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ADVENT REFLECTION

The Ark is the theme for our reflection. The Ark was a sacred object in the lives of the Israelites because it symbolises the presence of God among HIs people. God gave directions on its dimensions and the materials to be used for its construction and the structure to Moses for its construction. (Exodus 25:10-21). Hebrews 9:4 confirms these three items were inside the Ark of the Covenant: “Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant.” The cover of the Ark shall have a mercy seat with two Cherubims at both ends of the mercy seat.” (Exodus 25:17-21). The gold jar of manner reminds the Israelites of God’s providence, Aaron’s staff remind them of their rebellion when Moses went for the Law, the Stone tablets have the ten commandments they must adhere to if they wish to be blessed, the mercy seat is where atonements of sin is made through animal sacrifices by the High Priest, the Cheribims represent the ever presence of the Angels in praising or adoring God. The importance of the Ark of the Covenant is captured in Exodus 25:22, “There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you about all that I will give you in commandment for the people of Israel.” (Exodus 25:22) In other words, the Ark of the Covenant represented the presence of God among the Israelites.

Beloved in the Lord, is the Ark of the covenant still relevant in our relationship with God? Should we still build sacred monuments like the Ark to represent the presence of God in our lives as believers? Dear friend, Jesus Christ replaced the Ark of the covenant in our lives. Jesus Christ is the Ark of the New Covenant, for this reason, He said to disciples “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (Matthew 26:26-28). Beloved in the Lord, we need no other blood or sacrifice of atonement before the mercy seat on the Ark of the Covenant before God shows us mercy and forgives us our sins. The coming of Jesus into the world, which was the first Advent replaced the Ark and established a new era of grace, forgiveness and personal relationship between the believer and God as sons and daughters of God. Jesus said to his disciples “This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbour, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more. ” By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear. (Hebrews 8:10-13) Christ became the sacrificial lamb at the same time the High Priest of the new covenant who performed the sacrifice of atonement once and for all so that we shall be saved and have God dwell among us. We now experience the glory or presence of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Jesus assures us that “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” (John 14:6-7). The first advent of Jesus has created an opportunity for us to be saved through Him, Jesus the Ark of the New covenant shall come again, this time not as a baby in a manger but as the King of Kings to judge the world and save the faithful. Let us make Jesus the Ark through whom we experience God’s presence so that when He finally comes the second time we shall be found worthy of the Kingdom of God. Shalom.

PRAYER

Thank you, God, for freeing us from the Ark of the old covenant and granting the Ark of the New covenant in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ through whom You are pleased and we are saved. Holy Spirit, help us not to take for granted Jesus our Ark of the New Covenant so that we shall become beneficiaries of the His Advent.