The Ark of the Covenant

The Ark of the Covenant holds a central place in the Old Testament as the physical representation of God's presence with His people.  Built according to the divine pattern revealed to Moses, the Ark was housed in the Holy of Holies and symbolized God’s desire to dwell among His people.

In the New Testament, however, through Jesus Christ, we no longer need a physical ark because God’s presence has moved from dwelling with us to dwelling within us through the infilling of the Holy Spirit.

The Ark: A Shadow of Heavenly Realities

When God gave Moses the blueprint for the Tabernacle, He said, "Make it according to the pattern I showed you on the mountain" (Exodus 25:9). Hebrews 8:5 reinforces that the Tabernacle was an earthly shadow of heavenly realities, with the Ark of the Covenant representing God’s throne, where He would meet with His people.

The Ark was the first piece of furniture described by God in the Tabernacle plan, though it was the last piece the priest encountered when ministering. God’s description begins with His perspective—“from the Ark outward”—while humanity approaches God from the outside in, moving closer to the Ark, His presence. This demonstrates that God’s desire has always been to bridge the gap between heaven and earth, bringing His presence into the midst of His people.

Jesus: The Fulfillment of the Ark

The Ark of the Covenant consisted of a wooden chest overlaid with gold, symbolising the dual nature of Jesus Christ—His humanity (wood) and His divinity (gold). As Exodus 25:11 commands the Ark to be overlaid with pure gold, this signifies Jesus, the God-Man, who was fully divine and fully human. Just as the Ark was a shadow of heavenly things, Jesus is the fulfillment of all that the Ark represented in the Old Testament. He was “Emmanuel,” God with us, fulfilling the promise of God dwelling with His people (Matthew 1:23).

The Ark in the Old Testament and Jesus in the New Testament

In the Old Testament, God’s glory rested above the Ark, but now, through Jesus, the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily in Him (Colossians 2:9). Jesus is the true Ark of the Covenant—God’s presence manifest in flesh. When Jesus came to earth, many saw only His humanity (the wood), but through His miracles and resurrection, they glimpsed His divinity (the gold). He is both the Lamb that was slain and the King of glory.

The Ark and Our Access to God

One of the most powerful lessons of the Ark of the Covenant is that God desires intimacy with His people. In Exodus 25:22, God promises, “There I will meet with you, and I will speak with you.” The Ark was a place of communion, but in the New Testament, through the sacrifice of Jesus, we have been granted even greater access to God’s presence.

When Jesus died, the veil in the Temple was torn, signifying that the barrier between God and humanity was removed. Hebrews 10:19-20 explains that through Jesus’ blood, we now have “boldness to enter into the Holiest by the blood of Jesus.” This means that every believer has direct access to God’s throne of grace. We no longer need to rely on earthly priests or annual sacrifices because Jesus, our High Priest, has offered Himself once for all.

Jesus: Our Ark of Safety

Just as Noah and his family found safety in the Ark from the flood, and Moses was preserved in an ark of bulrushes, Jesus is our Ark of safety. We trust in Him for our salvation, just as Noah and Moses trusted in the arks that preserved their lives.  

In the New Testament, baptism in the name of Jesus is our entrance into this Ark of safety. Romans 6:3-4 declares that when we are baptized, we are buried with Christ and raised to walk in newness of life.

Through baptism, we enter into Christ, just as Noah entered the Ark.  Baptism in the name of Jesus is the means by which we are brought into the covenant and cleansed by the blood of Christ.

The Glory of God in Us

The Ark of the Covenant symbolized God’s presence among the Israelites, but today, as Spirit-filled believers, we carry God’s presence within us.

Colossians 1:27 declares, “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” This indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit transforms us into living temples, carriers of God’s glory.  Through the infilling the Holy Spirit, we experience the fullness of God’s presence in our lives.

The Ark was carried on the shoulders of the priests, but now, through the Holy Spirit, we carry God’s presence wherever we go. We are called to be living testimonies of His glory, demonstrating His power and presence in our everyday lives. Just as the glory cloud rested above the Ark in the Tabernacle, the glory of God should rest on our lives as Spirit-filled believers. People should see something different in us, recognising the presence of God in our lives.

Conclusion

The Ark of the Covenant was a powerful symbol of God’s presence, provision, and covenant with His people in the Old Testament. However, through Jesus Christ, we now experience the fulfillment of all that the Ark represented. He is our Ark of safety, our High Priest, and the fullness of God in bodily form.

As Spirit-filled believers, we carry the presence of God within us, demonstrating His power and glory to the world. Let us, like the priests of old, faithfully carry His presence into every area of our lives, living as testimonies of His grace and power.