A story of two breastplates

This morning I was reading in Exodus 28 about the priestly garments and for the first time the priest's breastplate really registered with me.

"You shall make a breastplate of judgment... So Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel on the breastplate of judgment over his heart, when he goes into the holy place, as a memorial before the Lord continually."  Exodus 28:15 & 29

Aaron, the priest, served as mediator between Israel and God.  The names of the 12 tribes of Israel were written on this breastplate of judgment that Aaron wore as a reminder that all Israel had sinned and was guilty before God, deserving His judgment.  As the priest or intercessor, Aaron bore that judgment for Israel symbolically during worship when he offered up the sacrifices Israel brought before the Lord.

Jesus is our High Priest.  We need no other mediator with God. 

"For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, and undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the peoples', for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself."  Hebrews 7:26-27  

And because Christ bore our sins before God and brought the judgment we deserved upon Himself, we who are in Christ no longer need to wear the breastplate of judgment.  Praise be to God, because of Christ's work, we are able to wear the breastplate of righteousness.

"Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness..."  Ephesians 6:10