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The Tabernacle "the carpenter's son." He had nowhere to lay His head, no earthly home, no human companions who fully understood His mission of love. Even His disciples "forsook him and fled" as He was "betrayed into the hands of sinners." And in His suffering He endured cruel scourging and mocking. They did spit upon Him in gross insult and contempt. They reviled Him and buffeted Him. In His death "his visage was so marred more than any man" (Isaiah 52:14). The Creator of all things "became poor," that we "through his poverty might be rich" (II Cor. 8:9). The unbelieving world still sees in Him just a good man, possibly a great teacher, a martyr to a righteous cause, whose life ended in defeat at the cross. But even as the priests, on the inside of the sanctuary, looked up and saw the beautiful covering that spoke eloquently of His eternal deity, His divine perfections, His matchless beauty, so also in every age only His loved ones know Him as eter- nal God and the holy Son of Man. None can see the glories of the sinless Saviour and Lord except those who have met 1:im at the cross, and have been born again by His pre- c10us blood. To these He is "the chiefest among ten thou- sand," the O " 1 h 1 1 ne a toget er ove y" (Song of Sol. 5:10, 16). Just as the outer covering of the tabernacle protected the fine linen curtain from every stain, just as it protected the gold from the corroding power of the elements; so also the life of humiliation of the Son of Man was without a stain of sin. His deity was in no wise marred. He was "?oly, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens" (Heb. 7:26). Of Him His Father in heaven bore witness, saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matt. 3: 17). Even the
99 T be Tabernacle officers, sent by the Jews to take Him; and Pilate, who allowed Him to be crucified, were forced to admit: "Never man spake like this man. . . . I find no fault in him" (John 7:46; 19:4). It was because our Lord was without sin because He was eternal God, that He was worthy to be ~ur Substitute, bearing the curse of the sins of the world "in his own body on the tree." Our own sinful natures will not allow us to enter fully into the depths of the meaning of the sufferings of the Son of God. Yet, as His redeemed children, His "temple," we may expect to suffer shame and reproach for His name's sake. The apostles were glad "that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name" (Acts 5:41). Moses esteemed "the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recom- pense of the reward" (Heb. 11 :26). For every trial our risen Lord gives grace sufficient. Even as the sandals which God provided for His people, made of this same leather that formed the outer covering of the tabernacle, separated them from the burning sands of the desert, so also the cross of Jesus separates us from this godless world. "The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord" (Matt. 10:24). And we may expect to bear reproach from the godless world. He bore the crown of thorns for us! Surely we shall rejoice if we are counte d wort l 1y to "k now " " t h e fellowship of his sufferings" (Phil. 3: 10). . When Christ returns in power and great glory to reign, then the badgers' skins wilt be rolled off, as it were; and He will shine forth in all His eternal glory and uncreated beauty. Be f ore Him · " every k nee " s I 1a 11 "b _ow, " an d "eve y ·r tongue ... confess" that He is Lord (Phil. 2: 10, 11). In
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