Verily
Well-Known Member
When you look at the types and shadows and fulfillments in Scripoture, it’s easier to understand Mary’s role.
Mary is the Ark of the New Covenant.
The Ark carried the sacred sumbols of God's power and Law.
Mary, the New Ark carried God Himself. And, whereas, the Ark was to remain untouched by man, lest they defile it.
The following verses illustrate Biblical reality:
OT - The Word was written by God on Tablets of Stone (Ex. 25:10) placed inside the Ark (Deut. 10:1)
NT - The Word of God became Flesh (John 1) conceived inside Mary (Luke 2:38) Mary carried the Word of God.
OT - "Who am I that the Ark of my Lord should come to me?" (2 Sam. 6:9)
NT - "Who am I that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" (Luke 1:43)
OT - The When the Ark carrying the Word of God returned “David was leaping and dancing before the Lord” (2 Sam. 6:14)
NT - When Mary came into Elizabeth's presence carrying the word of God, the baby “leaped for joy” in Elizabeth's womb (Luke 2:38)
OT - The Ark carrying the Word of God is brought to the house of Obed-Edom for 3 months, where it was a blessing. (2 Sam. 6:11)
NT - Mary (the new Ark) carrying the Word of God goes to Elizabeth's house for 3 months, where she is a blessing (Luke 1:56)
OT - The Ark is captured (1 Sam 4:11) and brought to a foreign land and later returns (1 Sam 6:13)
NT - Mary (the new Ark) is exiled to a foreign land (Egypt) and later returns (Matt. 2:14)
OT - On the Day of the Dedication of the Temple which Solomon built, there were 120 priests present (2 Chron. 5:11). The Ark of the covenant was carried into the Temple (2 Chron. 5:7) and fire came down from Heaven to consume the burnt offering (2 Chron. 7:7).
NT - The On the Day of Pentecost, there were 120 disciples of Jesus present in the Upper Room (Acts 1:15). Mary, the Mother of Jesus and the Ark of the NEW Covenant was also present while the Holy Spirit came down as tongues of fire (Acts 2:3).
I do prefer to look at types and shadows myself and although I might disagree that these things prove anything substantially in relation to Mary being the Ark I think you do a much better job of showing where your side of things has come to this understanding. Well, above many on the forums where there is alot of back and forth on it and I commend you for using the scriptures to do so. I actually appreciate that.
As much as a couple of the churches out there make of her there is just little to nothing in the NT on her. The last time Mary is even mentioned by name is the day of Pentecost, and not firstly but lastly (Acts 14:1) However, if we would insist that the ark represented her (who carried the word of God) she only did so for 9 months, and was certainly not carrying him in the upper room at that time (nor had she been for over 33 years). The presence of God filled that place while Mary herself sat among them, and that had nothing to do with her as the ark of His presense. She carried Jesus who was made flesh in her flesh for 9 months only. And right there (at pentecost) 33 after she gave birth to Jesus it would come to pass that God would pour out His Spirit on all flesh. How does that work? How is she even an Ark at this point in time. Not denying she carried Christ, who is the Word made flesh, but that was before Jesus was "born into" the world (and who was outside of her for 33 years) and now he has gone to the cross (and so not even in this world any longer).
Jesus had every opportunity to elevate his mother to some sort of special goddess like position like when someone specifically told him that his natural mother and brethren who were standing without call for him, (even before he went to the cross) he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren? And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister,and mother Mark 3:32-35.
The only place in the epistles she is referenced again (and not by name) is in Gal 4:4-5 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law. To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. That's it outside of the book of revelation where the back story of the woman bringing forth a child with the moon under her feet who a couple paragraphs down takes off into the wilderness and the picture of the ark in heaven (as we are familar with those).
Theres just nothing on her, the epistles are silent , even 1 Cr 15:1 excludes the mention of his birth and emphasizes the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, not his birth there where he could have said something substantial pertaining to these things. Paul emphasized Jesus death and resurrection, and nothing concerning Mary being this Ark.
I will say that you have done a better job of trying to show these things as you see them set forth in the scripture to show how you come to that conclusion and believe as you do than most though. Although I still don't get how the eternal presense of God equates to an ever virgin forever, when even the Ark is to be forgotten.
Jerm 3:16 And it shall come to pass, when ye be multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, saith the LORD, they shall say no more, The ark of the covenant of the LORD: neither shall it come to mind: neither shall they remember it; neither shall they visit it; neither shall that be done any more.
Hebrews mentions it here this way
Heb 9:5 And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.