Tabernacle

Jesus is always able to save those who approach God through him, since he lives forever to make intercession for them. It was fitting that we should have such a high priest: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, higher than the heavens. He has no need, as did the high priests, to offer sacrifice day after day, first for his own sins and then for those of the people; he did that once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints men subject to weakness to be high priests, but the word of the oath, which was taken after the law, appoints a son, who has been made perfect forever. 

The main point of what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle that the Lord, not man, set up. Now every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; thus the necessity for this one also to have something to offer. If then he were on earth, he would not be a priest, since there are those who offer gifts according to the law. 

They worship in a copy and shadow of the heavenly sanctuary, as Moses was warned when he was about to erect the tabernacle. For God says, “See that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” Now he has obtained so much more excellent a ministry as he is mediator of a better covenant, enacted on better promises. (Hebrews 7:25-8.6)

Jesus is always able to save those who approach God through him, since he lives forever to make intercession for them. God often seems unapproachable or at least indistinct.  Who and where is God?  It’s a question that has been asked throughout the ages.  Therefore, we have the benefit of Jesus who is tangible and whose words we have heard through the Scriptures.  As our Christ, we have his presence through the Eucharist that we can see, touch, and taste.  

Furthermore, we have his Beatitudes that complement the 10 Commandments we received through Moses. As noted in Hebrews: “Now he [Jesus] has obtained so much more excellent a ministry as he is mediator of a better covenant, enacted on better promises.”  What’s more: “we have such a high priest, who has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle that the Lord, not man, set up.”  Next time we pass the tabernacle, let’s pause to reflect on that “throne” and who resides within it.

Deacon David Pierce