1. The Outer Court & Jesus Christ – the Way: This was the outermost area, enclosed by a curtain or fence. Access to this outer court was available to all and there was only one entrance to the tabernacle. In John 10:9, Jesus reveals – “I am the gate”. Here Jesus clearly indicates he is the only gate through which we can approach God.

The Outer court contained the altar of burnt offerings and the basin for ceremonial washings which were used for the atonement of sins and cleansing.

The animal sacrifices were burnt on the Brazen altar. For a person to approach God, he had to atone for his sins by sacrificing an animal without blemish.

 “He is to lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him.” (Leviticus 1:4)

Jesus Christ became the ultimate sacrificial lamb without any taint of sin and made atonement for all our sins through his passion on the cross.

This is revealed through John the Baptist who addresses Jesus as the lamp of God who takes away the sins of the world. “The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” John 1:29.

St Peter says – “For you know that … you were redeemed … with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” (1 Peter 1:18-19).

2. The Holy Place & Jesus Christ – the Truth: Beyond the outer court was the Holy Place, which housed the golden lampstand, the table of showbread, and the altar of incense. Only priests were allowed to enter this sacred space.

The golden lampstand served the purpose of illuminating the Holy Place.

“You shall make a lampstand of pure gold. … You shall make seven lamps for it. And the lamps shall be set up so as to give light on the space in front of it.” Exodus 25:31-32, 37

Similarly, Jesus declared that he is the Light of the World. “Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:9)

Again in the Book of Revelation, John reveals seeing Jesus in the midst of the seven lamp stands. “Then I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me, and when I turned, I saw seven gold lampstands and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, wearing an ankle-length robe, with a gold sash around his chest.” Revelation (1:12-13)

The Table of Showbread had the Bread of Presence which were 12 loaves representing the 12 tribes of Israel. Jesus said that he is the True bread which came down from Heaven. “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” John 6:51

Today we receive Jesus Christ through the Holy Eucharist and we believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist and that Jesus Christ is truly present body, blood, soul, and divinity in the Holy Eucharist.

3. The Most Holy Place (Holy of Holies) & Jesus Christ – the Life: This innermost chamber contained the Ark of the Covenant, which represented the presence of God. Access to the Holy of Holies was highly restricted and allowed only once a year, on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur).

The veil separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies. The Glory of God descended on the Ark of the Covenant and the veil was a physical reminder of how the sinfulness of man separated him from approaching and beholding the Glory of God.

“And you shall hang the veil from the clasps, and bring the ark of the testimony in there within the veil. And the veil shall separate for you the Holy Place from the Most Holy.” (Exodus 26:33)

When Jesus Christ through His death on the Cross, being the perfect unblemished sacrificial lamb offered himself for the atonement for our sins and thus broke the barrier and reconciled us to God.

“And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.” Mark 15:37-38

As St Paul says in the Book of Hebrews we can now approach the Holy Places with confidence as Jesus opened the curtains by sacrificing his Flesh and Blood and we have a High Priest who has made atonement for our sins. “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” Hebrews 10:19-22