Exodus 19:22 And let the priests also, which come near to the Lord, sanctify themselves, lest the Lord break forth upon them.

Before we can properly address the total significance of the resurrection of Christ we need to examine the demands of service within the priesthood. Aaron’s sons presented strange fire before the Lord and were consumed in fire. Leviticus 10:1 in the Amplified version calls it unacceptable fire. Two hundred and fifty Levites rebelled against Moses claiming their rights to serve the Lord, they were consumed by fire.  (Numbers 16:35)

At issue here is two key elements; that all the ordinates of service had to be performed with perfection or the sacrifice was not accepted and that only God’s chosen could perform those ordinates. The significance of acceptance of the sacrifice was shown in the high priest returning from the Holy of Holies alive.

Hebrews 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

While it is extremely important that Christ’s resurrection demonstrated His power over death, it is just as significant to understand that His resurrection also demonstrated God’s acceptance of that blood offering. The significance is that we who are in Christ not only have redemption of sins, but power over death, i.e. eternal life.

Now for the last little connective tissue. The high priest wore an Ephod with the twelve stones, one representing each tribe of Israel. The Ephod represented the high priest standing in service of ordinances for the people of Israel. When the high priest entered into the Holy of Holies to offer up the blood of sacrifice, he removed the Ephod and entered in wearing only pure white linen. He did not represent just Israel but all who sought redemption from God.