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THE PARABLES OF
JESUS, #037
A Chronological
Study
"To Him who
opened His mouth in parables and
uttered things
hidden since the creation of the world."
Psalm 78:2
Symbols And
Metaphors
About
Jesus The Messiah
INTRODUCTION
RECAPPING THE REJECTED STONE
THE TEXT
Our last lesson concerned the Parable of the Landowner and the
Murderous Tenants. This parable brought up a number of questions
about how Jesus uses parables, metaphors, and similes to communicate
His important messages to His disciples. He does that, as we’ve
discussed a few times already, to communicate different messages to
different groups who are listening to Him.
We’ll move away from Jesus’ Parables for much of this lesson and
concentrate on places in the Old Testament that provided important
information about Jesus as the Messiah as we saw in the last parable
“The Murderous Tenants.” Verses found in Psalm 118 and Isaiah 5 gave
us very important prophetic information concerning Jesus that was
very comforting to Jesus’ disciples and very antagonistic to the
Scribes, Priests, Pharisees and Sadducees.
We’ll focus, for the most part, in this lesson on information found
in the Old Testament book of Exodus as God, through Moses, sets down
plans for the building and functioning of God’s dwelling place on
earth – The Tabernacle in the wilderness during Israel’s time of
wandering.
THE PARABLE OF THE VINEYARD
But first, let’s take a look again at the end of the study of
“Isaiah’s and Jesus’ “Parable of the Vineyard.”
Isaiah 5:1-7
The Question God leaves for the Hebrews
of 775 years before Jesus uses His Parable of the Vineyard is…
“Look what I have invested in the Hebrew People, and
look at what they have done with my vineyard.” And God
asks them, and all those who followed reading God’s Word – “Judge
now, between Me and My vineyard.” In Isaiah’s time that question
would have seen the generations of infighting of the nation, they
would have seen the advancement of the nation of Assyria, the
captivity of the split off northern tribe into a spiritually
rebellious new nation of Israel and the now growing nation of
Babylon who would come and take Assyria and Israel into captivity,
and drag most of their people off into foreign lands, many to become
slaves. “Look between what I
had done for them, and what that they have done – growing apart from
me.”
Still in Isaiah’s time – God responds with the following questions
placed to that nation.
THE TABERNACLE OF THE BOOK OF EXODUS
Exodus 25:1-23
What you ask, “now we’re going to go back to the beginnings of the
Bible and the Nation of Israel? Yes, because the building of the
Tabernacle was the first in-depth revelation of the purpose to
reveal much about the One who was to come in the Name of the Lord
who would finally be revealed as the Jewish Messiah, The very Son of
God who would come here to the earth as a God-Man and make His
Father’s plans for the salvation of the men and women, boys and
girls, whom God has chosen and called to be those persons who would
be the physical humans who would take their place, for all of
eternity, as the adopted members of God’s family to take His mission
and word into eternity – eternally separated and saved from the
effects,
guilt and
penalty of sin.
The building of God’s Tabernacle was God’s way to reveal and place
into a regular system of their culture so that they would, as a
nation, have to work with all the taught lessons from the Tabernacle
that would explain God’s plan and His Person who was going to come
fulfilling the prophecies – already made and a future one to be made
– concerning the “Anointed One of God,” The “Messiah of God,” and
“The Christ of God.” As those terms became part of the generations
of the Nation of Israel, both Old and New Testament.
You see, the Tabernacle was made up of “parts,” posts, curtains,
various precious metals, wood, wool, animal skins, etc., and every
little piece has a descriptive tie to the qualities of the Messiah
that was to come.
BUT FIRST, SOME DETAILS
The Tabernacle
has at least five names in scripture.
1. Sanctuary
- Set apart for a Holy God – and set apart for us to learn of God’s
Son.
2. Tabernacle
- A dwelling place for God while He
is among them and a foreshadowing of the
Son of God “tabernacling” among His chosen people.
3. Tent
- a Temporary Dwelling place and a body for God’s Son for His stay
here on earth to accomplish His ministry, death, and the beginning
of His new “Church.”
4. Tabernacle of the Congregation
- For a God who would meet with His
people and communicate with them.
5. Tabernacle of Testimony
- For a God who testified to Israel
and the world of His existence, Truth, and Glory.
THE COURT OF THE TABERNACLE
This was the courtyard that surrounds the Tabernacle.
It was Approximately 175' by 90' or twice the size of our sanctuary!
And it’s purpose was to provide a hidden space for the practice of
substitutionary animal sacrifice that would teach the Messianic
message that one would come and give His substitutionary sacrifice
of His own life for each and every person who would willingly
believe in Him and:
love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and
with all thy mind.”
There was a white linen fence around the courtyard, it
was approx. 9' high, so it was too high for sinful man to look or
climb in nor could they crawl in… for judgment met him in the Brass
sockets which held the supports for the courtyard rails.
There was only
ONE WAY
in, The Curtain of Entry, For Jesus says:
"I AM THE WAY"
THE WAY TO FORGIVENESS
Colors of the door curtains:
Blue - Heavenly
Purple - Royalty
Scarlet - Blood
White Linen - Purity
Only this
ONE DOOR,
One way to God -
into the Tabernacle, through the
courtyard, into the Holy place, and into the Holy of Holies...
Christ is there...
THE SURROUNDING FENCE
175' by 90' (540' around) by 9' high. The White Linen speaks of
Christ and His Walk, spotless and Holy.
THE BRAZEN ALTAR
First, we face the BRAZEN ALTAR - CHRIST
OUR JUSTIFICATION - The substitutional sacrifice, the animal, was
brought into the courtyard by it's owner, accompanied by a Priest
with a knife. The knife was handed to the owner and it was he who
cut the throat of his animal, it's blood both poured out on the
ground and a portion saved to be sprinkled upon the Mercy Seat of
God in the Holy of Holies - then the b ody cut up for burning on the
altar, and the man was released - the animal was the image of
Christ, Sacrificed like the Messiah would be in place of us. Christ
would be Judged and made to be sin FOR US. This altar was made from Wood
(Humanity, Christ's) overlaid with pure Gold (Deity, Christ's) and
the firepit grill from forged Brass to deal with the hot flames (of
Hell).
THE BRAZEN LAVER
Next, we face the BRAZEN LAVER. This was
a washing place with constantly refreshed water (Christ's offer of
Living Water) for the washing of
hands and feet for service at the Altar (The Priesthood of Christ
our Mediator). CHRIST OUR SANCTIFICATION -
Christ Cleanses us by the Water of the Word. Christ makes one fit
for God's presence by the Washing in His Blood. The Laver was
Completely made of BRASS, for Judgment is God's business, and God's
business alone.
It was there that the Priests washed their hands and feet. It was
not only their Work that needed cleansing, but their Walk as well.
THE TABERNACLE ITSELF
A walled small building with two rooms,
approx. 52' by 15' by 21' high. Made up of 20 wood boards, on each
side, covered in pure gold. The wood boards spoke of His humanity,
and the covering of pure gold spoke of His deity.
Each board rested on two Silver Sockets which spoke of Redemption,
and which separated the Gold Covered boards from the ground which
spoke of Christ’s humanity being separated by the Gold that spoke of
His humanity but separated, not from the sinful seed of the man.
Over the Tabernacle was a roof made of animal skins. There was
Badger. It had no comeliness on the outside as Christ was described
as having no comeliness on the outside… that we should desire Him.
There was holy Ram skin dyed red - a Holy Animal who was Obedient
unto Death. And Goat skin, The Sin offering Animal, and the Scape
Goat who was sent out of the city.
INSIDE THE TABERNACLE
Inside there are TWO ROOMS and inside EVERYTHING was either covered
with Gold or made of Gold with No Spot or Blemish. Like all the
sacrifices – required to be without Spot or Blemish – certainly
Jesus, the God/Man was without sin (spot or blemish).
How different the inside from the outside! On the outside there was
just a man who was nothing remarkable to observe, but inside was a
most remarkable loving God-Man who would die for every man, woman,
boy, and girl in order to bring them salvation. How different the
Appearance from the Real!
And genuinely…How interesting that the items inside the Tabernacle
were laid out in the form of a CROSS!
Let us now begin our walk through the TABERNACLE and scrutinize each
item and find REAL meanings for those things which appear only as
shadows to those who look no further.
A. FIRST, THE HOLY PLACE, The first of Two Rooms.
Jesus Said: "I AM THE TRUTH" - The Only Way to Blessings. It was the
ministering place of the Priests. It’s Entry way was closed off by a
second curtain on five pillars.
The CONTENTS
1. THE GOLDEN CANDLESTICK
"CHRIST OUR LIGHT"
It was made out of Solid Gold - The Perfect Light of Christ. It was
about the size of a Man and had 7 branches and shaped like an Almond
Tree – Christ the "Perfect light and revealer of Truth."
2. THE TABLE AND SHEWBREAD
"CHRIST
- THE
PLACE OF FEEDING, AND THE BREAD OF LIFE"
It was Approx 40" by 21"
and 30" high – It was made out of Wood (humanity) covered with Gold
(Deity). It was called, "The Table of communion." There were no
chairs – not a place to sit, but a place to serve. The bread was
carried through The Wilderness W/O falling - "They shall not pluck
them out of My hand"! The Bread was sprinkled with Frankincense –
the pleasant fragrance of intercession. This bread was in loafs, 12
of them. Each one representing one of the Covenanted Tribes of
Israel
3. THE ALTAR OF INCENSE
"CHRIST - OUR INTERCESSOR - The Great
High Priest" after the Order of Melchizedek.
It measured approx. 21" square and 3 1/2' high and speaks of the
universality of Prayer for all are loved – Christ is our
Intercessor. This altar has carrying rings attached to it - Take
Prayer with you where ever you go.
B. THE INNER PLACE
THE HOLY OF HOLIES
CHRIST HIMSELF
For Jesus Said: "I AM THE LIFE."
He is The Only Way into God's Presence.
THE ARK OF THE COVENANT - GOD'S EARTHLY THRONE "CHRIST HIMSELF"
It measured about 4' by 3' by 3' high and was made of wood overlaid
with Gold – representing the Hyperstatic Union of this God/Man. And
inside this Ark was:
1. THE LAW (The Standards of God)
2. THE MANNA (The Provision of God)
3. ARON'S ROD THAT BUDDED (The Sustenance of God) and Jesus’ birth –
The "Root out of Dry Ground" - The Virgin Birth.
THE GOLDEN MERCY SEAT - OUR
PROPITIATION
(in 2 forms) "CHRIST OUR
SATISFACTION & CHRIST OUR PLACE OF SATISFACTION"
This was made out of Solid gold -
beaten out of one piece. As said before this is an image of the
Throne of God where the substitutional sacrificed animal’s blood
(Jesus blood) was sprinkled once a year at the High Holy Day, Yom
Kippur, “The Day of Atonement,” This would enable God to cover the
sins of the High Priest and the people on the Basis of what Christ
would eventually do on the Cross 1,500 years later... Bring them
forgiveness for their sins. There were Cherubim Angels at each end
of this seat - heads bowed - hands and upper wings covering eyes -
lower wings touching walls of tabernacle - "hovering over the Seat
of Mercy." The Shekina Glory (the visible Glory of God) dwelled
between the Cherubim (Smoke by day, Light by night). The Mercy Seat
is the Cover or lid of the Ark to keep man from experiencing
"THE LAW"
and dying from a terrible judgment; Man is unable to "keep" the LAW.
Thank God, Christ our Mercy Seat, for it COVERS OVER the LAW and
Protects us from judgment.
CONCLUSION
So then, this completes our Walk through the Tabernacle. It is my
hope and prayer that while there, you have seen Christ. For as He
has said, "I am the Way, The Truth, and The Life: no man cometh unto
the Father, but by me."
FOLLOW-UP:
Instead of questions on this lesson, please review this document and consider those things that represent Jesus Christ through illustration, metaphor, or simile – and write down the qualities represented there of our Savior, Jesus The Christ.
Also See:
Introduction to the study of Typology
Christ In The Tabernacle - AncientPath.net
Christ In The Tabernacle -
W. W. Rugh
Typology in The Tabernacle, Priesthood and Offerings
[i] All Scriptures
from the New American Standard Bible (1995)