Yes, Jesus is our Great High Priest, who has offered His own blood to atone for our sins (verse 12). Human high priests looked forward to this perfect sacrifice every year during the Day of Atonement ceremony, which we see mentioned in verse 7. But if you think about it, so many other things in the Old Testament Tabernacle also pointed to Jesus’ Person and Work.

Verse 3 tells us that behind a curtain was the Most Holy Place. Here was the Ark of the Covenant, which did not represent the Father, but was instead to be understood as His throne or footstool. Inside this Ark were the two tables of the Covenant. The Most Holy Place thus symbolized God’s presence with His people, and His promises to protect and govern His people. But the curtain also reminded the people that their fellowship with God was hindered, blocked because of their broken covenant promises. They could not enter the presence of God because of their sin.

No, on most days, the only thing that could go through the curtain into the Most Holy Place was the smoke from the altar of incense, which was positioned just outside the curtain (verse 4). Incense was burned the first thing in the morning and at twilight when the people gathered for worship (Exodus 30:7). But the incense was only burned at the same time that a lamb was offered (Exodus 29:39) – a lamb that symbolized the sacrifice of Christ. And so we see that Jesus’ atoning death is necessary for the worship of God’s people to be acceptable to Him.

And what was in the Holy Place, the room outside the curtain? Verse 2 tells us there was a lampstand which gave light to the room – and didn’t Jesus say He was the light of the world (John 8:12)? There was also a table containing the Bread of the Presence – and didn’t Jesus say He was the bread of God which came down from Heaven and gave life to the world (John 6:33)? The tabernacle thus showed how Jesus would feed His people and show them the way to God.

Of course, as our passage points out, now that Jesus has come, we no longer need to practice these Old Testament rituals. They were after all just symbols, and were so imperfect that they had to be offered day by day and year by year. But they should give us a greater appreciation of just how important Christ is for us – He alone can sustain us, He alone can show us the way, and He alone can open the door into the presence of God.

Hebrews 9:1-14 (ESV)

Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly place of holiness.
2 For a tent was prepared, the first section, in which were the lampstand and the table and the bread of the Presence. It is called the Holy Place.
3 Behind the second curtain was a second section called the Most Holy Place,
4 having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron’s staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant.
5 Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.
6 These preparations having thus been made, the priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties,
7 but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people.
8 By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing
9 (which is symbolic for the present age). According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper,
10 but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.
11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation)
12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.
13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh,
14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.