“Clothes make the man.” The saying’s been around awhile. Given the state of our fashion industry — whether that’s a formal tux or a “pre-shredded” jeans — I’m thinking this age-old proverb still holds some sway. This past weekend went to an open-air shopping mall in San Diego with three of my girls. Look at the mall’s directory, and of the 171 stores there 93 are categorized as fashion retailers (that doesn’t include the larger department stores). Whole lot to choose from. After all, clothes make the man, garments say something about the girl.

And as I read in Exodus this morning, the old adage holds true — at least in one particular case.

“Then bring near to you Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the people of Israel, to serve Me as priests —  Aaron and Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty.”
. . .
“For Aaron’s sons you shall make coats and sashes and caps. You shall make them for glory and beauty. And you shall put them on Aaron your brother, and on his sons with him, and shall anoint them and ordain them and consecrate them, that they may serve Me as priests.”

(Exodus 28:1-2, 40-41 ESV)

For those called to minister before the LORD in the holy place, not just any wardrobe would do. Their garments would be special garments. What they wore would make a statement. What they wore would be unlike what anyone else wore. Their apparel would be holy apparel. Their clothes would be consecrated clothes. Their clothes would be for glory and for beauty.

Makes sense. Not that they were dressing up just so they could be putting on the Ritz, but that what they wore would say something about who they were and what they were doing. They were priests before the Most High God. They were entrants into His holy presence. They brought the people before God. They represented God before the people. You better believe not just any old clothes would do. And so, what the LORD commanded Moses to have tailored for His priests was something that would speak glory and beauty.

It’s got me thinking about my High Priest, the Lord Jesus, and what He wore (or didn’t wear) when He left the Father’s presence in order to dwell among us.

Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? For He grew up before Him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; He had no form or majesty that we should look at Him, and no beauty that we should desire Him.

(Isaiah 53:1-2 ESV)

No glory, no beauty. That’s how Jesus presented when He entered our world. He took off His garments of glory when He was born in the likeness of man. He emptied Himself of His resplendent beauty when He assumed the form of a servant. For though He is the great High Priest, He came to offer Himself as a once for all sacrifice.

“Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

(John 1:29 ESV)

No form or majesty that we should look at Him . . . no beauty that we should desire Him. The clothes He wore at His first coming did not make the Man, for the Man willingly putting off His heavenly garb. Clothed with humility, not arrayed in glory. So that “being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Php. 2:8).

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

What grace! What beauty! What glory!