Introduction – The Tabernacle as a Foreshadowing of Christ
What if I told you that the Tabernacle was more than an ancient place of worship but that its very design and function were meant to point us to Christ?
In this two-part series, we will examine the Tabernacle closely and how every detail foreshadows Jesus. In Part 1, we will explore the outer court—from the gate to the brazen laver. Next, in Part 2, we will step into the inner court and uncover even more meaningful connections to Christ.
God instructed Moses precisely on how to design the Tabernacle because because it was both a copy and shadow of God’s sanctuary in Heaven (Hebrews 8:5). But He also intended everything in the Tabernacle to foreshadow Christ.
God has always desired a relationship with us. The Tabernacle was part of His plan to be with us. After the fall of man but before Jesus, God dwelt in the Tabernacle, then the Temple. After Jesus’ death, we became God’s ” tabernacle.” Later, when we are in heaven, God will dwell with us face to face, as in the Garden of Eden (Revelation 21:3).
Jesus fulfilled God’s purpose for the Tabernacle – He is God with us (Matthew 1:23). The Tabernacle and all that was in it is a beautiful picture of Christ. Each piece of the Tabernacle represents a truth about our Messiah that will draw us closer to Him.
The Tabernacle’s Structure – The Outer Court and the Inner Court
(Exodus 26:33-34)
God designed the Tabernacle as two parts: the outer court and the inner court. The outer court was open to all Israelites. It had one gate, an altar, and a laver. The inner court had two sections, divided by a veil: the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies. Only priests could enter the Holy Place, and only the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies.
The Outer Court – A Place of Preparation
In Part 1, we focus on the outer court, where people prepare to meet with God.
The Gate – The Only Way In
(Exodus 27:16-19, John 10:9, John 14:6)
The Gate of The Tabernacle
There was only one entrance into the Tabernacle, a gate (Exodus 27:9-19) which faced East, the same direction as the entrance into the Garden of Eden, God’s first dwelling place with man. Anyone seeking God’s presence could enter the gate into the courtyard.
Jesus, the Only Way
As there was only one way into the Tabernacle, there is only one way to God: through Jesus (John 14:6). He is the gate.
Jesus tells us:
“I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved” (John 10:9).
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6)
All are welcome through the Son!
The Brazen Altar – A Symbol of Sacrifice
(Exodus 27:1-8, Romans 12:1)
The Altar and the Burnt Offering
After entering the Tabernacle gate with their sacrifice, a person would first encounter the altar (Exodus 27:1-8). The fire on the altar never went out; it was continually burning. At the altar, the priests offered the sacrifice as a burnt offering, which would be entirely consumed by fire. There, the blood of the sacrifice was shed to forgive sins.
Jesus, the Perfect Sacrifice
The altar foreshadows the Cross and the once and for all sacrifice that Christ would make on the altar of the Cross for the forgiveness of our sins.
At the altar of the Cross, we also lay down our old life and our disobedient will. Just like the fire consumed the sacrifice, we must let God consume us.
“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship” (Romans 12:1).
The Brazen Laver – Cleansing Through the Word
(Exodus 30:17-21, Ephesians 5:26, Hebrews 10:22)
The Priests and the Laver
The next thing a person would encounter after the brazen altar was the brazen laver, a sizeable water-filled basin crafted from the women’s bronze mirrors. The priests washed their hands and feet at the laver before entering the Holy Place (Exodus 30:17-21)
The Word of God and Spiritual Cleansing
The laver is more than just a basin; it represents the Word of God. It is like a mirror showing us our true selves.
“For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, even penetrating as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).
The Word is also like water that washes and cleanses us (John 15:3).
Jesus is the Word of God made flesh (John 1:1, John 1:14). He died to make us clean and lives to sanctify us.
“to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word” (Ephesians 5:26).
“Draw near [to God] with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water” (Hebrews 10:22).
Conclusion – Jesus, Our Tabernacle
Jesus is the gate to the Father’s house. All are welcome at the altar of the cross. He is our perfect sacrifice, the only one we will ever need. When we come to Jesus, we are washed by the Word of God. We are made clean.
But what lies beyond the outer court?
In Part 2, we will step into the inner court, where only priests could enter. We’ll explore the Holy Place, the veil, and the Holy of Holies – each revealing even more about Christ’s role as our High Priest.
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Making Him Known February 28, 2025 9:13 am