Hey folks,
Today we're diving into one of the most profound truths in all of Scripture - that Jesus Christ is our Greater Tabernacle. In the Old Testament, the Tabernacle was where God's presence dwelt among His people. But now, through the incarnation, we have something far greater. Let's dial in and see how this truth changes everything.
John 1:14 "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth."
Think about this: in the Old Testament, the Tabernacle was both glorious and sobering. Glorious because God’s presence resided there. Sobering because the tabernacle itself was a daily bloodbath - endless sacrifices as endless reminder of God’s holiness and man’s sinfulness.
Within the tabernacle itself, only the High Priest, once a year, could enter the Holy of Holies - but as he did so, he would tread carefully and fearfully. With a sense of dread, the High Priest would enter the Holy place with a rope tied around his ankle. Why? Because if he approached God in an unworthy manner he would be struck dead immediately and then the people would need to drag him out. Therefore, on the day of atonement, two million people would wait in complete silence, wondering: "Will God accept our sacrifice?"
But then Jesus came. The Word became flesh and "tabernacled" among us. This isn't just clever wordplay – it's the whole story of Scripture coming together. The same glory that filled the Tabernacle now walked the dusty roads of Galilee. The same presence that was hidden behind thick curtains now ate with tax collectors and blessed children.
Here's what's wild: Jesus didn't just represent the Tabernacle; He became our final sacrifice. The very place that housed God's glory became the offering itself. Think about that – it was God offering up God to die for man. This is grace upon grace, truth upon truth, flowing from an inexhaustible fountain.
The glory of God isn't displayed in thunder and smoke anymore. It's revealed in the shame of the cross, where the King of Glory died for wretches like us. This is why the gospel is such a mystery – it's not just that God withheld His judgment; He lavished us with grace when we deserved the opposite.
How does understanding Jesus as our Greater Tabernacle change the way you approach God in prayer?
In what areas of your life do you need to move from fear to boldness in approaching God's throne of grace?
Stay dialed in,
Jonny Ardavanis