The Old Testament Witness to Christ and His Kingdom, Student Workbook, SW09

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T H E O L D T E S T A M E N T W I T N E S S T O C H R I S T A N D H I S K I N G D O M

order of Melchizedek’s, whose priestly order was eternal, unchangeable, perfect, and final. Moreover, Jesus Christ fulfills in his life and sacrifice the meaning of all the offerings associated with the Temple sacrifices, and he serves as the antitype of the types included in Israel’s feasts, festivals, and convocations. Indeed, the OT’s witness to Christ is comprehensive and compelling. Our objective for this segment, Jesus as Fulfillment of the Tabernacle, Priesthood, Sacrifices, and Festivals , is to enable you to see that: • The various elements and activities associated with the Tabernacle are a type of the salvation provided in Jesus Christ. In a real sense, the Tabernacle was a copy or shadow of the true dwelling place of God in the heavenlies, a symbol of God’s presence among his people, and a way for God to reveal through type the one true salvation in Jesus. • The description of the Tabernacle’s dimensions and compartments (e.g., the Outer Court, the Holy Place, and the Holy of holies) all illustrate the principle of access to God , and in the same way the Tabernacle provided this access, so Jesus Christ makes access to God final and perfect, available to all by faith through his blood sacrifice. • The various articles of the Tabernacle represent distinctive aspects of Jesus Christ and his work: the Brazen Altar represents sacrificial redemption in Christ, the Laver represents the cleansing we receive through the blood of Jesus Christ, the Table of Shewbread represents Jesus Christ as the Bread of Life, the Golden Candlestick represents Christ as the Light of the world, the Altar of Incense represents Jesus’ ministry of intercession on behalf of his people, the Veil represents the body of Jesus torn and broken for us on Calvary, the Ark of the Covenant represents the communion with God we share by faith in Jesus Christ. • The high priesthood and its sacrifices are a type of the perfect high priesthood of Jesus Christ which is perfectly better than the pattern of Aaron’s priesthood, being of the order of Melchizedek’s, whose priestly order was eternal, unchangeable, perfect, and final. • Jesus Christ fulfills in his life and sacrifice the meaning of all the offerings associated with the Temple sacrifices: the whole burnt offering is a type of Jesus’ own free will offering of himself to God; the meal offering is a type of Jesus’ own presentation and dedication of his life and sufferings to God acceptable to him in every respect; the peace offering is a type of Jesus Christ

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