Jesus is our Tabernacle
- Ken Mettler
- Jun 27
- 4 min read
God instructed that a tabernacle be made. In the first part of the tabernacle, called the Holy Place, were the candlestick, the table, and the showbread. Hebrews 9:2
Barb and I like beautiful antique furniture, especially pieces made with great skill and beautiful wood. Sometimes I try to imagine what life was like many years ago when it was brand new. I imagine candles lighting up the house at night and conversations about what their life was like. On Antiques Roadshow the great pieces have something called provenance, or a great story. For instance, a desk may have been owned by George Washington. The folks on programs like Strange Inheritance try to verify the history of people's antique items. To the collector, provenance brings much more interest and value.
God's directions for worship started with some ancient pieces of furniture in their place of worship. A large outer tent was set up. The lampstand, the table, and “the bread of presence” were placed in it. This was called “the Holy Place.” Then a curtain was stretched, and behind it a smaller, inside tent set up. This was called “the Holy of Holies.” In it were placed the gold incense altar and the gold-covered ark of the covenant containing the gold urn of manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, the covenant tablets, and the angel-wing-shadowed mercy seat.
Tabernacle furniture takes on new meaning in Hebrews 9. This furniture had glamorous history, but it points to Christ.
In the first room were the lampstand, the table, and the showbread. Each of these items had great significance, revealing a lot about what Christ fulfilled through His work on the Cross. Before the priest even entered the curtain, he would have offered sacrifice on the brazen altar and washed for cleansing, which pointed to the forgiveness and cleansing we have in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
The altar of incense is where the priests burned incense. The aroma filled the whole area. Incense is like our prayers. Jesus takes them to the Father and they are a pleasant aroma to God. The value of the incense indicates the value of sacrifice in the Old Testament and the value of Christ's death in the New Testament.
The table held the show-bread. Or the bread that represented Christ's presence. In the Old Testament, this bread was prepared and consumed by the priests. There was one loaf for each tribe, reminding us that Jesus is the bread of life for His people. Today, all of us are priests and can come directly into the presence of the Lord, who is the Bread of Life.
The golden lampstand was continually burning. It was a reminder to us that Jesus is the Light of the World. His light brightens our path and exposes our sin.
Everything we see in the tabernacle was a picture or a shadow of Christ who would come and fulfill each symbol. Everything in the tabernacle is fulfilled in Christ. On the Cross, Jesus fulfilled all the Old Testament sacrifices and pictures. He completed His work and became the great Mediator between God and man. Each piece of tabernacle furniture told a story of the sin of the people and the sacrifice of the Savior. I challenge you to study the Old Testament and meet Christ in all 39 books. Jesus fulfills every type in the Old Testament. They are all great reminders that He is the only one who can bring man back to God. He is the Mediator of the New Covenant.
Jesus, we thank You that You are the fulfillment of all God has promised. Father, we thank You that Your word always points to Jesus. May we lift up Your Son, Jesus Christ every day, and glorify Him every day in every way.
Yes, Jesus Christ is the theme of the whole Bible. Is He the theme of your life?
Praying that Christ would dwell among us through His children!
Pastor Ken
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Our Sunday Worship is at 10 AM at Faith Fellowship, 2497 State Hwy. 35, Luck, WI 54024
Message on June 29th: Belshazzar and the Handwriting on the wall (Daniel 5)
We also welcome everyone on June 29th to a potluck meal following our 10 AM worship service.
A special 5th Sunday offering will be taken that day for our future plans for the church.
Everyone is welcome to attend.
PS. We have amazing potlucks!
This Saturday, June 28th the Men's Breakfast will be meeting at Church at 7 AM to carpool to Stanfold Lutheran Church, 1573 21st Ave, Rice Lake, WI 54868. We will share a breakfast together with the folks there and Christopher Boda will be the guest speaker. Women are also invited to attend. Respond with the number coming from your family, please.
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PS
Christopher Boda is still staying with us in St Croix Falls. Continue to pray that he will make contact with people who will catch His vision for supporting orphans and having Bibles printed in 150-million-person Banjara language... a huge unreached people group! He has planted 105 churches among this tribe, yet they have no Bible in their language. Please pray and help! Thank you!
BANJARA GYPSIES INTERNATIONAL. E -mail: banjara.gypsies.ministries@gmail.com. Address: Banjara Gypsies International, PO Box 822, Millsboro, DE 19966, USA.
Website:
Sample song:
Christopher will be in the US until August 5th. We are looking for a volunteer to take him to the airport that day.
That gives you time to invite him to your home, take him out to lunch, ask him to speak to your small group or church, or have him stay at your home while in your community.
Give me a call at 715-475-7666 or email me and you can schedule a time with our missionary from India.
Yes, he is willing to go anywhere in the US, so give us a call. Thank you!
Each week at Faith Fellowship:
Wednesday 7 PM -Prayer Meeting / Friday 7 PM -Prayer for the Nation
Saturday 7 AM -Men's Bible and Breakfast (meet at church at 7 AM and ride together to Stanfold on 6/28))
Sunday 9 AM -Sunday School, 10 AM Worship (This Sunday's message: The Handwriting on the Wall! (Daniel 5)
July 6th is our quarterly meeting.
Faith Fellowship -Our Forever Family, Luck, WI
Ken Mettler, Pastor (715)475-7666
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