1710. Christ in the Presence of God–The God-Man
Christ in the Presence of God–The God-Man
"And they shall make an Ark of shittim wood: * * and thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, within and without shalt then overlay it" (Exo_25:10-11).
The Ark is symbolical of the Lord Jesus Christ in His human and Divine natures.
1. The cassia wood. Our Lord Jesus Christ was man, but He was not sinful man. We read very clearly how the angel Gabriel said to Mary, "That Holy Thing that shall be born of thee." The Lord Jesus Christ knew no sin. Even His enemies found nothing in Him that they could condemn. Pilate said, "I find no fault in this Man" (Luk_23:4); Judas said, "I have betrayed innocent blood" (Mat_27:4); Pilate's wife said, "Have thou nothing to do with that just Man;" the centurion said, "Truly this is the Son of God" (Mat_27:54).
There are three things which may be noted about the cassia wood.
(1) It was the most incorruptible of woods. This was significant of the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ was never to see physical corruption. He had a body made of a woman; but it never returned to the dust. This is the significance of Act_2:26-27, a quotation from Psa_16:10 : "Therefore did My heart rejoice, and My tongue was glad; moreover also My flesh shall rest in hope: because Thou wilt not leave My soul in hell, neither wilt Thou suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption."
(2) It was a wood that grew in the desert. This suggests to us the fact that our Lord Jesus Christ was a branch out of dry ground. He came from a race which, seemingly, could not produce Him; He came from a town of which Nathanael said: "Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?" (Joh_1:46).
(3) It was a wood covered with thorns. This makes us think of the crown of thorns which they pressed upon the brow of the Lord Jesus Christ. It brings before us His suffering, and His pain.
2. The cassia wood covered with gold. The gold was a type of the Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ was not only holy man, but He was holy God.
How wonderfully do the words read: "Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power" (Heb_1:3).
This was the Christ who purged our sins and sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
Jesus Christ is the manifestation of God to men. He revealed the Father; He interpreted Him; He told Him out. Christ said unto Thomas: "He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father" (Joh_14:9).
Paul tells us plainly that Jesus Christ, "who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God" (Php_2:6).
John tells us of Jesus Christ, that He is the Son of God, and then he adds, "This is the True God, and eternal life" (1Jn_5:20).
Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR