The Mosaic tabernacle (Section 3.4) from the veil at the outer gate to the veil before the Holy of Holies is a pattern for Jesus’ life on earth.  In the previous section, we considered Jesus’ birth, which is represented by the veil before the outer court.  In this section, we are going to consider the first phase of Jesus’ life, which is represented by the outer court of the tabernacle.  During this phase, from birth to His baptisms and adoption, Jesus fulfilled the Law of the Moses.

Immediately upon entering the outer court through the gate/veil, one encounters the bronze-covered altar, where animal sacrifices were made for the atonement of the sins of the people of Israel.

“And you shall make the altar of acacia wood, five cubits long and five cubits wide; the altar shall be square, and its height shall be three cubits.  And you shall make its horns on its four corners; its horns shall be of one piece with it, and you shall overlay it with bronze.”  Exodus 27:1-2  NASB

The sinner who brought the sacrificial animal participated with the priests as they performed the ritual at this altar.  Beyond the altar is the bronze laver used by the priests to wash with water.

“You shall also make a laver of bronze, with its base of bronze, for washing; and you shall put it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and you shall put water in it.  And Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet from it; when they enter the tent of meeting, they shall wash with water, that they may not die; or when they approach the altar to minister, by offering up in smoke a fire sacrifice to the LORD”.  Exodus 30:18-20  NASB

Beyond the laver is the tent of meeting enclosing the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies.

God Almighty instructed that His presence would reside in the tent of meeting and that the furnishings inside the tent of meeting be made of or covered with gold (Ex 25), which is therefore symbolic of godliness or divine nature.  The Israelites could enter the outer court or sanctuary where atonement for the sins of the congregation was made.  Bronze, the metal covering the furnishings in the outer court where the unwashed sinful are present, is identified with and symbolic of sinful nature.

The two structures in the outer court represent two events in the life of Jesus, and Moses is a pattern for both of these events.

One encountered the bronze-covered altar, which is for the spilling of blood of innocent, sacrificial animals, upon entering the outer court.  This altar corresponds to the sacrifice of innocent children decreed by the king at the time of Moses’ birth and the king at the time of Jesus’ birth.  These killings of innocent children were a counterfeit by Satan of the sacrifice of an innocent Jesus.

Kings decreed the death of male infants.  The king of Egypt instructed that male, Hebrew babies should be killed at birth.

Then the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah, and the other was named Puah; and he said, “When you are helping the Hebrew women to give birth and see them upon the birthstool, if it is a son, then you shall put him to death; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live.”  Exodus 1:15-16  NASB

Similarly, there was an order from the king of Jesus’ time for killing male, Jewish children.

Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its environs, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had ascertained from the magi.  Matthew 2:16  NASB

Egypt provided refuge for each of these infants.  Moses escaped death by being taken into the very heart of Egypt, Pharaoh’s house.

But when she could hide him no longer, she got him a wicker basket and covered it over with tar and pitch.  Then she put the child into it, and set it among the reeds by the bank of the Nile.  …  Then the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the Nile, with her maidens walking alongside the Nile; and she saw the basket among the reeds and sent her maid, and she brought it to her.  …  And the child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son.  And she named him Moses, and said, “Because I drew him out of the water.”  Exodus 2:3,5,10

By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.  Hebrews 11:23  NASB

And it was at this time that Moses was born; and he was lovely in the sight of God; and he was nurtured three months in his father’s home.  And after he had been exposed, Pharaoh’s daughter took him away, and nurtured him as her own son.  Acts 7:20-21  NASB

Similarly, Jesus escaped death by being taken into Egypt.

Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise and take the Child and His mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him.”  And he arose and took the Child and His mother by night, and departed for Egypt; and was there until the death of Herod, that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled, saying, “OUT OF EGYPT DID I CALL MY SON.”  …  But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Arise and take the Child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel; for those who sought the Child’s life are dead.”  And he arose and took the Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel.  Matthew 2:13-15, 19-21  NASB

Whereas the bronze altar was for the benefit of the congregation through propitiation of sins, the bronze laver located before the veil to the tent of meeting was for the benefit of the priests.  Before performing duties at the bronze altar or within the tent of meeting, the priests prepared themselves for service by washing their hands and feet with the water in the bronze laver (Exodus 30:18-20).  The second event in the early years of Moses and Jesus corresponds to the bronze laver and previews their later ministry.  Moses and Jesus have different spiritual fathers, so there is contrast in addition to similarities between these events in their lives.

After the events at birth, both of these children were educated.  Moses developed worldly attributes through his education in the center of opulence.

“And Moses was educated in all the learning of the Egyptians, and he was a man of power in words and deeds.”  Acts 7:22  NASB

Thus, in Pharaoh’s house, it is likely that Moses encountered much that was good for food, much that was a delight to the eyes, and much that was desirable to make one wise (Genesis 3:6) just as Sarai did during her encounter with Pharaoh.

Like Moses, Jesus was educated, and the most likely source of Jesus’ education was the synagogue in His home town of Nazareth.

And the Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.  Luke 2:40  NASB

We have the contrast that Moses was a man with worldly attributes while Jesus had the grace of God.

Both Moses and Jesus saw the burden of their brethren.  Moses, leaving his household, visited his Hebrew brethren and saw their heavy burden.

Now it came about in those days, when Moses had grown up, that he went out to his brethren and looked on their hard labors; and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his brethren.  Exodus 2:11  NASB

In contrast, Jesus was only twelve when He left His family to remain behind at the temple in Jerusalem after the Festival of Unleavened Bread.

And His parents used to go to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of Passover.  And when He became twelve, they went up there according to the custom of the Feast; and as they were returning, after spending the full number of days, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem.  And his parents were unaware of it,  Luke 2:41-43  NASB

There, Jesus encountered spiritual taskmasters burdening His Jewish brethren with many requirements beyond the Law of Moses.  Later, during His ministry, Jesus spoke of these taskmasters who put heavy burdens on His brethren.

Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things, and do not do them.  And they tie up heavy loads, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger.”  Matthew 23:1-4  NASB

Each of them reacted in a manner consistent with the nature he received from his spiritual father.  Moses’ action toward the taskmasters of his brethren was consistent with his beastly, fleshly nature inherited from his spiritual father Satan, who was a murderer from the beginning.

So he looked this way and that, and when he saw there was no one around, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.  Exodus 2:12  NASB

On the other hand, Jesus’ spiritual father is God Almighty, so His manner was respectful toward the taskmasters.

And it came about that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them, and asking them questions.  Luke 2:46  NASB

Moses, a member of the kingdom of darkness, had sought to act in secret, but he was observed.

And he went out the next day, and behold, two Hebrews were fighting with each other; and he said to the offender, “Why are you striking your companion?”  But he said, “Who made you a prince or a judge over us? Are you intending to kill me, as you killed the Egyptian?”  Then Moses was afraid, and said, “Surely the matter has become known.”  Exodus 2:13-14  NASB

On the other hand, Jesus was acting in an uplifting manner in public for all to see.

And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers.  Luke 2:47  NASB

Each of these men was sought by family because of their actions.  When Moses actions became known, he was sought by Pharaoh, Moses’ adopted grandfather.

When Pharaoh heard of this matter, he tried to kill Moses.  …  Exodus 2:15  NASB

Likewise, when Jesus stayed behind in the temple, He was sought by His parents.

And when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, looking for Him.  Luke 2:45  NASB

Each of these men departed on a journey.  Moses, when he was found out, fled from family to another country.

When Pharaoh heard of this matter, he tried to kill Moses.  But Moses fled from the presence of Pharaoh and settled in the land of Midian; and he sat down by a well.  Exodus 2:15  NASB

In contrast, Jesus submitted to His parents and joined them on the journey home.

And He went down with them, and came to Nazareth; and He continued in subjection to them; and His mother treasured all these things in her heart.  Luke 2:51  NASB

The actions of Moses and Jesus are indicative of their future ministries.  Stephen, in his defense before the high priest and the council, tells us what Moses’ intent was when he visited his brethren.

“But when he was approaching the age of forty, it entered his mind to visit his brethren, the sons of Israel.  And when he saw one of them being treated unjustly, he defended him and took vengeance for the oppressed by striking down the Egyptian.  And he supposed that his brethren understood that God was granting them deliverance through him; but they did not understand.”  Acts 7:23-25  NASB

Here we are told that Moses, like Abram before him, tried to accomplish by his own might and at his own time that which God Almighty would grant later.  Moses was trying to accomplish God Almighty’s purpose before God Almighty’s appointed time.  Of course, this approach is doomed to failure as we saw with Abram.  Moses’ attempt to lead the Israelites to freedom before God Almighty’s time resulted in 40 years in the wilderness for him.  With the fullness of time, Moses did by God Almighty’s will that which he failed to do by his own initiative.  Moses had to learn obedience.

Unlike Moses, Jesus did not attempt immediately to address the mistreatment of His brethren imposed by the religious leadership.  Jesus, the obedient Son Who was submissive to God Almighty and His timing, did engage His future antagonists–scribes, Pharisees, and teachers (Luke 2:46-47).  This event previews Jesus’ ministry when He again engaged scribes and Pharisees.

Each rejected those who raised him.  Moses repudiated his upbringing in Pharaoh’s household and declared allegiance with his Hebrew brethren.

By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin; considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward.  Hebrews 11:24-26

Likewise, Jesus, by declaring God Almighty as His Father, renounced Joseph, who was raising Him.

And He said to them, “Why is it that you were looking for Me?  Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?”  Luke 2:49  NASB

Jesus was tending to His Father’s house, preparing for His adoption as a Son of God Almighty and His call to ministry.  These first, recorded words of Jesus are a declaration that God Almighty was His Father.

Looking ahead for a moment, we find that during their ministries both Moses and Jesus returned to the place of the event of their younger years as they bring their people out of slavery.  Moses returned to Egypt and Pharaoh’s house.

“Therefore, come now, and I will send you to Pharaoh, so that you may bring My people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt.”  Exodus 3:10  NASB

During His ministry, Jesus returned to the temple in Jerusalem.

Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world; I always taught in synagogues, and in the temple, where all the Jews come together; and I spoke nothing in secret.”  John 18:20  NASB

Thus, the two furnishings in the outer court represent the only two biblical events in the first phase of Jesus’ life.  The bronze altar, used for the sacrifice of animals as atonement for sin, corresponds to His flight to Egypt to avoid death among the sacrifice of innocent children.  The bronze laver, used by the priests in preparation of their duties, corresponds to Jesus at age 12 preparing for His later ministry.

We now consider the pre-ministry phase of the life of Jesus in the context of His Jewish family.  In the Jewish culture of biblical times, a son progressed through stages to become a fully entitled son.  Three times a Jewish father held a public ceremony for his son, and these correspond to the three phases of life: infant, adolescent, and adult.  The first public ceremony was to celebrate the birth of the son and to circumcise the infant on the eighth day (Lev 12:1-3).

Eight days after his birth, the child was circumcised and named Jesus.  This was the name the angel had given him before his mother became pregnant.  Luke 2:21  GOD’S WORD

Shortly thereafter in Jerusalem, there was continuation of public ceremonies for the infant Jesus because He was the first born of His mother.

And when the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “EVERY first-born MALE THAT OPENS THE WOMB SHALL BE CALLED HOLY TO THE LORD”), and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, “A PAIR OF TURTLEDOVES, OR TWO YOUNG PEGEONS.”  Luke 2:22-24  NASB

Joseph, though not Jesus’ father, observed these two, required, infant ceremonies as the head of the household.

At the time Jesus was presented ceremonially in Jerusalem, God Almighty, as Jesus’ Father, also held a public display for the infant Jesus through the prophet Simeon and the prophetess Anna.

And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon Him.  …  And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God and said, “Now Lord, Thou dost let Thy bond-servant depart in peace, according to Thy word; For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, Which Thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples, A LIGHT OF REVELATION TO THE GENTILES, And the glory of Thy people Israel.”  …  And there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.  …  And at that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.  Luke 2:25, 27-32,36,38  NASB

The second, public ceremony in the life of a Jewish son was the declaration that the son had become an adolescent, that the son was now accountable, and that the son was beginning apprenticeship in a trade or an occupation.  The present-day bar mitzvah traces its roots to this ceremony.  We have no Biblical record that Joseph performed this public ceremony for Jesus.  However, in Matthew 13:55, Jesus is called the carpenter’s son.  When this same event is told in Mark, Jesus is called a carpenter.

And He went out from there, and He came into His home town; and His disciples followed Him.  …  “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James, and Joses, and Judas, and Simon?  Are not His sisters here with us?”  And they took offense at Him.  Mark 6:1,3  NASB

So we may assume that Jesus, in the tradition of the time, did indeed apprentice (with Joseph?) as a carpenter.

On the other hand, we do have a biblical record of a public declaration that the adolescent Jesus would apprentice with His heavenly Father.  We have already mentioned that Jesus, as a twelve-year-old, stayed behind in Jerusalem to converse in the temple (Luke 2:41-42, 46-47).  At this event, His apprenticeship with His Father is announced.

And He said to them, “Why is it that you were looking for Me?  Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?”  Luke 2:49  NASB

Notice the diminishing role of Joseph in Jesus’ life.  There are biblical records that both Joseph and God Almighty performed public ceremonies for Jesus as an infant.  Then at adolescence, there is only the record of God Almighty’s public ceremony of Jesus’ apprenticeship.  After this event, there is no further mention of Joseph in the chronology of Jesus’ life, and indications are that he died before Jesus’ baptisms.

Jesus went through training and tutoring from guardians and mangers, just as His, Jewish brethren did.

Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything, but he is under guardians and mangers until the date set by the father.  Galatians 4:1-2  NASB

Jesus was born under the Law (Gal 4:4) which was also a tutor to Him, just as it was to His brethren.

But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed.  Galatians 3:23  NASB

Jesus, because He was made like His brethren (Heb 2:17), was subject to the Law; that is, Jesus was obligated to follow all aspects of every applicable commandment.  Jesus, having God Almighty as spiritual Father, lived a sinless life under the Law by completely fulfilling all ordnances, requirements, and sequences of events as prescribed by Moses in the Law.

“Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill.”  Matthew 5:17  NASB

The tutoring and training while Jesus grew brought Him to maturity.

And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.  Luke 2:52  NASB

Jesus’ sinless adherence to the Law, as a Son of God Almighty, is in stark contrast to the disobedience of the first son of God Almighty.

The third and final public ceremony for a Jewish son was the declaration that the son was no longer under tutors or guardians, was now a responsible adult, was a rightful heir of the father, and had what we now call power of attorney in his father affairs.  This third public ceremony in the life of Jesus is the subject of the next section.