Robed Because

Numbers 20:24–28 (ESV) “Let Aaron be gathered to his people, for he shall not enter the land that I have given to the people of Israel, because you rebelled against my command at the waters of Meribah. 25 Take Aaron and Eleazar his son and bring them up to Mount Hor. 26 And strip Aaron of his garments and put them on Eleazar his son. And Aaron shall be gathered to his people and shall die there.” 27 Moses did as the LORD commanded. And they went up Mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation. 28 And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments and put them on Eleazar his son. And Aaron died there on the top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain.

This moment in Israel's history is poignant. The original high priest of the nation will die. He will be gathered to his people and seen no more. Before then, however, he will be led up a mountain, stripped of his regal garments and left alone to die. The garments that signified his distinguished calling in Israel's life will be applied to his son Eleazar. This is the only high priest Israel has known. This moment is huge. 

The high priest was the mediator between man and God. The death of a high priest marked the end of an era for the nation (see Numbers 35). For the high priest to die it meant a new day was dawning. Here it shows us the Gospel of Christ. 

Why so much detail in this event? Because we see the foreshadows of the cross. Our great High Priest was led up the mountain, stripped of his garments, and left alone to die. We, His followers are anointed as a kingdom of priests to carry on His ministry. 

Revelation 5:9–10 (NLT) And they sang a new song with these words: “You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it. For you were slaughtered, and your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. 10 And you have caused them to become a Kingdom of priests for our God. And they will reign on the earth.”

We are clothed in His righteousness. 

Isaiah 61:10 (ESV) I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

What He had on His heart, His people have on theirs - the gems signifying the worth and value of God's people. Just as Eleazar received what Aaron had because of Aaron's death, we receive what Christ had because He chose willingly to let the law put Him to death so that we might live beyond the law. 

Yet unlike Aaron, Jesus rose triumphantly. His priesthood knows no end. He is a priest forever who saves to the uttermost those who call on Him.

Hebrews 7:23–27 (ESV) The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, 24 but He holds his priesthood permanently, because He continues forever. 25 Consequently, He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. 26 For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for His own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when He offered up himself.