Mary, the Ark of the New Covenant

Summary

The speaker explores the concept of Mary as the new Ark of the Covenant, drawing parallels between the Old Testament Ark and the role of Mary in the New Testament. Just as the Ark housed the manna, the Ten Commandments, and Aaron’s staff, Mary carried Jesus, the Word made flesh, in her womb. The speaker also touches on Mary's holiness, perpetual virginity, and bodily assumption into heaven, tying these themes to her role as the Ark of the New Covenant, the dwelling place of God on earth.

Takeaways

• 📜 Jesus is depicted as the new manna from heaven in the New Testament (John 6), which parallels the Old Testament manna stored in the Ark of the Covenant.
• 📦 The Ark of the Covenant was a sacred container that held the manna, the Ten Commandments, and Aaron's staff, making it a symbol of God's dwelling among His people.
• 🏺 Mary is portrayed as the new Ark of the Covenant in the New Testament, becoming the dwelling place of God by carrying Jesus in her womb.
• ☁️ In Luke 1:35, the Holy Spirit ‘overshadows’ Mary, using the same Greek word that describes the overshadowing of the Ark by God's glory cloud in the Old Testament.
• 📖 The Ark's holiness was symbolized by its incorruptible wood, gold covering, and its role in housing God's presence. Mary, similarly, is considered holy as the new Ark.
• ⏳ The Ark was lost during the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem. According to 2 Maccabees 2, the Prophet Jeremiah hid it, and it will remain hidden until God's glory returns.
• 🌟 In Revelation 11:19, the Ark of the Covenant is seen in heaven, followed by the vision of a woman clothed with the sun, symbolizing Mary as the Ark of the New Covenant.
• 🤰 Mary's perpetual virginity and her body's sanctity as the new Ark reflect her unique role in salvation history, akin to the Old Testament Ark that could not be touched by mere men.
• 🌈 The parallels between Mary visiting Elizabeth and David bringing the Ark to Jerusalem emphasize her role as the new Ark, carrying Jesus, the Word made flesh, the Bread of Life, and the eternal Priest.
• 👑 Mary's bodily assumption into heaven is fitting because, like the incorruptible Ark, her body was also incorruptible as the dwelling place of God.

Q & A

What connection is made between Jesus and the manna in John chapter 6?

In John chapter 6, Jesus describes himself as the bread that has come down from heaven, drawing a parallel to the manna that sustained the Israelites in the desert. This positions Jesus as the 'new manna' from heaven, signifying spiritual sustenance.

Why is the Ark of the Covenant important in understanding the role of Mary in the New Testament?

The Ark of the Covenant was considered the dwelling place of God on earth, containing sacred objects like manna, the Ten Commandments, and Aaron's staff. In the New Testament, Mary is depicted as the new Ark of the Covenant because her body became the dwelling place of Jesus, the Word made flesh.

What were the three objects placed inside the original Ark of the Covenant?

The three objects inside the original Ark of the Covenant were the manna from heaven, the two tablets of the Ten Commandments, and Aaron's staff, which had miraculously budded to signify his priestly role.

How does the Gospel of Luke depict Mary as the new Ark of the Covenant?

In Luke 1:35, the angel Gabriel tells Mary that the Holy Spirit will overshadow her, similar to how the glory cloud (Shekinah) overshadowed the Ark of the Covenant in Exodus. This highlights Mary as the new dwelling place of God, paralleling the role of the Ark in the Old Testament.

What is the significance of the materials used to construct the Ark of the Covenant in the Old Testament?

The Ark was made of acacia wood, known for its incorruptibility, and covered in gold. These materials symbolized holiness and divinity, emphasizing the Ark as a sacred and untouchable object. The incorruptibility of the wood also foreshadows Mary's purity and her body being free from decay.

How does the movie 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' tie into the understanding of the Ark's power?

The movie 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' highlights the Ark's immense power, showing it as a weapon that made the Israelites victorious in battle. This pop culture reference helps modern audiences understand the reverence and significance the Ark held in both historical and spiritual contexts.

What does the Second Book of Maccabees say about the fate of the Ark of the Covenant?

According to the Second Book of Maccabees, the prophet Jeremiah hid the Ark of the Covenant in a cave on Mount Nebo before the Babylonian destruction of the Temple. It is said that the Ark's location would remain unknown until God's glory returns.

What does the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit signify in both the Old and New Testaments?

In the Old Testament, the glory cloud (Shekinah) overshadowed the Ark of the Covenant, symbolizing God's presence. In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit's overshadowing of Mary during the Annunciation parallels this event, indicating that she would bear the presence of God in the person of Jesus.

How does the story of David and the Ark relate to the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth?

Both stories involve a journey to the hill country—David bringing the Ark to Jerusalem, and Mary visiting Elizabeth. David asks, 'How can the Ark of the Lord come to me?' Similarly, Elizabeth says, 'How is it that the mother of my Lord should come to me?' These parallels reinforce Mary as the new Ark.

Why is the bodily Assumption of Mary into heaven significant in relation to the Ark of the Covenant?

If Mary is the new Ark of the Covenant, which was incorruptible and held sacred objects, it is fitting that her body would not experience corruption either. This belief supports the doctrine of her Assumption, as her body, like the Ark, is taken into the heavenly Holy of Holies to dwell with God.