Tabernacle and Christ

Tabernacle and Christ

                In the past two weeks we saw two individuals in the Old Testament served as types of Christ and this week we move on to an important object from the Old Testament – Tabernacle. The Tabernacle was the portable center of worship that God commanded as place of worship for the Israelites. God gave the instructions to Moses on how the tabernacle ought to be made. The author of Hebrews teaches us that the earthly tabernacle was based on what Moses saw in heaven. We should not simply understand this to mean that Moses created a replica of a temple he saw in heaven. This week’s reading is taken from Exodus 40. Let us see how can see Christ in the various articles of tabernacle:

                As a general statement we must understand that the incarnate word is Christ who tabernacle among us. Although we are all familiar with John 1:14 (The word became flesh and dwelt among us), we would profit much from understanding the second part of that verse. “The word became flesh and pitched his tent among us” is an accurate way of reading the verse. As St. Gregory of Nyssa states when speaking of the tabernacle in his important work “Life of Moses”, ‘This one is the Only Begotten God, who encompasses everything in himself but who also pitched his own tabernacle among us.’ Christ is the true meeting place in whom we can access God.

                The first item that God commands Moses to plant in the tabernacle is the Ark of the Covenant. The ark of covenant and the mercy seat all remind us of Christ’s once and for all sacrifice (Hebrews 9:12). The three items placed in the ark are also figures of Christ: the tablets of Law, Aaron’s rod and the mannah. The veil which encloses the ark stands for the body of Christ. In Hebrews 10:19-20 we read, “Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh”.

                God commands Moses to place each item in the tabernacle beginning from the holy of holies to the outer section. After the ark the next time is the table of show bread or bread of the presence. The bread placed on this table reminds us that Christ is the bread of life (St. John 6:35). The title “Show Bread” can be rendered literally as “Bread of the Face” and shows that consuming of this bread allows one to behold the face of God. Clearly this experience is a foreshadowing of the experience of communion and reminds us of the opening of the eyes of the disciples at Emmaus.

                The next liturgical item placed in the tabernacle is the golden lampstand. The Lampstand teaches us that Christ is the light of the world and the church his followers ought to be the light of the world (St Matt 5:16).

                The final item that God asks Moses to place within the tabernacle is the altar of incense which rests immediately before the veil that separated the holy place from the holy of holies. Incense was to be burned upon this altar in the morning and evening. The incense represents the prayer of the believers. (see Psalm 141:2; Revelation 8:3-4) More than the prayer of the individuals, read in the light of Christ we are reminded that Christ is the sweet smelling aroma who was sacrificed for our behalf (2 Cor 2:15; Ephesians 5:2)

                Having completed the items in the Holy place, God commands Moses to place the altar of Burnt Offering outside the tent along with the basin of laver. The altar of burnt offering shows the once and for all sacrifice of Christ and the shedding of the blood of the perfect lamb of God. The basin of laver reminds us at once both of Christian baptism and of the cleansing provided by Christ.

                Interpreted through the medium of Christ the tabernacle becomes an important locus for us to understand the salvation Christ gifts to the world.