Roadmap for the soul - Judaism, the bible and the tabernacle

In the previous chapter, we saw that (just as predicted),
another 'miraculous birth' has now occurred and a man named Jesus has come onto the scene...

We've also seen that thus far, this event seems to fit the tabernacle's symbolism quite nicely ---

So then... what does the tabernacle's symbolism predict next?

Well ---

As you may recall, the boundary between the 'wilderness' and the 'promised land' was the Jordan river...
The Jewish people crossed the Jordan river when they first left the 'wilderness' and entered the 'promised land'
(represented in the tabernacle's symbolism by leaving the "outer court" and entering the "holy place").

Unfortunately however, the Jewish people have failed to take "everlasting" possession of the promised land.

As our story has shown, this is because the 'spiritual leaven of sin' still remains very much within them.
In other words then, on a spiritual level the Jewish people have never really left the outer court.

Thus, the need for Jesus to 'cross the Jordan' becomes clear ---

If Jesus is to bring the 'promise' of 'everlasting relationship with God' out to the Jewish people somehow, he would clearly have to cross the 'Jordan river', which both 'physically' & 'spiritually' represents the border between the 'world of sin' and the 'promised land' of 'everlasting relationship with God'.

Thus, a crossing of the Jordan is exactly what we see next ---

Matthew 3:13-17 "Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. (v.14) And John tried to prevent Him, saying, 'I have need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?' (v.15) But Jesus answered and said to him, 'Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.' Then he allowed Him. (v.16) Then Jesus, when He had been baptized, came up immediately from the water; and behold the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. (v.17) And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, 'This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.'"

Here, you can see that (just as the tabernacle's symbolism suggests) Jesus does indeed 'cross the Jordan', in the sense of being "baptized" in the Jordan river by John (the 'baptism' consisting of immersion in water).

In order to understand the deeper meaning of this event, we should review what 'water' has represented previously in our story...

As we saw earlier, in the case of Noah and his family, their passage through water (the "flood") was a very visible sign of 'separation'. It was a sign of their willingness to be separated from the sinful world around them, and also reflected their willingness to be identified with God.

Likewise, in the case of Israel's deliverance from Egypt, their passage through water (the "Red Sea") again served as a very dramatic sign of 'separation'. It was a sign of Israel's willingness to be separated from the world of 'slavery to sin' (represented by Egypt), and their willingness to be identified with God.

Thus, (in symbolic terms) a passage through water can be seen as a demonstration of one's willingness to be ---

'separated from sin'
&
'identified with God'.

Now... this raises an interesting question regarding John's baptism of Jesus ---

If water baptism represents one's desire to be 'separated from sin' and 'identified with God',
why would this be necessary for Jesus, who had no earthly father and thus had not inherited the lineage of sin?

The answer to this question is actually pretty simple and can be seen in the tabernacle's symbolism ---

If you look at the tabernacle, its symbolism suggests that those coming in would need to experience
the 'blood' (or "altar") first, and then the 'water' (or "bronze basin").

Thus, on his way out of the tabernacle,
it would make sense that Jesus would experience those same things,
but in reverse order.

And likewise ---

the meaning is 'reversed'!

Whereas man's baptism represents a willingness to be 'separated from sin'...
Jesus' baptism represented his willingness to be 'separated' from his sinlessness.

And where man's baptism represents a willingness to be 'identified with God'...
Jesus' baptism represented his willingness to be 'identified' with man (and thus mankind's sin).

Put simply, Jesus' water baptism is an expression of his willingness to leave the 'promised land' of 'relationship with God' (as represented by the area within the tabernacle) and 'cross the Jordan', so that he can be joined with the people who are 'outside'.

The fact that this meaning is correct, and its greater significance, will become much more clear soon.

In any case, as you can see below,
the tabernacle's symbolism continues to do a great job of illustrating all this so far ---

In the following chapter, we will see what the tabernacle predicts next for this man...

NEXT CHAPTER

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