The Ark of the Covenant: Seeing Christ and His Work

/ revjblane

Scripture Reference: Exodus 25:10–22

The Ark of the Covenant is one of the most profound and symbolic elements in the Old Testament. More than just a sacred artifact, it offers a compelling picture of Jesus Christ—His identity, His work, and His grace. When we study the Ark, we’re not just examining a piece of ancient Hebrew history; we’re seeing shadows of the Savior who would come to fulfill God’s promises.

The Design of the Ark: More Than a Chest

When God gave Moses the instructions for the Ark in Exodus 25, every detail mattered:

  • Dimensions: 45” long x 27” high x 27” wide
  • Materials: Acacia wood overlaid with pure gold

At a glance, it was just a box with a lid. But spiritually, it was so much more.

  • It wasn’t just a wooden chest, because it was covered in gold.
  • It wasn’t a golden chest, because it contained wood.
  • The wood and the gold were separate, yet unified.

This combination reflects a divine mystery. Just as the Ark was made of two distinct materials in perfect unity, so Jesus Christ is both fully God (gold) and fully man (wood). This is the hypostatic union—one Person, two complete natures. As believers, this truth is not only doctrinally essential, it’s deeply personal and life-transforming.

“Because of this hypostatic union, Jesus Christ exhibits unparalleled magnificence. No one person satisfies the complex longings of the human heart like the God-man.”

The Purpose of the Ark: A Throne of Grace

Psalm 99:1 describes God as enthroned between the cherubim—the very figures carved into the Ark’s lid. This wasn’t just a container; it was God’s throne on earth, a place of meeting and mercy.

The Ark became:

  • A symbol of God’s presence:
    • At the Jordan River – His presence brought miraculous passage.
    • At Jericho – His presence secured impossible victory.
    • In Philistia – His presence proved He alone is God.
  • A place of communion, made possible only by sprinkled blood on the mercy seat.
  • A testimony of redeeming grace, where God met sin, sorrow, and suffering with overwhelming mercy.

Seeing Christ in the Ark

1. In the Materials

  • Gold and Wood — Deity and humanity in perfect harmony
  • Jesus is the God-man, fully divine and fully human, the only One who can sympathize with our weaknesses and stand as our perfect mediator (Hebrews 4:14–16).

“The conception of a god who never became man (Allah) will not satisfy the human soul like the God who did.”

In Christ, divinity touched humanity not in judgment but in mercy. The incarnation wasn’t just a theological moment—it was an explosion of compassion. Like potassium in water, God’s love erupted onto the scene.

2. In the Contents

Hebrews 9:4 tells us what was inside the Ark:

  • The Tablets of the Law – Pointing to Christ as King; He is the Law fulfilled and the Authority we follow.
  • The Golden Pot of Manna – Pointing to Christ as Prophet; the true Bread from Heaven who reveals the Father (John 6:32).
  • Aaron’s Budding Staff – Pointing to Christ as our High Priest; the One who intercedes and brings life out of death.

Together, these contents reveal Jesus as Prophet, Priest, and King—God’s perfect provision for every human need.

3. In the Mercy Seat

On the Day of Atonement, blood was sprinkled on the lid—the mercy seat—to cover the sins of the people. This was a symbol of something much greater.

In the New Testament, this mercy seat becomes propitiation—the atoning work of Jesus that satisfies God’s wrath and secures our reconciliation (Romans 3:23–25, Hebrews 2:17, 1 John 2).

“Mercy-seat” in the Old is “propitiation” in the New.

Christ became our mercy seat. In His death, He absorbed our sin and bore the judgment we deserved. In His resurrection, He offers us life, peace, and full access to the throne of grace.

What Does This Mean for Us?

Understanding Christ through the Ark of the Covenant leads to profound truths that transform our daily walk:

  1. He is with us – Our lives become His throne. He dwells in us.
  2. He shows us His marvelous grace – Mercy triumphs over judgment.
  3. He reveals His precious Person – The God-man, approachable yet awe-inspiring.
  4. He reigns, speaks, and intercedes – Our King, our Prophet, our Priest.
  5. He is completely for us – In life and death, we are His.

“We don’t work up to the cross, but down from it.” – F.B. Meyer

Let the Ark not remain an artifact in your mind, but a mirror that reflects the beauty, power, and love of Jesus Christ. May your heart become His mercy seat, where He reigns in grace.

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