Christ in all the scriptures The Ark of the Covenant part 4

 Christ in all the scriptures 

The Ark of the Covenant part 4

INIMITABLE MAJESTY

"...and thou shalt make upon it a crown of gold round about."   Exodus 25v11

This is repeated for the Table and for the Golden Altar-Exodus 25v24, and 30v3.  What we have here is GLORIFIED HUMANITY in the person of Jesus Christ.  What was envisaged from the creation (Genesis 1v26-namely man in dominion), and what seemed improbable after the fall, is now a reality in Christ.  Bear in mind that the tabernacle is a "pattern of things in the heavens"; it is God's view of things, the only view that matters, and should become our view.  In creation, God decreed that man would be in dominion, and in Christ that is now a fact.  This reality will become universally visible in time, but God has "set His King on His holy hill of Zion"-Psalm 2v6, this despite appearances to the contrary.  This is dealt with in detail in Hebrews 2v5-10.  Notice the context is "the world to come".  Reference is made to Job 7v17, and Psalm 8, the subject is the dominion of man.  That this will happen is not in question, but it is "NOT YET".  V9 says "...But we see Jesus...crowned with glory and honour..."-note Jesus, His name as man.  The KJV translation is clumsy here, and others seem to present it better.  The point is that Jesus, who became lower than angels for the salvation of men, is now crowned with glory and honour, having completed the work, thus fulfilling the type.  Suffering always precedes glory, so the NIV and Ellicott translations are more accurate.  The world to come will be ruled by man, in the person of Jesus, who humbled Himself for our sake.

 But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honour because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone-NIV

Ellicott's commentary; Rather, But we see Him who has been made a little lower than angels, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honour. 

It is not visible yet, but it is a reality in heaven right now that Jesus is King in waiting, and such a King that has never been, and will never cease to reign.  These are the words of scripture:

Crowned with glory and with honour

Glory is the moral excellence of God, outwardly displayed; Honour is the universal acknowledgement by all in unequivocal acclaim.

Isaiah 52v13 "Behold my servant shall prosper; "He shall be exalted, and extolled and be very high".

Mark 16v19 "He was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God".

Luke 22v69 "Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God".

Acts 2v32-33 "This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we are all witnesses.  Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear."

Acts 2v36 "God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye crucified, both Lord and Christ."

Acts 5v31 "Him hath God exalted with His right hand, a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins".  

Romans 5v21 "That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord".

Ephesians 1v202-23 "And hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him (who is-understood) head over all things to the Church which is His body the fulness of Him that filleth all in all".

Ephesians 4v10 "He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all things that He might fill all things".

Philippians 2v9 "Wherefore God also has highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name...". 

1st Peter 3v22 "Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto Him".   

Revelation 5v12 "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and blessing".

These and thousands of other references proclaim the inimitable majesty of Christ.  He is "King of kings and Lord of lords".  Kingdoms rise and fall, but His is everlasting-2nd Samuel 7v13; Daniel 7v14-18.  Kings have reigned over many provinces, but His is universal and He shall reign from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth-Psalm 72v8.  His word will be Law, and nations will be drawn to Him-Isaiah 2v1-5.  The letter to Hebrews presents a manifold picture of His present glory, covering many different aspects of spiritual life.

Heb. 1v13-14  He is seated on the right hand of power, and sends angels to serve and protect His people;  Heb. 4v14-16 He is on the throne of grace to hear our prayers and cries for help as a compassionate High Priest; Heb. 6v19-20 In heaven He is the anchor of the soul, and our hope for the future; Heb. 8v1-2 He is on the throne of the Majesty in the heavens who serves for us as a minister of the Sanctuary before God; Heb. 9v11-28 In heaven He deals with the guilt of our sins, purging our consciences, enabling us to worship truly; Heb. 12v1-3 He is set down at the right hand of the throne of God and is our example of suffering before we enter into glory.  

The crown of gold secures the mercy seat, enthroning God's righteousness that saves us.  Grace reigns on the throne of heaven, and raises Christ's work to the supreme judicial level.