Read: Exodus 35:10-36:38; Matthew 27:32-66; Psalm 34:1-10a; Proverbs 9:7-8
There were several pieces of furniture inside of the Tent of Meeting. One was the table of Shewbread where the priests ate the unleavened bread. It was called the bread of the Presence which represented the Word of God. The lamp stand which was a menorah which represented the seven spirits of God: wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, fear of God, knowledge and the Spirit of God which is the middle bowl that feeds oil to all the others. This menorah in us is the revelation of that the Holy Spirit gives us. It is the light to our path.
The altar of incense was right before the curtain that went into the Holy of Holies. This altar of instance represented the prayers of the people. The priest would take the incense into the Holy of Holies once a year to atone for the nation’s sins. He would also pray for blessing for the next year.
The people gave freely of what they had to make these ornaments of worship. God filled Bezalel and Aholiab with his spirit to make the furniture and all the instruments of worship. Bezalel and all his father’s names meant that he was a shadow of God who was enlightened to show the glory of God in the things he made. Aholiab and his father’s names meant that he was Bezalel’s supported brother who was the judge of what was done in the tabernacle. His name actually means “tabernacle”. They had a team of people who were anointed to do the artistic manufacturing of the tabernacle.
The people gave so freely that Moses had to tell them to hold off making and giving any more. That’s a wonderful problem to have!
In Matthew, Jesus hung between two criminals. They had placed a sign that said “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” The ones who believed he was the Messiah who was going to save their nation from Roman rule were so disappointed and felt deceived. They hurled insults at Jesus and let him know they were mad. The teachers of the law were reveling in their glory. They pointed out that he couldn’t even save himself. The two hanging with him insulted him also.
The sky went dark from 12 noon till 3. When the sun came back out Jesus cried out the first line of Psalm 22. He was referring them to that song because it was being fulfilled right then. Jesus cried out, “It is finished.” and then died. The veil was rent in the temple between the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies because now, Jesus had made a way for all to enter into God’s presence. There was an earthquake as Jesus entered the place of the dead. The earthquake happened in a cemetery because death was now defeated and many tombs were opened and the people buried in them came to life and walked the streets of Jerusalem. The centurion and his men that witnessed all this became believers that day.
That evening, Joseph of Arimathea went to Pilate and begged for Jesus body so he could bury him in his tomb. He took Jesus body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and put him in his tomb. This was significant when he rose and emptied this tomb because in the Old Testament Joseph asked that his bones be taken from Egypt and buried in the promised land. That Joseph’s tomb in Egypt was emptied just like this Joseph’s tomb was emptied. (Just another picture.)
The next day the chief priests had a huge stone placed over the entrance so his body wouldn’t be stolen to fake his resurrection. They just helped make the resurrection more factual.
Lord, everything you do is to show us who you are and what your plan is for us. Thank you for your signs and your Word.
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