The Mercy Seat, The Manger, and The Empty Tomb

“The Lord also spoke to Moses: “Look, I have appointed by name Bezalel son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. I have filled him with God’s Spirit, with wisdom, understanding, and ability in every craft to design artistic works in gold, silver, and bronze, to cut gemstones for mounting, and to carve wood for work in every craft. I have also selected Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, to be with him. I have placed wisdom within every skilled craftsman in order to make all that I have commanded you: the tent of meeting, the ark of the testimony, the mercy seat that is on top of it, and all the other furnishings of the tent —”
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭31:1-7‬ ‭HCSB‬‬
http://bible.com/72/exo.31.1-7.hcsb

“Make two cherubim of gold; make them of hammered work at the two ends of the mercy seat.”
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭25:18‬ ‭HCSB‬‬
http://bible.com/72/exo.25.18.hcsb

“When Moses entered the tent of meeting to speak with the Lord, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim. He spoke to him that way.”
‭‭Numbers‬ ‭7:89‬ ‭HCSB‬‬
http://bible.com/72/num.7.89.

“Put the mercy seat on the ark of the testimony in the most holy place.”
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭26:34‬ ‭HCSB‬‬
http://bible.com/72/exo.26.34.

“Set the mercy seat on top of the ark and put the testimony that I will give you into the ark.”
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭25:21‬ ‭HCSB‬‬
http://bible.com/72/exo.25.21.hcsb

“Make two cherubim of gold; make them of hammered work at the two ends of the mercy seat.”
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭25:18‬ ‭HCSB‬‬
http://bible.com/72/exo.25.18.hcsb

“Set the mercy seat on top of the ark and put the testimony that I will give you into the ark. I will meet with you there above the mercy seat, between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the testimony; I will speak with you from there about all that I command you regarding the Israelites.”
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭25:21-22‬ ‭HCSB‬‬
http://bible.com/72/exo.25.21-22.hcsb

““You are to place the altar in front of the veil by the ark of the testimony — in front of the mercy seat that is over the testimony — where I will meet with you.”
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭30:6‬ ‭HCSB‬‬
http://bible.com/72/exo.30.6.hcsb

“The Lord said to Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron that he may not come whenever he wants into the holy place behind the veil in front of the mercy seat on the ark or else he will die, because I appear in the cloud above the mercy seat.”
‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭16:2‬ ‭HCSB‬‬
http://bible.com/72/lev.16.2.hcsb

“and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭2:7‬ ‭NIV‬‬
http://bible.com/111/luk.2.7.niv

“Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).”
‭‭John‬ ‭20:11-16‬ ‭NIV‬‬
http://bible.com/111/jhn.20.11-16.niv

Is it just me or does anyone else see the similarity between these three items.  In the Old Testament, the Mercy Seat was placed as a cover for the ark of the covenant.  The Lord would meet with Moses there between the two Cheribim.  The ark and the mercy seat were placed in the Most Holy Place inside the Tent of Meeting.  There the High Priest would enter into the Most Holy and make atonement for Isreal’s sin, and then that day took place only once a year.

When Jesus, Son of God, became human flesh, Mary his mother placed him a wooden box known as a manger.  The Ark of the Covenant and The Mercy Seat were covered in gold and were unapproachable by the ordinary people of Israel.  Only Moses and the High Priest were allowed access and then only after they had been ceremonially cleansed.  In the manger, God became flesh and blood.  This box was made of wood.  Dirty shepherds approached God in the manger.  In the Old Testament, the law written by the Hand of God was placed in the golden box.  At the manger, The Word of God became flesh and slept peacefully in a wooden box.

In the Old Testament, gold moldings of Cheribim sat on both sides of the Mercy Seat, overshadowing the Seat where God would meet with Moses and speak with him.  At the empty tomb, two angels in white were seated where Jesus’ body had once been, one at the foot and the other at the head.  It is here our risen Lord met with Mary and spoke her name.  Did she recognize the Mercy Seat that had the just been displayed for her as the Angels sat on the bench that had once been the resting place of our Crucified Savior?

The Mercy Seat of the Old Testament was just a foreshadowing of the manger and the empty tomb.  The Mercy Seat of the Old Testament was unapproachable for sinful man.  At the manger, sinful man reached out and touched God made flesh.  At the empty tomb, Our Risen Lord beat sin, death and the grave so we might receive God’s endless grace and approach the Mercy Seat with boldness.

“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in out time of need.”  Hebrews 4:16

In the picture Lucas and his classmates were portraying the manger scene.  Lucas was Joseph.  I chose this picture because of the look on each of their precious faces.  Doesn’t it look like they are deep in thought?  Do you think they are contemplating the wooden box before them?  Maybe they were thinking about the cookies they were about to be served.  I don’t know.  What do you think about when you contemplate the Mercy Seat, The Manger, and the Empty Tomb?