THEOSISCyrill of Alexandria
The mountain of the Lord, commonly referred to in Scripture as Sinai, was where the Divine Seer descended in fiery form, revealing Himself to all the people, as noted in Exodus 19. It was there that He established laws for their conduct: "There God gave the people a statute and a law, and there tested them" (Ex. 15:25). However, it is important to recognize that Jesus was the source of these laws prior to this moment. He refers to the commandments given through Moses as His own words, affirming, "For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass away, not one iota or feature shall pass from the law, till all be fulfilled... Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away" (Matt. 5:18, Matt. 24:35).
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Thus, let us move beyond the mere historical details to uncover the deeper spiritual truths that lie beneath. Indeed, those who have been privileged to witness God's glory and attain knowledge of Him, who have seen the brilliance of His Divine nature in a manner akin to an extraordinary and exalted mountain, and who have drawn near to Christ through faith, attentively listening to His words and expressing their intent to obey—just as Israel did when they affirmed, "All that the Lord your God has said, we will do and we will obey" (Ex. 24:3)—will receive the appropriate care reserved for those close to Him, along with an industriousness aimed at their salvation. For God Himself will accompany and defend them, leading them to a place of rest.
This is why Christ took the lead for our sake, confronting the defeated adversary, Satan, by enduring fasting and temptation in the wilderness, thereby granting us peace in witnessing Satan's ultimate downfall beneath our feet. Consequently, He reassured us, saying, "In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer: I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). Furthermore, He assured us, "behold I have given unto you power to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and upon all the power of the enemy" (Luke 10:19).
As our champion, He battled death to shatter its dominion, granting us rest and transforming us into the incorruptible. Christ was the first to enter paradise, overcoming the "turning sword" that barred access (Genesis 3:24), thereby lifting the sin that had obstructed our entrance. He bore our debts as stated, "by His wounds we are healed," according to the words of Isaiah (Isaiah 53:5). He was the first to ascend to the Father, paving the way for us to heaven and preparing a place for us, as He promised, "I will go and prepare a place for you" (John 14:2).
Therefore, Christ was truly foreshadowed in the covenant basket, constructed of incorruptible wood, which housed the Divine law—the Word of God. This ordinance is reflected in Christ, as "the Word was God" (John 1:1) within the incorruptible temple. The tabernacle led the Israelites, providing them a place of rest, and in the same manner, Christ precedes us.