Jesus - The Sufficient Covering

Introduction

Two weeks ago I preached the introductory message to this series.

I. The Plan

(The Construction & importance of it)

A Four-Fold Covering

While there was no floor, there certainly was

One of Beauty (v1-6)

This one was made of fine twined linens, held together by thachets of gold

One of Badger Skins (v7-13)

One of Goat’s Hair (v14a)

One of Ram’s Skins Dyed Red (v14b)

II. The Position

(Where it’s Placed and Why)

Over the Secret Place

As we consider the tabernacle, the articles inside were hidden from view of the outsider. These coverings made it that way. Had it not been, then those on the outside could have potentially:

Seen & appreciated:

The illumination from the candlestick

The fellowship found at the table

The comfort found at the golden altar

The companionship at the Mercy Seat

The security found in the Ark

III. The Purpose

(What is the function of it)

Provide Protection and Beauty

IV. The Performance

(The NT Scripture / Story that corresponds with it)

The Shelter Covering (Outer-most - Ex. 26:14b)

This is the coving of ‘badger skin’

The ‘Badger skin’ that is spoken of is in some debate. A common understanding is that this is a sea mammal, similar to sea cows or seals, but my Bible says that they are badgers and this makes better sense for various reasons.

Sturdy / Security

The first thing to notice about the outer-most covering of the tabernacle is that it was sturdy in nature.

The badger skin is known as excellent protection against the natural elements of storm, dust, and weather. It is said that the way the hair grows on the animal, water, ice and snow roll off it like water off a ducks back.

We see this aspect of God:

Psalms 71:3 Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.

And also in Jesus:

John 10:27-28 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

Strong

The next to notice is the strength of the badger hide.

An article speaking of the honey badger said this: Because of the toughness and looseness of their skin, honey badgers are very difficult to kill with dogs. Their skin is hard to penetrate, and its looseness allows them to twist and turn on their attackers when held. The only safe grip on a honey badger is on the back of the neck. The skin is also tough enough to resist several machete blows. The only sure way of killing them quickly is through a blow to the skull with a club or a shot to the head with a gun, as their skin is almost impervious to arrows and spears

The strength and durability of God is spoken of many times

Psalms 18:2 The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

More importantly, we can see the strength of Jesus not by His ability to come down off the cross (though He could have) but His strength in remaining upon the cross!

Simple

While the badger has positive attributes, one of their attributes is not so positive. It’s seen by many as negative in that it is not an attractive coat.

People love ‘mink’ coats & such, but you never hear someone on the runway say ‘look at my new badger skin coat’

This reflects Jesus as well in: Isaiah 53:2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

When speaking of ‘How you see Jesus’, this is unfortunately how most people see Jesus. Namely as nothing particularly special.

The Secret Covering (Inner-most - Ex. 26:1-6)

This is the coving of ‘fine embroidered linen’

Beauty

When I picture what the collective description of the inner-most covering looked like, the word that instantly comes to mind is ‘beauty’. It must have been a beautiful sight.

Picture yourself in the midst of the tabernacle with the only light emitted coming from the golden lamp / candlestick, and you’re encompassed with the finest fabric with a background of pure white and on it angelic figures embroidered in beautiful blue, purple and crimson red.

This is how some people see Jesus – how I see Jesus… as the most beautiful sight.

And just as how few people could enter the tabernacle, few people unfortunately realize the true glorious beauty of Jesus.

Illustration of the girl whose mom was burned rescuing her from a house fire.

The sacrifice that the mother in the story illustrates a beauty that is found within Jesus. When someone realizes a selfless sacrifice that one makes for them, it completely changes their perspective.

Heavenly

Two other aspects of the inner covering speaks of the Heavenly. The Cherubim’s mentioned, but also the color blue.

This speaks of the Divine nature of Jesus.

John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. – you go on down and it tells of who the ‘Word’ is John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

The fact that there is symbolism for the heavenly,

Royalty

Lastly, another aspect we see in the midst of the tabernacle is the Royalty of Jesus in the color purple.

Judges 8:26 And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; beside ornaments, and collars, and purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and beside the chains that were about their camels' necks.

And we all know the part of the story of Jesus being beaten & mocked by the putting on of a purple robe & the centurions saying ‘Hail, King of the Jews’

Jesus is not myth, and far more than simply a historical person, teacher, ‘good man’ or even Prophet… He is the ‘King of Kings and the Lord of Lords’ 1 Timothy 6:13-15 I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

The only way to see Jesus for who He really is, is to be IN Him. The only way to be IN Jesus is to be

The Stained Covering (Ex. 26:14a)

The outer-most covering was the badger skin – moving inward, the next covering is the stained covering.

The Pigment

Moses hadn’t received instruction to have ram’s skin dyed blue, or purple, or anything else – In Ex. 25:5, 26:14, 35:7, 36:19 there’s not one variation to the color… because colors MEAN THINGS in the Scripture.

And what this color represents is the blood of atonement.

The Purpose

Hebrews 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

Without the blood, there is nothing:

No covering of sin

No cleansing of sin

No forgiveness of sin

Without the blood of Christ, we have nothing.

Leviticus 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

Although it was necessary, It wasn’t the life of Jesus that brings atonement

It wasn’t the teachings / example of Jesus that brings atonement

Although necessary, it wasn’t the death of Jesus that brings atonement

IT’S THE BLOOD OF JESUS THAT BRINGS ATONEMENT FOR OUR SOULS – AND WE SEE THAT IN THE TABERNACLE.

The Picture

Adam & Eve – sacrifice for sufficient covering

Abraham & Issac – substitutionary sacrifice

Lamb in Egypt (10th plague) – sacrifice to stay the Judgment

Jesus Christ – sacrifice that satisfies

Sacrifice for Cleansing (not just covering)

Hebrews 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Substitutionary Sacrifice

1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

Sacrifice to Stay the Judgment

John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

The Pattern

Notice lastly about this, the pattern that is taking shape.

We recognize the outer-most coving as one that is not attractive or appealing, the inner-most one is one of beauty & majesty, then we see the first step to going from seeing the drab to the glorious comes through the blood stained covering

The Sin Covering (Ex. 26:7-13)

The Curse

Galatians 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

The goat is highly associated with both sin and rejection

With sin:

The goat was the specified sacrifice for the sin offering for the community on the day of Atonement

2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

With rejection:

Matthew 25:33-34 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: (further down) Matthew 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

Jesus came both sin for us & suffered rejection for us as well – from His creation to His Father

Philippians 2:6-8 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

The Confidence

There’s not a more sure footed animal than the goat.

Luke 9:51 And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,

Jesus keeps His Word

John 14:1-2 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

It doesn’t matter where God leads you – wherever it is, He will sustain you. He keeps His Word! His footing is sure!

The Cure

1 Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

The only way to get from the bleakness of the badger skin to the glory of the twined linen, is to

Come through the blood stained banner

Through the Substitutionary Sacrifice of Jesus

We’ll close with a reading from God’s Prophet Isaiah:

(Read Isaiah 53:1-12)

Conclusion