This is Spoken Gospel.

We’re dedicated to seeing
Jesus in all of scripture.

In each episode, we see what’s
happening in a Biblical text

and how it sheds light
on Jesus and his gospel.

Let’s jump in.

These two chapters tie up the last bit of
detail concerning the tabernacle and the priests.

First, there is the altar of incense, which
stands right outside the Holy of Holies.

The incense burns around the clock, all day
every day, as a constant reminder of God’s presence.

Next, all the people are counted.

Each person is required to
pay a price to atone for their sins.

This money funds the
priests and their work

because it is the priests who
make atonement for the people.

After the census, plans
are given for a bronze basin.

In the outer court, before
making sacrifices at the altar,

the priests would have to wash in
this basin in order to be made ritually clean.

Finally, details are given for a
special anointing oil, or perfume.

This oil was to be spread
on all the different parts

and instruments of the
tabernacle to make them holy.

It is truly amazing how God set up this
whole system to show us more about himself,

and ultimately to show
us more about Jesus.

We can see Jesus
in the altar of incense.

The true final pleasing aroma before
the Lord is Jesus’ sacrificial death.

Unlike the tabernacle’s smoke, Jesus
is not a symbol of God’s presence,

but God’s presence itself.

Only by entering through the fragrant
aroma of Christ’s work for us on the cross

can we be allowed
into the presence of God.

Christians carry the aroma of
Christ with us everywhere we go.

We take God’s presence out of the
tabernacle and fill the world with it.

We can also see Jesus in the atonement price
paid for each member of the Israelite congregation.

This time, if we took a census of everyone
in the world who needed their sins paid for,

it would total the
earth’s entire population.

But, for those of us who
have Jesus as our high priest,

we can come to
Christ without price.

Jesus’ work isn’t started, supported,
or sustained by our contributions.

He pays it all and gives it freely
to us out of his grace.

Jesus also fulfills the
bronze washing basin.

He is the living water in which we
wash and are made white as snow.

We don’t wash ourselves and then
come and make a sacrifice at the altar.

He puts himself on the altar and
meets us at the basin to cleanse us.

Jesus is also like the
tabernacle’s perfume.

We are God’s temple.

Like the anointing oil, the Holy Spirit enters
the people of God, making each part of us holy.

I pray that the Holy Spirit would
give you eyes to see the God who

goes to such great lengths to provide
a way for his people to dwell with him,

and Jesus as the one who accomplishes
every detail to make that possible.