Tabernacle of David Homework (Appendix III): ark

Randall Q. Lawrence
Faith Bible College
Tabernacle of David
Elder L.
March 22, 2011

Homework (Appendix III): ark

The book on pg. 265 under “C. The Ark in the Promised Land” under #4 states, “The Ark is positioned between Mt. Ebel, the Mt. of Cursing, and Mt. Gerizim, the Mt. of Blessing” (Joshua 8:30-35, Deuteronomy 28). The text had me thinking in regards to the statements that the Ark and its journey’s mirrored the life of Jesus Christ. There were a lot of interesting parallels, but I would like to just focus on this one.

It occurred to me that Jesus Christ hung on a cross between two thieves—one who cursed him and one who blessed him (Luke 23:39-43 contrasted with Matthew 27 that implies both of the thieves cursed him; gospels agree that he was crucified with 2 others, but this story is found only in Luke). The one thief “railed on him”, but the other rebuked him saying they were receiving their just reward, “but this man hath done nothing amiss” and asks Jesus to “remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.” “And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” (Luke 27:43) This situation kind of rebukes those that say you cannot be saved on your death bed and cannot be saved without being baptized. The 2nd thief showed faith, and Jesus blessed that faith with a promise.

This mirrors the image of the Ark (Jesus Christ on the cross) as being between the cursing (1st thief on the cross cursing, questioning him) and the blessing (2nd thief on the cross having faith and insight into Jesus and obtaining the promise for the next life). I really appreciated this parallel. Jesus is in the middle as our mediator between life and death, light and darkness, covenant and sin/disobedience, blessing and cursing. Jesus is also our “Way, Truth, and Life” (John 14:6) and way to obtain the Presence/Favor of the Father. Like the 2nd thief, our just reward for our sins is death. Romans 5:8 states, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” This is a powerful image between the Crucifixion and the three crosses and the Ark and the Mount of Cursing and Mount of Blessing.

[I thought about a comparison with this same imagery and the Parable of the Sheep (blessing) and Goats (cursing) in Matthew 25:31-46, but I will just stick with the above for my paper.]