Pastor's Bible Study

The High Priest pictured Jesus in his current heavenly ministry as a our Great High Priest. This is often the office of Jesus that we give the least attention to. We think of Him as Savior and King, but we often fail to emphasize and partake in His ministry as our Great High Priest. He is our representative before God the Father, and Jesus represents the Father before us. Because He lived life as man He is sympathetic to our needs. Because He arose from the dead He has the power to meet any and every need. Therefore, we can come to Him and find grace and mercy to help in time of need.

In the veil we see Jesus' incarnation. In the Ark we see Jesus as King, Savior, and High Priest. In the Mercy Seat we see Jesus' sacrifice to pay for our sin and satisfy the wrath and justice of God. How do we get to the most holy place? Through the veil of Jesus humanity and life as it was rent by death on the cross.

Scofield Reference Bible: Altar of Incense, type of Christ our intercessor (Jn 17:1-26; Heb 7:25), through whom our own prayers and praises ascend to God (Heb 13:15; Rev 8:3, 4), and of the believer-priest’s sacrifice of praise and worship (Heb 13:15). 

The showbread speaks of Jesus as the life sustainer. Eternal life is a gift from God that is received by a person when they receive the “true” manna of God, Jesus. However, eternal life requires a special food to sustain it in growth and strength. It is the showbread that sets forth Jesus as the food for those who have partaken of the manna of life.

The door of the tabernacle was colored to blue, purple, and scarlet representing Jesus' deity, kingship, and humanity. t takes Jesus in his deity and humanity to make Him our Savior . He is the door of salvation, and He is the doorway to fellowship with, serve, or worship God.

The brazen laver primarily dealt with cleansing and that of the priests, and it pictures daily cleansing of believers for service and fellowship with the Lord. 

The brazen altar was the place of substitution for Israel. It was a figure of the cross of Christ. In the Old Testament economy, the sacrificer (one making the offering) had to identify himself with the sacrifice (animal) and be represented by a priest. Under the New Covenant, we must identify ourselves with Jesus in his death. He is our substitutionary lamb. His death was substitutionary. He died in our place. And He is our Great High Priest that represents us.

The fine white linen fence tabernacle revealed that God was encircled with righteousness, and when approached on His terms and conditions He could make humanity righteous as well.  God can only be approached on His own terms though His Son Jesus Christ. This truth is beautifully taught in a tangible way by the Gate.  The tabernacle had only one gate. There was only one entrance. It was wide to accommodate all who would enter, but it was singular, i.e. only one way and pointed to the the truth that Jesus is the one and only way to God. He is the way, the truth, and life. No man comes to God but by Jesus.

The importance of the tabernacle cannot be missed since more than 40 chapters of God’s Word is devoted to its construction, its meaning, the priesthood, and the worship services conducted daily at it. The tabernacle is ultimately a picture of Jesus and His redemptive work on the cross.