Hebrews 8:1-2 (NKJV)

Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man.

I was looking back over my readings for today thinking about what I wanted to comment on. This verse made me take a second look because it claimed to be "the main point." These are the kind of keywords you listen for in class while taking notes to help you study for the big the test.

Jesus is a type of High Priest, he is in heaven on the throne now doing ministry, and that throne is in a true tabernacle made by the Lord. There are three wonderful truths in this verse: Jesus' priestly service, His atoning sacrifice, and the heavenly sanctuary.

I said that wrong about Jesus being a type of High Priest; He is the only High Priest and men on earth are just the types. A priest is one who represents the people before God bringing an offering to appease the justice of a Holy God. What does Jesus bring? His perfect life marred by nail scars in his hands.

What is his service? He is continually informing the Father of the ones who come to the cross saying, "he's one of mine."

Reading Hebrews gives us insight into why God instituted the entire sacrificial system along with instructions to build a tabernacle. The heavenly tabernacle is the dwelling place of God. The earthly tabernacles are the temporary residences for God to dwell amongst his people. No doubt there are many wonderful mysteries contained in the details of the tabernacle construction specifications. The most profound mystery is that the current earthly tabernacle is made of flesh, the hearts of those who have surrendered to Christ. The earthly tabernacles are but a shadow and a copy of the heavenly; this is true even of the fleshly tabernacle for there is and will always be a Man of flesh and bone sitting on the throne of God, the man Christ Jesus--God incarnate.

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