What did the living God of the Bible do to help us understand Messiah?   He gave us living “pictures” or examples of the heavenly reality.  We can better understand the significance of the work of the Lord Jesus Christ and His death on the cross because of those “pictures.”

Picture:  The earthly tabernacle built according to God’s plans represented the reality of the heavenly tabernacle.

Reality
(NASB) Hebrews 9:11 “But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation:…”

Jesus Christ ~ the High Priest entered the greater and more perfect tabernacle – men did not build or create or contribute anything to the heavenly reality of the tabernacle.

 

Picture: The high priest, on the Day of Atonement, entered the Holy of Holies with the sacrificial blood of an animal, atoning for his own sins and the sins of the people.
The blood of goats and calves represented the blood of the sacrificial “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”  (NASB John 1:29)

Reality
(NASB) Hebrews 9:12 “and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.”

Jesus Christ ~ the High Priest, entered into the presence of God with His own blood as the offering needed to atone (forgive) your sins.
Jesus Christ ~ the High Priest obtained your eternal redemption.  It is only Jesus Who did this for you, no one else could!

 

Picture: The blood of goats, bulls and the ashes of a heifer were sprinkled by the priest for all who were defiled and set apart (sanctified).  This was a symbolic act performed by the priest so people would not be condemned for their sins.

(NASB) Hebrews 9:13 “For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh,”

Reality
(NASB) Hebrews 9:14 “how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”

Jesus Christ ~ offered His own blood, through the eternal Holy Spirit, to God the Father. Jesus did this amazing work of grace so you could be cleansed from works that are dead.  It is Jesus’ own blood which makes you presentable to serve the living God. 

The “pictures” God gave us represent the reality of Jesus and what He has provided for us to live with Him.  Do you know the reality of Jesus as your Savior and High Priest?