The Tabernacle

Three plateaus of our Christian walk

Obtaining the ZOĒ Life of Christ

Introduction

There are multiple words in the Greek and Hebrew that translate into the English word life. Each of these words carries a particular meaning or aspect of “life”. For our purposes we will be looking at two of these words and the meaning or implications behind them. These two words are psuchē (psoo-khay’) and Zoē life.

 Jesus said that He came that we might have life and that we might have that life more abundantly; or in other words the Zoē life. He also gave us a guide or road map contained, I believe, within the Tabernacle itself to obtaining the complete zoē life. So we will be examining the layout and symbols of the Tabernacle as the three “plateaus” in our spiritual growth to experiencing the zoē life that has meaning, purpose, passion and fulfillment in Christ.

 Our walk with God should have meaning, purpose and fulfillment. If it does not then we are not experiencing the zoē life Christ died to give us. If our preaching, teaching and service to God does not contain meaning, purpose and fulfillment we are nothing more than a “sounding brass or a tinkling symbol”.  What this world, as well as the church, needs is that passion, purpose and fulfillment that only Christ can give. In other words that zoē life!

 [Look at Mark chapter 4 parable of the sower: 4:1-20

          ...Some brought forth 30, some 60 and some a 100 fold. ]

First Plateau – The outer Court - 30 fold

The outer court is where we begin our journey to the wholly Zoē life. We are saved but have not grown to maturity in Christ (zoē life of Christ)     

§         Brazen Altar (remember brass or bronze speaks of judgment)

·         Is our first stop. This is where the sin issue is dealt with.

·         Where we accept the covenant with Christ

·         This is also where the psuchē (psoo-khay’) life begins to die and the Zoē life (the life of Christ or eternal life) is being put on

·         Take up our cross daily and follow Him.

·         Brazen Laver (remember brass or bronze speaks of judgment)

·         Baptism, ceremonial washing...

·         This is where we wash off the “dust of life” before entering into the Holy Place. Note that the priest had to wash before offering sacrifices or service inside the sanctuary. NO SIN CAN ENTER IN

·         This is a daily process!

·         Once the sin issue is dealt with and the washing has taken place, then and only then are we allowed to move onto the next plateau; Into the Sanctuary “Truth”  

Second Plateau – The Holy Place – 60 fold

The Sanctuary “Truth” It is the second plateau of our Zoē life.

More of the psuchē life is being crucified and the Zoē life is growing

Note: the process began in the outer court but is developed in the sanctuary “Line upon line, precept upon precept...from glory to glory”. We’re putting on the mind of Christ, our flesh man is dieing and we are putting on or obtaining the spirit or Zoē life of Christ

·         The Menorah

·         The Menorah, the Light of the World (solid Gold – Jesus) thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.

·         We're learning God’s word, His ways and His Laws.

·         Also the flame is the Holy Spirit and the oil is the anointing that we can not obtain ourselves; it is the work of God.

·         Table of Showbread

·         Unleavened bread is the forgiven believer who is present before God

·         Altar of incense

·         The Altar of incense is our prayer and worship of God.

·         It’s where we gain the desire to be more like Christ, and He becomes the very essence of our life.

·         This is the incense that precedes us into the Holy of Holies 

Third Plateau - The Holy of Holies – 100 fold

The veil

·         The Ark of the Covenant

·         The Ark is a picture of the believer in Christ who has obtained the fully zoē life.

§         The Ark is made of wood (a symbol of man) overlaid with gold (the glory of God) and contains the law

§         The law written not on tables of stone, but written on the tables of our heart. See Heb 8:10; Jer 31:33

§         Psalm 91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place (The Holy of Holies) of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

·         The Mercy seat is solid gold and is the throne of Jesus over our lives

§         The Mercy Seat sat on top of the ark as the lid or covering.