The Burden Bearer

John 2:19–21 KJV 1900

19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. 20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? 21 But he spake of the temple of his body.

Introduction

The words of Jesus in the verses we just read, were met with confusion and skepticism:

"Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."

The Jews could not comprehend how the magnificent temple, which took forty six years to build, could be restored in just three days. But Jesus was not speaking of the stone and mortar temple in Jerusalem—He was speaking of His own body.

This moment reveals a profound truth — the earthly temple was only ever a shadow of the true temple—Jesus Christ Himself. The sacrificial system, the Levitical priesthood, and the tabernacle were never meant to be the final answer to humanity’s sin problem. They were foreshadows, pointing to an ultimate High Priest and the perfect sacrifice—Jesus Christ.

It will take a few moments to understand how these things operated in the Old Testament — but I think it will be worth it — to take a quick glance at some of these sacrificial systems, the priesthood, and the tabernacle to get a grasp on what Jesus has done for us.

Also to understand that — this salvation we have was no accident. It was fore ordained by the perfect will of God — which should tell each one of us… You and I are not given the opportunity for salvation by accident and we did not randomly fall into the hands of God by chance. But My hope today, is that we truly understand that — it was not you and I who first loved Him, but Him who first loved us.

With that, I would like for us to step back into the timeline of Moses and the tabernacle in the wilderness.

1) Levitical Priesthood

Exodus 28:36–38 KJV 1900

36 And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD. 37 And thou shalt put it on a blue lace, that it may be upon the mitre(turban/headdress); upon the forefront of the mitre it shall be. 38 And it shall be upon Aaron’s forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts; and it shall be always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before the Lord.

a. Priest Bare the Iniquity

The role of the High Priest had a much deeper meaning than just ceremonial rituals or practices — he was ordained by God to minister to human beings, concerning spiritual things. He bore the iniquity of the people of Israel while standing as a mediator between sinful man and a Holy God.

It was through the sacrifices and intercession, that the priest ensured that the peoples sins were atoned for — which would allow the people to remain in covenant relationship with God.

The weight of Israel’s sin rested upon the shoulders of the priest. But could he truly bear it?

To miss one detail was deadly and could put an entire nation at risk of being destroyed if the priest did not preform their duties of the tabernacle correctly.

It was on the grounds of this tabernacle — that atonement was made for sins and the priesthood was the ones responsible to make sure this happened correctly.

Aaron was responsible for making sure they used the proper sacrifices or offerings and acted according to Gods plan as the sins of the people were transferred through the blood of animals.

b. Priest Unable To Remain Pure

Leviticus 4:3 KJV 1900

3 If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people; then let him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto the Lord for a sin offering.

The priest was supposed to be the spiritual leader of Israel, but he was not without sin. He faced the same struggles as the people he ministered to, needing atonement for himself before he could intercede for others.

This revealed a critical flaw: a sinful priesthood could never provide a perfect and lasting redemption. It would always fall short.

But that does not mean that Gods plan was flawed — it was a clue to something better coming down the line.

This was a perfect plan that made use of imperfect people in order to preach a message that would come to pass long after these people had turned to dust. And even though the priesthood would fall short of perfection — that itself was by design.

These priest were appropriate in the manner that — they went through the same temptation that we do. They had the same struggles we faced. They had to chose God’s way over their own. But unfortunately, the men in the wilderness, were unable to be victorious over sin.

Ultimately, Priest had the same need for redemption as the people they ministered to.

c. The Animals were insufficient

Not only were the priest unable to retain their holy standing without fail, but the blood of the animals they offered — was never equal to sin of mankind.

Daily these Priest, ordained by God, had to offer up blood so that the mercy of God would cover the people.

The blood from the sacrifice a year ago, was no longer good.

The blood from a month ago was no longer good.

Even the blood from the day prior — no longer held the ability to allow the people to be forgiven of their sins.

This cycle repeated year-by-year, month-by-month, and day-by-day. Showing that the blood of bulls and goats could only cover sin temporarily, never remove it

d. The Priest had to Eat the sin offering

In Lev 10, there was an case where a sin offering had been offered. In this offering, sins were transferred to the offering, and instead of the offering being consumed by fire — the priest were to eat the offering inside of the court of the tabernacle as a way to bare the iniquity of the people.

Aaron did not and Moses became angry and ask:

Leviticus 10:17 KJV 1900

17 Wherefore have ye not eaten the sin offering in the holy place, seeing it is most holy, and God hath given it you to bear the iniquity of the congregation, to make atonement for them before the Lord?

Once again we see the short comings of a levitical priesthood.

Aaron was unable to eat of it due to fear. Which might not make a lot of sense — until we know that the flesh of the sin offering was considered “most holy”. Which will be of great importance to remember - The most holy flesh was to be eaten.

e. Looking Forward to the Perfect High Priest

This instance with Aaron is just a very small window in the shortcomings of the multiple priest that served the tabernacle and the people.

Paul gives us an over view of this ministry up to the New Testament time.

Hebrews 10:11 KJV 1900

11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:

The Levitical priesthood was never meant to be permanent—it was a shadow, pointing to Jesus Christ, our true High Priest. Unlike the priests of old:

Jesus did not need a sacrifice for Himself—He was sinless.

His sacrifice was not temporary—it was once for all

His priesthood is eternal—He lives forever to make intercession for us

The entire sacrificial system, priesthood, and even the tabernacle itself -- whispered the name of Jesus before He was ever revealed. What the earthly priesthood could not accomplish, Jesus did perfectly through His death, burial, and resurrection.

Christ Our High Priest

Which leads us back into our opening verses:

John 2:19–21 KJV 1900

19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. 20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? 21 But he spake of the temple of his body.

Jesus took this image of the temple and placed it in its true context. The temple at Jerusalem had been turned into a den of thieves and liars. That temple,made with hands, would pass away. But there was another temple to needed to be redeemed. It was the temple of our body.

To redeem this temple, it would take more than the blood of an animal — It would take the blood of the Lamb of God and a High Priest to present it.

It would take someone who could bare the burden of human sin — and remain holy.

To redeem this temple meant that the entire law needed to be fulfilled.

It would take a High Priest that would not fail and did not need to atone for his own sins — along with others.

Jesus made it clear in Mat 5:17 — that he did not come to destroy the law or the prophets but to fulfill them! And that he did — in every way.

The point of the old testament tabernacle

The Jewish people had missed the entire point of the tabernacle PLAN in the wilderness.

It wasn’t about a white curtain around a tabernacle.

It wasn’t about wood, bronze, or golden objects.

It had nothing to do with a linen cloth to separate the most holy place from the rest of the world.

It was not about a priest covered in stones or a golden plate on the head of the priest.

That was never meant to be the final perspective. It was only the earthly perspective to point us to Christ!

It was ALL ABOUT JESUS. Every single part of it. It has -Jesus- written all over it! In Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. That temple represents the body of Christ — “The Word was made flesh and dwelt(Tabernacled) among us” (John 1:14)

That tabernacle in the wilderness, where priest would slay the animals and make atonement for the sins of the people — now was a flesh and blood temple walking among the people for our redemption.

Transition:

But Christ did not stop short of fulfilling the Law and the Prophets — While he was the showed himself to be the Tabernacle not made with hands — He also showed himself as the High Priest of that tabernacle.

Salvation for Israel - Salvation for the whole world

Hebrews 9:11–12 KJV 1900

11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

Christ, knowing all things that were to befall him, stood Holy and Blameless as Pilate and the Jews condemned him to the cross of shame. And as they nailed the perfect, sinless, High Priest to the cross he pronounced salvation over a former thief hanging next to him. But more than that, unlike the levitical priesthood before him that pronounced redemption of the people of Israel… This High Priest pronounced salvation for the whole world!

Salvation came when the One who alone could bear our burden of sin poured out His righteous blood for us.

Last Supper

Leviticus 6:26–27 KJV 1900

26 The priest that offereth it for sin shall eat it: in the holy place shall it be eaten, in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation. 27 Whatsoever shall touch the flesh thereof shall be holy: and when there is sprinkled of the blood thereof upon any garment, thou shalt wash that whereon it was sprinkled in the holy place.

At the last supper with his disciples, Jesus took the bread and broke it saying “This is my body take and eat.” then he poured out the wine and said “this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for the remission of sins.”

What was Jesus doing? He was redeeming the temple. He was saying while this is a representation of flesh and blood right now… soon you will understand that this flesh and this blood is for your redemption.

Not only for the disciples present, but all those who would believe. Jesus has invited all of us to partake of his sacrifice for our sins.

He has invited us to place our faith in the burden bearer — the one who can faithfully:

Bare all of your burdens

All your guilt

All of your shame

All of your pain

All of your struggles

All of your unrighteousness

All of your evil deeds

All of your Lies

All of your murders

All of your hate

All of your curses

All of your sickness

ALL OF YOUR SIN

Maybe you have tried “casting your cares upon him” before but they keep coming back!

First, i would like to tell you that Jesus Christ is not short on mercy!

Second, the blood that he shed is still capable to carrying your sins.

You may fell broken and crushed by this world — you may think you are to weak to come to him in the first place — but Jesus said this “My strength is made perfect in weakness”

You can not carry it, you can not maintain it, you can not withstand it… But God has made a way — and its through the burden bearer.

The Tabernacle, The High Priest, and the Lamb of God!

1 Peter 5:6–7 KJV 1900

6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.