Jesus, Our New Mercy Seat and Perfect Sacrifice

Oct 04, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Gold Inside and Out – God Deserves Our Firstfruits

The Ark of the Covenant wasn’t just functional—it was lavish. Acacia wood overlaid entirely with gold, inside and out, revealed God’s worth. This wasn’t frugal craftsmanship. The materials reflected His supreme value, demanding Israel’s best resources, skill, and devotion. For believers today, the call remains: God deserves excellence in worship, obedience, and mission. Half-hearted routines insult His holiness. Every act of service, every whispered prayer, every step of obedience becomes a golden overlay declaring His worth. [39:51]

“They shall make an ark of acacia wood. Two cubits and a half shall be its length, a cubit and a half its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height. You shall overlay it with pure gold. Inside and outside shall you overlay it, and you shall make on it a molding of gold around it.”
(Exodus 25:10–11, ESV)

Reflection: Where have you been offering God “acacia wood” efforts instead of “overlaid gold” devotion? What one area of obedience or worship could you intentionally elevate this week?

Day 2: Poles Ready – God Moves With His Wandering People

The Ark’s carrying poles were never removed, a reminder that God journeys with His people. Israel’s 40-year desert detour didn’t surprise Him—He designed the Ark for mobility. Our own “wilderness seasons” aren’t deviations from His plan but part of His intentional path. The poles symbolize His commitment to dwell with us through life’s upheavals, hospital rooms, and unexpected trials. Wherever we go, the God of the mercy seat follows, leading, and staying. [44:54]

“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
(Deuteronomy 31:6, ESV)

Reflection: What current uncertainty or transition makes you question God’s presence? How might His “carrying poles” be visible in this season if you look closely?

Day 3: Blood on the Lid – Mercy Covers What Justice Demands

The mercy seat wasn’t decorative—it was transactional. Annual blood-sprinkling temporarily covered Israel’s sins, a foreshadowing of Christ’s final atonement. The Hebrew “kapporeth” (mercy seat) and Greek “hilasterion” (propitiation) intertwine: Jesus became both sacrifice and covering. His cross satisfied wrath; His empty tomb secured mercy. Every forgiven sin, every quieted shame, every restored relationship flows from this once-for-all sprinkling. [57:10]

“God put forward [Christ] as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.”
(Romans 3:25, ESV)

Reflection: Is there a sin you’ve struggled to believe is fully covered by Christ’s blood? How does the Ark’s mercy seat affirm the finality of His sacrifice?

Day 4: Angels Bowing – Holiness Invites Intimacy

Cherubim flanked the mercy seat, wings outstretched, faces toward the lid—postures of awe and access. These same guardians once barred Eden’s gate (Genesis 3:24) now frame the place where God meets sinners. Holiness no longer repels; it invites. Through Christ, we approach not as intruders but as invited guests, welcomed into the presence that once required veils and high priests. The Ark’s terrifying glory becomes our relational inheritance. [52:29]

“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.”
(Exodus 25:22, ESV)

Reflection: Do you more often approach God with fearful duty or confident intimacy? How might the cherubim’s posture reshape your view of prayer?

Day 5: Empty Space Between Angels – The Tomb Outshines the Ark

Mary saw two angels where Jesus’ body had lain—one at the head, one at the feet—mirroring the Ark’s mercy seat. But the space between them held resurrection, not relics. The old covenant’s most sacred object pointed to a moment when holiness would vacate stone rooms for human hearts. The true Ark isn’t a gold-plated box but a living Savior, whose victory turns every believer into a mobile sanctuary of His presence. [55:14]

“Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept, she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet.”
(John 20:11–12, ESV)

Reflection: How does the empty tomb’s “mercy seat” deepen your awe beyond what the Ark could inspire? Who needs to hear this week that God’s presence now dwells in people, not places?

Sermon Summary

Exodus 25 brings God’s instructions for the ark of the covenant into focus. The ark was not a boat like Noah’s ark, but a gold covered box placed in the holiest of holies, where God would meet with His people. The gold inside, outside, and around the trim showed that the ark was valuable because God is valuable. God is a God of design, details, and plans, and nothing catches Him off guard. God deserves the best worship, obedience, devotion, service, and faithfulness that His people can offer, not a faith that is only going through the motions.

The poles and rings on the ark showed that God intended to go with His people wherever they traveled. God did not stay behind in a church building or only show up in easy moments. God was present with Israel in the wilderness, and God remains present with His people in hospital rooms, hard seasons, broken arguments, and unknown days. The ark declared that God goes before His people, never leaves them, and never forsakes them.

The testimony inside the ark, the Ten Commandments, showed the holiness of God’s law. The mercy seat on top of the ark showed the holiness of God’s mercy. The high priest would enter once a year on the Day of Atonement and sprinkle sacrificial blood on that covering. God’s justice required that sin be dealt with, yet God made a way for sinners to be forgiven.

John 20 reveals the greater mercy seat. Mary looked into the empty tomb and saw two angels in white, one at the head and one at the feet where Jesus had lain. That picture echoes the cherubim on the mercy seat. Romans 3 calls Jesus the propitiation by His blood, meaning that Jesus satisfied the wrath of God against sin. The mercy seat was always pointing forward to Christ.

Jesus became the once and for all sacrifice that animal blood could never finally provide. God remained patient through the Old Testament sacrifices because He knew the greater mercy seat was coming. Christ is both just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Him. Faith means more than knowing facts about Jesus. Faith means trusting Jesus, loving Jesus, living for Jesus, and receiving the new life that His death and resurrection purchased.

Key Takeaways

1. God deserves more than routine worship. God’s gold covered ark showed His worth, not Israel’s wealth. Worship, obedience, service, and mission become hollow when they are done only because they are familiar. God deserves hearts that recognize His value and respond with real devotion. [42:19]
2. God goes into hard places. The poles remained in the ark because God intended to travel with His people. God’s presence does not disappear in hospitals, conflict, fear, or seasons filled with unanswered questions. God remains near when His people have only enough strength to trust Him for the next day. [47:27]
3. Mercy does not ignore justice. The mercy seat required blood because sin carries a real cost before a holy God. Mercy means that God does not simply pretend sin never happened, but provides the payment sinners cannot make. Christ receives the judgment that sin deserves so forgiven people can stand before God. [59:54]
4. Jesus is the greater mercy seat. The empty tomb, the blood stained place where Jesus lay, and the angels at His head and feet reveal a greater fulfillment. Jesus is the propitiation, the sacrifice that satisfies God’s righteous wrath once and for all. The old ark pointed forward to the risen Christ. [62:05]
5. Faith means believing in Jesus personally. Faith includes believing that Jesus died and rose again, but it cannot stop at knowing those facts. Faith trusts Christ as Savior, loves Him as Lord, and allows His mercy to change daily life. Jesus offers new life to those who confess Him and surrender to Him.

## [65:11]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[35:26] - The Tabernacle and the Ark
[38:14] - The Ark’s Value and Design
[41:09] - God Deserves the Best
[43:56] - The Mobile Presence of God
[48:16] - The Testimony and Mercy Seat
[52:29] - God Meets With His People
[53:56] - Mary Sees the New Mercy Seat
[56:49] - Jesus, the Propitiation
[61:12] - The Once and for All Sacrifice
[64:23] - Faith That Changes Life
[66:32] - The Call to Confess Jesus

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Exodus 25:10-22
“They shall make an ark of acacia wood. Two cubits and a half shall be its length, a cubit and a half its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height. You shall overlay it with pure gold, inside and outside shall you overlay it, and you shall make on it a molding of gold around it. You shall cast four rings of gold for it and put them on its four feet. Two rings on the one side of it, and two rings on the other side of it. You shall make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. And you shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry the ark by them. The poles shall remain in the rings of the ark; they shall not be taken from it. And you shall put into the ark the testimony that I shall give you. Then you shall make a mercy seat of pure gold. Two cubits and a half shall be its length, and a cubit and a half its breadth. And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work shall you make them, on the two ends of the mercy seat. Make one cherub on the one end, and one cherub on the other end. Of one piece with the mercy seat shall you make the cherubim on its two ends. The cherubim shall spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings, their faces one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubim be. And you shall put the mercy seat on the top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the testimony that I shall give you. 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.” [38:21]

John 20:11-12
“But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet.” [53:56]

Romans 3:25-26
“whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” [55:29]

Observation questions

What materials and details are emphasized in the construction of the ark, including its covering, trim, rings, and poles? [38:45]
What was placed inside the ark, and what was placed on top of it?
According to Exodus 25:22, what did God promise to do from above the mercy seat? [52:29]
In John 20:11–12, where were the two angels sitting in relation to the place where Jesus had lain? [54:43]

Interpretation questions

What does the gold-covered ark communicate about God’s worth, and why does that matter more than the wealth or skill of the people who built it? [41:09]
Why would God command that the poles remain in the rings of the ark? How does that detail help explain God’s desire to be present with His people in their wilderness journey? [44:03]
How do the testimony inside the ark and the mercy seat above it show both God’s holiness and His mercy? Why must both be held together? [48:16]
Romans 3:25–26 says that Jesus is the propitiation by His blood. How does Jesus’ sacrifice show that God does not ignore sin while also making forgiveness possible? [57:00]

Application questions

God deserves more than worship that is merely familiar or routine. Where are you most tempted to go through the motions—gathered worship, prayer, Scripture reading, serving, obedience, or sharing your faith? What would wholehearted devotion look like in that area this week? [43:39]
God’s presence is not limited to a church building or easy circumstances. What hard place, uncertain situation, conflict, or fear do you need to remember God is present with you in right now? [47:27]
When you face a day with unanswered questions, what would it look like to pray honestly, “Only You know what today holds; help me trust You and endure it”? [46:37]
Mercy means that someone pays the real cost of sin; it does not mean that sin is simply overlooked. How does remembering that Jesus paid that cost shape the way you confess sin rather than hiding, excusing, or minimizing it? [59:54]
Jesus is the once-for-all sacrifice and the greater mercy seat. When guilt or shame resurfaces, what specific truth about Christ’s sacrifice do you need to preach to your own heart? [01:02:05]
Faith is more than knowing facts about Jesus; it includes trusting Him, loving Him, and living for Him. Which of those parts of faith feels strongest in your life right now, and which one needs renewed attention? [01:04:23]
Who in your life may need to hear that forgiveness and new life are available through Jesus? What is one tangible way you could begin that conversation with care and courage? [42:32]

Sermon Clips

54s

#JesusIsTheWay

“It's all Jesus. Jesus is the one who is just, faithful, the one who can be our sacrifice, he is the one who gives us justification. He is the one who makes us right before the eyes of God. He is the one who makes us righteous because he is the justifier. So this connection of this ark of the covenant with the mercy seat has been point us to the empty tomb the whole time to say, oh, there's something greater coming, and it's Jesus. And you can have this relationship with Jesus by faith where God has revealed his righteousness to us through Jesus, where we all understand that we need God's righteousness, but we cannot receive God's righteousness on our own. So from the Old Testament to the New Testament, it all points to Jesus.”

28s

#JesusChangedMyLife

“but also you believe in Jesus. You have a personal relationship with Jesus where you trust Jesus, you love Jesus, you live for Jesus, where you understand that Jesus hung on the cross for you, and the wrath of God was satisfied in Jesus. You didn't earn it, you didn't deserve it, but he went on the cross for you. And because of that, that's changed your life forever.”

39s

#EmptyTomb

“But we know on the third day he rose from the dead, so he's not there. But when Mary walks into that tomb, she sees that place where Jesus once laid sprinkled with his blood. And what's on the left and right of it? What's at the head and foot of it? Two angels. So scripture is saying, Jesus is this new mercy seat, this propitiation. No longer does the high priest have to come in once a year and offer atonement by sacrifice of blood animals for you. Now there's been a sacrifice once and for all, and that's Jesus, and Mary was the first person to see it.”

26s

#GodIsWithYou

“So I I would say the same thing to you. Wherever you go, whatever you have to face, God is with you. He goes before you, he never leaves you, and he never forsakes you. That's what he wanted the arc of the covenant to represent to his people. That's why he wanted the poles on it so it could be carried, and he could go with them.”

38s

#ChooseJesus

“Do you believe in Jesus? That he is a son of God and offers you new life? Or will you believe in Jesus? If you're here this morning and you've never placed faith in Jesus Christ, today could be your day of salvation Because God has planned from the very beginning. The ark of the covenant was valuable, and it's where he dwell with his people, but it wasn't the final plan. The new mercy seat, the greater mercy seat was his son, Jesus, who's offered to all for a relationship.”

36s

#GodsPerfectPlan

“God was patient. All this time in the Old Testament where where the animal sacrifice was was good enough, he's been patient in that forgiveness of sins because he knew the greater mercy seat was coming. He knew that his son, Jesus, was going to be the one who paid the ultimate cost for our sin once and for all because God is the God of design. God is the God who has plans. He knew what was going to happen. He knew that Jesus would be the only savior.”

44s

#FaithThroughTrials

“And what I didn't know is after we found out what that tumor was, it was cancer, the next two to three years of my life was probably the hardest years of my life. And then also of my marriage. Sabrina and I, we had one of the biggest arguments we ever had as a married couple over this. But what I know through that situation is that from that hospital room, God was with us. From that that that terrible, argument we had as a married, God was with us. God wasn't left at the church building. God wasn't in my bible at the house. God was with me wherever I went because god wants to be with his people.”

38s

#GiveGodYourBest

“But God deserved that. You know, what's what's a means 11 to $13,000,000 when it comes to God? Because God deserves the best. God deserves our best. That means God deserves the best in everything that we offer. So let me put it this way. When you come to worship on Sunday morning, God deserves your very best worship. When God tells you to obey his commands and his word, God God deserves for you to do your best in in obeying his commands. God deserves our best devotion.”

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