth"
in Hebrew = meaning "glittering, lightning or flashing!" Once
saved by the Lord Jesus Christ, we become in His eyes precious
glowing Jewels! Listen to our Lord talk about His people in
Malachi 3:17 --- "And they shall be mine,
saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels;
and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth
him."
Emerald = "nophek"
= "to shine!" I'll let Aaron explain this one:
"The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The
LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee
peace." When the Lord's face shines upon us ... we
"shine" too! (Numbers 6:24-26)
Sapphire = "sappiyr"
= meaning "to write with a mark, to inscribe!" The Lord loves
us so that He "marks" us for eternity, filling us with His Holy
Spirit! And the Spirit "marks" and changes and transforms us
daily! His goal: to transform us "to the
Image of God's Dear Son!" Romans 8:29
Diamond = "yahalom"
= "to strike down, to hammer, to conquer, to disband!" Is that
not exactly what God had to do to save our souls? Break that
old stubborn natural human will? Here's conviction!
Ligure = "leshem"
= whose meaning is uncertain! The experts just do not know!
But that's just fine! Isn't there a part of God's love for us
that is beyond knowledge? Its height and depth and breadth are
past finding out! Thee will always be some mystery in the fact
of God's great love for old lost sinners!
Agate = "shebo" =
meaning "to carry away, to transport!" Need any comment be
made? The Lord saved us to take us to Heaven some day!
Amethyst = "achlamah"
= meaning "to bind firmly!" That speaks of security to me!
Secure in Jesus!
Beryl = "tarshiysh"
= meaning "Tarshish," a place ... perhaps the place from which
the stone was acquired! Hence ... the Lord not only knows where
we are going ... but where we have been too! He knows the pit
in which He found us! He knows our filthy past, and the Power of
the Blood to cleanse it!
Onyx = "shoham" =
meaning "to blanch!" That means "to turn white!" Just read
Isaiah 1:18 --- "Come now, and let us
reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow."
Then lastly, the
Jasper = "yashaphet" = meaning "to polish!" That's God's
ultimate goal for each of His precious children ... polished
stones fit for the Kingdom of God!
What lessons
today!
What truths!
The Lord Jesus
loves us ... each of His Own ... with all His heart!
And each Believer
in Jesus is different in some way, reflecting (as do these
stones) some glorious aspect of the Grace and Mercy and Love of
our Almighty God!
Hallelujah!
Saved friend, YOU
are loved!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 8:
Today we study an unusual topic. The
High Priest of Israel, when wearing his garments of beauty and
glory, had attached to the hems of his blue robe a series of
bells and pomegranates!
The exact
description is ... "And they made upon the
hems of the robe pomegranates of blue, and purple, and scarlet,
and twined linen. And they made bells of pure gold, and put the
bells between the pomegranates upon the hem of the robe, round
about between the pomegranates; a bell and a pomegranate, a bell
and a pomegranate, round about the hem of the robe to minister
in; as the LORD commanded Moses." Exodus 39:24-26
These are
man-made pomegranates, fashioned out of the finest linen and
dyed with several beautiful colors,
scarlet being the
most outstanding! They were crafted precisely as God had
instructed.
Now if Aaron is a
type or picture of Jesus, our Great High Priest, what could
these pomegranates mean?
And the bells
too?
Usually
pomegranates symbolize "fruitfulness" in the lives of
God's children!
Concerning
pomegranates ...
It seems
especially created to thrive in climates like that of the Holy
Land! (So do Christians grown where God has planted them!)
It (the fruit)
grows on a shrub or small tree 12 to 16 feet high ... with some
extending to 25 or 30 feet! (Different sizes and shapes ... but
the same sweet fruit!)
The trees live
long ... up to 200 years or more! (This is fruit that remains!)
Its blooms are
often scarlet too! (That's blood-red!)
The fruit itself
is lovely and round (3-5 inches wide) and filled with sweet
nutritious pulp. (These delicious clusters of fruit remind
one of the fruit of the Spirit ... which is a 9-fold cluster!
"Love, joy, peace" and so forth! See Galatians 5:22-23.)
It is relatively
pest and disease resistant! (The Holy Spirit drives away the
sinful enemies of our flesh too!)
The fruit can be
stored for up to 7 months, becoming sweeter and sweeter with
age! (The longer we serve Jesus ... the sweeter He grows! And
the longer we are saved, the sweet we should become also!)
The fruit did not
grow in Egypt as did onions and garlic and leeks and
cucumbers! (Egypt is a type of the world in the Bible!)
The fruit does
not grow in the mud or under the ground ... but cleanly
suspended in the air, gently basking in the fresh sunlight and
gentle breezes! (The right atmosphere!)
Now, leaving the
pomegranates for a minute ...
Let's discuss the
bells (made of gold) which were placed in an alternating pattern
around the hems of the priest's blue robe.
The bells speak
of "harmony" and "gentle praise!"
What a sweet
sound as the High Priest walks about, ministering to the people
and worshipping the Lord!
And let's not
forget ... there is the scarlet red color of Blood worked into
the pomegranates also!
Friend ... look
at Jesus today, our great High Priest!
He, at the Right
Hand of God, interceding for us even now ... is producing two
things in our lives:
Firstly, fruit
(sweet fruit) like pomegranates!
Because of the
Blood of Jesus ... we are saved and bear fruit! (Again, that's
the significance of the Scarlet color!)
Then, harmony
(golden tones filled with melody) as we walk in our earthly
journey!
Scarlet
pomegranates!
Golden bells!
Listen ... look
... Jesus is coming!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 9 ... THE LAST
INSTALLMENT ON
THE "SCARLET" PAGE:
Underneath the
beautiful Ephod and its attached breastplate Aaron the Jewish
High Priest wore another robe. This one was white in color
and made of fine linen. It too needed a belt-like band
around the waist ... holding everything in place. The
"sash" was called a girdle.
It is
described in Exodus 39:29. "And a
girdle of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and
scarlet, of needlework; as the LORD commanded Moses."
Notice that,
while the robe is white like linen, its girdle in embroidered
with the lovely colors of worship! Particularly we shall
study the "scarlet" tint, which represents Blood!
As you already
know, a "girdle" in Scripture typifies work or service rendered
unto the Lord. A laborer in Israel, when busily chopping
wood or plowing in his field, would fold the long outer robes of
his garments down inside this narrow belt, freeing his legs to
do move more freely in the task at hand!
Simon Peter
uses this word picture in his first Epistle:
"Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind,
be sober ...." (1st Peter 1:13)
Jesus, the
anti-Type (Fulfillment) of Aaron's High Priesthood, also wears
such a girdle! He is ever busy serving (interceding for)
His people! And the basis for such effective service is
among other things ... but still most importantly ... the BLOOD
that was shed on Calvary!
Without the
vicarious atonement ... Jesus' work in Heaven right now would be
unsuccessful!
Christian
Friends ... so would our labor on earth ("girdle" work) be
useless without the power of the Blood behind it!
Jesus once
girded Himself with a towel and washed His Disciples' feet ...
beautifully illustrating the principle of this piece of
clothing. "He riseth from supper,
and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded
himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to
wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel
wherewith he was girded." John 13:4-5
Jesus' High
Priestly Ministry right now is dependent upon His Own Blood, in
God's eyes still having been freshly offered!
"Having therefore, brethren, boldness to
enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and
living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil,
that is to say, his flesh." (Hebrews 10:19-20)
That Greek word "new" (spelled "prosphatos") means freshly
slaughtered!
One more thing
today, the girdle is mentioned as the first piece of armour for
us Believers to wear ... according to Paul in Ephesians 6:14.
"Stand
therefore, having your loins girt about with truth ...."
And the last
piece of armour is ... "the sword of the
Spirit, which is the word of God." Ephesians 6:17
First, the
girdle!
Lastly, the
sword of God's Word!
Why so?
Because often
the sword was sheathed between the tight girdle and the
warrior's body, keeping it securely in place until needed!
See the
connection?
The Word is
best kept via girdle power ... girdle power impacted by Jesus'
Blood!
It appears to
me that every victorious area of Christian life is made possible
by that Crimson Flow from the Cross ... Jesus' scarlet Blood!
Hallelujah!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
MAY THE LORD BLESS THIS STUDY OF HIS PRECIOUS WORD!
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