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The Mishkan ["Dwelling Place" or "Tabernacle"] in the wilderness taught ancient Israel an important principle. People can meet with and fellowship with God. But they must do so on His terms, not theirs. Their first steps lead them to the altar of sacrifice outside the Mishkan. Inside the first room of the Tent of Meeting (the "Holy Place"), their way is illumined by the menorah, the seven-branch lampstand. On the right or north side is a table with twelve loaves of bread. In the middle of the west end of the room, in front of the veil, is a small altar for burning incense. Behind that veil, inside the "Most Holy Place," is the ark of the covenant, upon which are two facing keruvim whose extended wings form a symbolic seat for God to sit upon. His feet symbolically rest on the lid of the ark. Blood is sprinkled on this lid, the kipporet, in order to expunge or wash away the sins of the people. Central to this act of atonement and the entire approach to the Living God at His house is the person of the Kohen Gadol, the Great or High Priest. This Hebraic pattern of coming to God through the High Priest at the Mishkan is developed by the writers of the New Testament. Yeshua of Nazareth is depicted as the High Priest [Ps 110:1,4; Heb 2:17; 3:1; 4:14; 5:6; 7:17,21; 8:1; 9:11]. He is also, surprisingly, the Mishkan, the earthy, portable "place" in whom God dwells [John 10:38; 17:23; note 1:14]. The NT repeats the identical principle of the Tanakh: people are invited to come to God for redemption and fellowship following the Map and its Escorting Guide: through the Messiah, who is Yeshua. "No one comes to the Father, but through me." (John 14:6) This spiritual map of approaching God is not widely emphasized in congregations where Jesus is honored. In some places, he has even replaced God as the center of attention and worship. The text of the New Testament reminds us of the original emphasis of the Gospel. He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through him. (Heb 7:25) Here are sample texts revealing this repeated to/through pattern. Reference Text (Hebraized NASB) Rom 1:8 I thank my God through Yeshua Messiah for you all. Rom 5:1-2 We have peace with God through our Lord Yeshua Messiah, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand. Rom 5:10 We were reconciled to God through the death of his Son. Rom 5:11 We also exult in God through our Lord Yeshua Messiah, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. Rom 7:25 Thanks be to God through Yeshua Messiah our Lord! Rom 16:27 To the only wise God, through Yeshua Messiah, be the glory forever. Amen. 2 Cor 3:4 Such confidence we have through Messiah toward God. 2 Cor 5:18 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to himself through Messiah. Eph 1:5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Yeshua Messiah to himself, according to the kind intention of his will. Eph 2:18 ...through him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. Col 1:19-20 For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fulness to dwell in him, and through him to reconcile all things to himself. Col 3:17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Yeshua, giving thanks through him to God the Father. Heb 7:25 He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. Heb 13:15 ...through him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God. 1 Pet 1:21 He...has appeared in these last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God. 1 Pet 2:5 You also...are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Yeshua Messiah. 1 Pet 4:11b So that in all things God may be glorified through Yeshua Messiah. Judah 25 To the only God our Savior, through Yeshua Messiah our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

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