Discovering Jesus Through the Tabernacle: A Creative Approach

Have you ever gazed through a telescope on a clear night, marveling at the distant stars and planets? It’s amazing how that simple tool can bring the cosmos into sharper focus. Well, today, we’re going to use that same concept to explore the Tabernacle and uncover how each element points us directly to Jesus.

When teaching about the Tabernacle, it’s easy to get bogged down in details like size, shape, and function. But what if we could take a step back and look through the Tabernacle with a lens that reveals the deeper truths about Jesus? If you’re using our “Come Let Us Tabernacle Together” multi-day VBS curriculum, you’ll notice we focus on eight key parts of the Tabernacle that help illustrate who Jesus is.

Jesus as the Gate

First up, Jesus is our gate. Just as there was only one way into the Tabernacle, there is only one way to the Father: through Jesus. This is a powerful lesson for students to learn!

Jesus as the Sacrifice

Next, we see that Jesus is our great high priest and the Lamb of God. How exciting is it for students to realize that Jesus didn’t just offer the sacrifice; He was the sacrifice!

 

The Living Water

Then, at the laver, we learn that Jesus is the Living Water. He satisfies our deepest needs, and accepting the water He offers means we’ll never be spiritually thirsty again.

The Light of the World

Moving on to the lampstand, we find that Jesus is the Light of the World. Just as the lampstand was the only source of light in the Tabernacle, Jesus illuminates our often dark world.

The Bread of Life

At the table of showbread, students learn that Jesus is the Bread of Life. He provides spiritual food that nourishes our souls and gives us joy and purpose.

The Mediator

Jesus also serves as our mediator. Our prayers rise up like sweet-smelling incense to God, just as they did on the altar of incense.

The Savior

Lastly, Jesus is our Savior. His perfect life, death, and resurrection allow us to cross the divide between us and God, entering the throne room of grace.

Building the Telescope

Now, let’s talk about the giant telescope that helps illustrate these points! The main structure can be made from a large carpet tube, which is about five feet long and eight inches wide. You can also use wrapping paper tubes or PVC pipes—whatever you can find!

To make your telescope look sleek, spray-paint it shiny black. For the eyepiece, you can use a smaller metal tube covered in silver duct tape to prevent cuts. You'll need to stuff something between the layers to center the smaller tube inside the larger one.

Creating the Stand

For the stand, find a three-legged wooden table. Remove the legs and attach a sturdy dowel to a piece of scrap wood, which will serve as your pivot point. Make sure the telescope can swivel smoothly!

Finally, add colorful signs of Jesus that you can attach to the telescope with Velcro. This way, as students learn about each aspect of Jesus, they can visually connect it to the telescope.

I hope this creative approach inspires you to use everyday objects to teach students about the unseen realities discoverable in the Bible. Remember, props are always better than paper!

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Our "Walking Alingside Jesus" curriculum helps your students see Jesus through the Old Testament!

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