Introduction: Scripture Reading- Exodus 25:1-9
- Shadows to Substance Series: Col. 2:8-3:3
- The Tabernacle in the Old Testament was a mobile dwelling place for God among His people, pointing to the ultimate fulfillment of God’s presence in the person of Jesus Christ.
I. The Purpose of the Tabernacle
- Exodus 25:8: God commanded the building of the Tabernacle as a place for His presence to dwell among the Israelites.
- Parts of the Tabernacle:
- The outer court or courtyard- surrounded by a wall with a gate on the east end for entrance into the court.
- The Tent of Meeting on the west of the court divided into 2 rooms- the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place (or Holy of Holies)
- The Holy Place contained the golden lampstand, the table of showbread, and the golden incense altar; it was divided from the court with a linen clothe to remind the people that only the priests were able to enter.
- The Golden Lampstand was made of pure gold and the priests were responsible for keeping oil in it and trimming the wick so it would stay lit continually.
- The Table of Showbread that had bread on it. Each week the priests were responsible for replacing the bread, eating the old and sanctifying the new.
- The Golden Incense Alter was before the veil to the Holy of Holies and the priests burnt incense to God.
- The Holy of Holies contained the ark of the covenant and it too was divided from the Holy Place because only the High Priest was able to enter here once a year on the Day of Atonement to offer atonement for the sins of the people.
- The Ark of the Covenant was the only thing in the Holy of Holies, containing the Ten Commandments (the one Moses had to write himself) and the rod of Aaron; the High Priest would enter on the Day of Atonement and sprinkle blood from a hyssop onto the ark.
- Outside in the court were two additional items:
- The alter of burnt offering- the Israelites were able to offer sacrifices here; not just the priests.
- The bronze laver or wash basin- this was used by the priests to wash their hands and feet before entering the Tent of Meeting to serve God.
- It all symbolized God’s desire to be near His people.
II. Jesus – God Dwelling Among Us
- John 1:14: "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us" – Jesus is the true tabernacle, the presence of God in human form.
-Emmanuel Matt. 1:23 “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”
- Hebrews 9:8-28: Jesus entered the heavenly tabernacle, offering Himself as the perfect (teleios-complete) sacrifice for our sins once and for ALL people.
III. The Tabernacle and Christ’s Fulfillment
- The Tabernacle’s layout, its sacrifices, and its furnishings all point to Christ and His work of redemption.
- All Christians are priests today, through the washing of water by which we contact the blood of Jesus [this is how we become a priest of God]. This must be done before God will allow us to enter the church and ultimately heaven. By extension, I John 1:7, we should be pure of all sin before we worship God today, by walking in the light of the gospel and allowing the blood of Jesus to continually wash us of sin; this includes sin against each other and not just God (the priests in the OT had to wash before entering the Tabernacle to worship or serve God)
- It is the responsibility of all Christians to partake of the showbread or the loaf every first day of the week. (the priests in the OT had to partake every week)
- It is the responsibility of all Christians to keep the lampstand lit or let our light shine before the world until Christ returns to bring us home. (the priests of the OT had to keep the lampstand lit continually)
- It is the responsibility of all Christians to worship God in His way to offer up incense to Him [Rev. 8:3-4]. (the priest of the OT had to offer incense before God)
- Christ, the new High Priest by the order of Melchizedek, is the only one who was able to enter the Holy of Holies. He offered His own blood for the atonement of all sin once. (the people and the priests of the OT had to offer sacrifices and be obedient for the atonement of blood by the High Priest to do any good, it wasn’t forced upon the people; we know this because time and time again they rejected God and His care)
- Through Jesus, God dwells among us and offers access to His presence. God desires to dwell with us, not in a physical tabernacle, but through Jesus who has made the way open to us. (God dwelt among the Israelites in the OT when they were obedient to His will and commands)
- Matt. 18:1, 15-20
- Eph. 3:1-12
Conclusion:
- As the Tabernacle was the meeting place between God and man, so Jesus Christ is the ultimate meeting place, where we can experience God’s presence and salvation.
- Eph. 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:”
- Gal. 3:26-29 “ For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
- This is how God adds us into the church, the body of Christ, today; through obedience to Him in immersion in water and living faithful unto death. Not physically, but spiritually added or translated into the kingdom of His dear Son (Col. 1:13).
- Invitation