Paul Calvert unpacks some of the meaning behind the tabernacle

Also inside the Holy Place was the menorah; it was made from 1 talent of pure gold which is about 37kg, it had 1 branch with 6 branches coming out of it. It had three branches coming from each side and was filled with olive oil; this was the only light in the tabernacle. Jesus was the light of the world.

The Priest wore no shoes because he was standing on holy ground. The High Priest wore white robes, a blue coat with pomegranates and bells so he would be heard and not die and a breast plate with 12 stones on it, each stone inscribed with a tribe of Israel. On his shoulders he had 2 onyx stones with the names of the tribes and on his head he wore a gold plate which had written Koddesh la Adoni which means holy to the Lord. All the work of the High Priest was holy to the Lord and when he did his work he carried Israel upon his heart. Jesus is our high priest from the line of Melchizedek.

Once a year the High Priest would go into the Holy of Holies on Yom Kippur with the blood of sacrifices. He would purify himself then he would wear white to be like everyone else. He would then start bringing the sacrifices in, first the incense. He would come out and purify himself again, put white on again, take the bulls' blood then the goats' blood. He would sprinkle the blood around the altar and put the blood round the horns of the altar then into the Holy of Holies through the veil.

The veil was embroidered with Cherubim on it. When Jesus died the veil in the temple was split in two from top to bottom; cancelling out the old system, Jesus' blood was once for all, there was now no need to keep repeating the sacrifices, he paid the price with his blood.

When a Jewish father had a son that died, he would rip his clothes in two. God the Father ripped the veil of the temple in two, he was in mourning for his only Son; he showed grief for his Son. It was the only way for all of us to come to him, not just Israel but for the whole world.

Inside the Holy of Holies you would see the Ark of the Covenant where the blood was sprinkled. Inside the ark were the Ten Commandments, Aaron's rod which blossomed and a jar of manna.

Today Jesus is our High Priest he fulfilled everything and is interceding for us at the right hand of the Father.