After they had crucified our lovely Jesus (John 19:18), they nailed a "nameplate" above His head. On this "nameplate" were the words "Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews." (John 19:19).

Luke 9:23 is an invitation from "Jesus of Nazareth . . . King of the Jews;
"And he said unto them ALL, if ANY MAN (woman, or young person) will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me."

But many, EVEN among those who have taken His name--"Christian", question the necessity, the need, OR EVEN THE WISDOM of following His--if all it leads to is a "Cross" and death".

John 14:6 Well, Jesus tenderly reminds those questioning hearts to follow Him because;
"Jesus saith unto (ALL) I am the way, the truth, and the life: NO MAN cometh unto the Father, but by me."

And WHERE IS THE FATHER--that the way of the Cross leads to Him?
Psa. 77:13 "Thy WAY, O GOD, is IN the sanctuary. . . . "

SO--in taking up your Cross, DAILY, you are also entering into a SANCTUARY EXPERIENCE on a DAILY BASIS!

Heb. 4:2 tells us that "unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them, but the word preached didn't profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it."

The "Gospel" centers on the Cross! So HOW DID ANCIENT ISRAEL RECEIVE THE GOSPEL? the message of the Cross?

THE FURNITURE IN THE SANCTUARY WAS ARRANGED IN THE FORM OF THE CROSS, WITH EACH ARTICLE REPRESENTING A STRATEGIC POINT ON THE CROSS OF CALVARY!

Israel saw the "TITLEPLATE" nailed over the Messiah's head. . . .

• In the Sanctuary              - Heb. 9:3, 4
• In the Symbol                  - Ex. 20:8-11  (Title in 4th Command.)
• As it was upon the Cross - John 19:19.

Israel saw the face of Jesus (John 1:41--Messiah = Jesus). . . .

• In the Sanctuary               - Ex. 30:1-10  (Altar of Incense)
• In the Symbol                   - Rev. 8:3
• As it was upon the Cross - Luke 23:34

Israel saw Christ's left hand. . . .

• In the Sanctuary               - Ex. 25:30  (Table of Shewbread)
• In the Symbol                   - John 6:51
• As it was upon the Cross - John 20:25

Israel saw Christ's right hand. . . .

• In the Sanctuary               - Ex. 25:31  (Gold Candlestick, Menorah)
• In the Symbol                   - John 16:7
• As it was upon the Cross - John 20:25

Israel saw the wounded SIDE of Jesus. . . .

• In the Sanctuary               - Ex. 30:18  (Laver)
• In the Symbol                   - 1 Kings 7:39  (South side of Court)
• As it was upon the Cross - John 19:34

Israel saw the nailed feet of Jesus. . . .

• In the Sanctuary               - Ex. 27:1-8  (Alter of Sacrifice)
• In the Symbol                   - Isa. 53:7; Phil. 2:5-8
• As it was upon the Cross - Psa. 22:16

And TODAY, for the followers of Christ (Christians) to "take up their Cross daily and follow Him, MEANS:

At the Altar of Sacrifice. . . .

• Present the body a living sacrifice - Rom. 12:1
• Dying DAILY                                   - 1 Cor. 15:31

At the Laver. . . .

• Washed by the water of the Word - Eph. 5:26
• And then Baptized                          - Mark 16:16

At the Table of Shewbread. . . .

• The "Void" from the "Altar of Sacrifice and Laver Experience [EMPTY, SWEPT, GARNISHED snuffed like a wick], must be filled to prevent a "state (that) is worse" [7 Demons worse!] to come upon you - Matt. 12:43-45
• So you "renew" the mind with the Word of God - Rom. 12:2

At the Altar of Incense. . . .

• The "Spiritual Breath" of the soul, PRAYER                  - Rev. 8:3
• So we are to Pray AS we breathe, "without ceasing" - 1 Thes. 5:17

At the Menorah, the Gold Candlestick. . . .

• Be guided by the Spirit                       - John 14:26
• By receiving Truth                               - John 16:13
• And experiencing Change from Truth - 2 Cor. 3:18

At the Ark of the Covenant. . . .

• We are cleansed from Confessed sins       - Lev. 16:30
• Through our great High Priest, Jesus         - Heb. 4:14
• Who intercedes for me                               - Heb. 9:24
• And at the same time--I am being judged - James 2:12

But I am judged by the LAW INSIDE--NOT--THE LAW OUTSIDE THE ARK!

• One LAW INSIDE                                       - Heb. 9:3, 4 GOD'S
• One LAW OUTSIDE [SACRIFICIAL LAWS]   - Deut. 31:26 MOSES'
• Law on OUTSIDE was naled to the Cross - Deut. 31:26; Col. 2:14

6 BC, 1094, 1095 "A TWO-FOLD SYSTEM OF LAW. God's people, whom He calls His peculiar treasure, were privileged with A TWO-FOLD SYSTEM OF LAW: The Moral and the Ceremonial. The one (Moral) pointing back to Creation . . . (to the) Living God . . . whose claims are STILL BINDING UPON ALL MEN in every dispensation, and which will exist through all time and eternity. The other (the Ceremonial), given because of man's transgression of the Moral Law, . . . consisted in SACRIFICES AND OFFERINGS POINTING TO FUTURE REDEMPTION. Each is clear and distinct from each other.

. . . The Moral Law was . . . as unchangeable as (God) Himself. The Ceremonial Law was TO ANSWER A PARTICULAR PURPOSE . . . that through these services the sinner might discern the great offering of Christ.
. . . After Christ died . . . AS A SIN OFFERING, the Ceremonial Law could have no force. Yet it was connected with the Moral Law, and was glorious. . . . And if the ministreation . . . to be done away with (Sacrificial, or Ceremonial Law) was glorious, how much more must the reality be glorious (CHRIST HIMSELF COMING AND DYING AS THE LAMB SLAIN FROM THE FOUNDAITON OF THE EARTH. Rev. 13:8)."

And upon the death of the "Lamb of God" . . . "The veil is rent, the partition walls broken down, THE HANDWRITING OF ORDINANCES CANCELED." 5BC, 1109.

Matt. 27:50, 51; "Jesus, when He . . . yielded up the ghost . . . The veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; . . . "

AFTER THAT EXPERIENCE--Paul is taken into the Heavenly Sanctuary--and what does he see?

Heb. 9:3, 4; THREE THINGS INSIDE THE ARK OF THE COVENANT! "Golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and THE TABLES OF THE COVENANT (THE LAW OF GOD)!

• Gen. 1:26 - In the beginning man was created in the moral image of God,
• Gen. 3:22 - Sins' entrance tarnished that image,
• Mat. 5:48 - But now God is calling man BACK TO the original,
• Heb. 9:4   - And the "Original" is Christ, whose character is recorded in the Law which is preserved in the Ark of the Covenant.

And how does Jesus propose that man may return to such a high standard?

• 1. The Pot of Manna                          - 2 Cor. 3:18 "By beholding we come changed."
•     Beholding who?                            - John 1:29 "The Lamb of God"
•     How do I behold Him?                  - John 1:1, 14 In the "Word"!
• 2. Aaron's rod that budded              - Rom. 12:1 Present your body a living sacrifice, and . . .
•     Be resurrected                             - John 11:25
•     Thus becoming NEW CREATURES - 2 Cor. 5:17!

AND ALL THIS TAKES PLACE IN NO OTHER PLACE THAN THE SANCTUARY!

• Psa. 18:30 - God's way is PERFECT!
• Psa. 18:32 - It is God that maketh MY WAY PERFECT!
• Psa. 77:13 - And His WAY IS IN THE SANCTUARY!
• Psa. 18:6   - "In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: HE HEARD MY BOICE OUT OF HIS TEMPLE, and my cry came before him, even into his ears."
• Psa. 91:1   - But that can only happen AS I DWELL IN THE SECRET PLACE OF THE MOST HIGH--WHICH IS THE MOST HOLY PLACE OF THE HEAVENLY SANCTUARY! (cf. Heb. 4:14-16).