God commanded Moses for Israel, "Let them make Me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them" (Ex. 25:8), and He abode in the sanctuary, in the midst of His people. Through all their weary wandering in the desert, the symbol of His presence was with them. So Christ set up His tabernacle in the midst of our human encampment. He pitched His tent by the side of the tents of men, that He might dwell among us, and make us familiar with His divine character and life. "The Word became flesh, and tabernacled among us (and we beheld His glory, glory as of 24 the Only Begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth." John 1:14, R. V., margin.

Gud gav Moses denne befaling for Israel: "Du skal indrette mig en helligdom, for at jeg kan bo midt iblandt dem" (2Mos. 25,8), og han var til stede i helligdommen, midt iblandt sit folk. Under hele deres møjsommelige vandring i ørkenen var symbolet på hans nærværelse hos dem. På samme måde oprejste Kristus sit tabernakel midt i vor menneskelejr. Han opslog sit telt ved siden af menneskers telte for at kunne bo iblandt os, og for at vi skulle komme til at kende hans guddommelige karakter og liv. "Ordet blev kød og tog bolig iblandt os, og vi så hans herlighed, en herlighed, som den enbårne Søn har den fra Faderen, fuld af nåde og sandhed." Joh. 1,14.