The Tabernacle, a Shadow of Christ

This passage deals with the scene in which Jesus entered Jerusalem carrying the cross, and the words he spoke as he saw the many women weeping in sorrow along the way. Jesus tells them not to weep for him but to weep for themselves and their children, and the passage emphasizes that those in power inside the city walls have a responsibility to protect the vulnerable people outside the walls. It also explains that the city gate was not merely an entrance but played an important role as a place of judgment and meeting, and it points to the meaning of the walls with which God protects his people.

The sermon shows that the tabernacle of the Old Testament era foreshadowed Christ in the New Testament era, and that the holy temple where the Holy Spirit now dwells is believers themselves. It points out that just as the tabernacle had to be built exactly as God had shown, our lives and worship must also obey God's will. It urges us to discern that although the wicked may seem to be winning in the eyes of the world, judged by God's history and standards, that is not true victory. Because the Holy Spirit dwells in us, we must guard against sin and keep ourselves holy, and every place in our lives must become a place of worship that remembers God.

We can reflect on how we should keep our faith amid the suffering we go through and the turmoil of the world, and on what it means to live a life that prepares for the return of Jesus Christ. It leads us to meditate deeply on how we should live in this age as believers, and on the attitude of worship and life that God desires.