HOW DID GOD’S OLD TESTAMENT JEWISH TEMPLE SYMBOLIZE JESUS? The temple was so important that Israelites were not allowed to come and go through it as they pleased, there was a gate that symbolized having to go through Jesus Christ to get to heaven, and the bronze water laver (basin) was for cleansing their hands, as Jesus cleanses us from sin. They had an alter for sacrifices, which pointed to Christ’s coming sacrifice on the cross, and only the high priest could get into the most holy place, symbolizing the high priest for all Christians: Jesus. Also, inside the holy place was the showbread that symbolized the bread of life—Jesus—and they had the light because Christ is the light of the world. The parallels go on and on with God saying there is only one way to come to Him because God is clean (holy) and we are unclean (unholy). So, God was again using His Jewish people to make a point for all the world to understand.