Messiah and the Ark John 10:9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. Luke 11:9 So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. Genesis 6:16 You shall make a window for the ark, and you shall finish it to a cubit from above; and set the door of the ark in its side. You shall make it with lower, second, and third decks. In the verses above we can see the first comparison between the Ark and the Messiah. A door was placed in the side of the Ark and sealed to save Noah and his family. The Messiah is the door and those that enter through him will be saved. 1
Messiah and the Ark The word side, in Genesis 6:16, is tsad in Hebrew and is made up of two letters. The tsade and the dalet. In Hebrew each letter has a meaning. צ Tsade= Desire ד Dalet= Door It is important to note that YHVH s Word is called Dabar in Hebrew. דּ Dalet = Door ב Bet = House ר Reysh = Most High His Word is the Door to the House of the Most High. Our desire for this door leads us to salvation. John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. We can see that the Door is the Word and the Word in the flesh is the Messiah. In the verses below take note that the word side is the same Hebrew word in Genesis 6:16. Exodus 25:32 And six branches shall come out of its sides: three branches of the lampstand out of one side, and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side. 2
There is a fascinating study on how this center rod represents the Messiah and this rod lights all the other branches. We also can note that the number 4 is connected to the Messiah in its representation of authority. It is also the 4 th position in the Menorah. For the purpose of this study we will focus on the fact that all the other branches come out of the side of the center branch. We see the picture of the Menorah in Noah s ark with the door as the center branch and the three levels of the ark on each side. Deuteronomy 31:26 Take this book of the Law(Torah/Word) an you shall put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of Yehovah your God. This verse also uses the word side. We can see that the Word is to be in the side of the Ark of the Covenant. This is a great comparison. In Noah s ark the door, which represents the Word and Messiah, is placed in the side of the ark. Now we see the Word of YHVH is to be placed in the side of the Ark of the Covenant. We can see the picture of salvation in Noah s ark, YHVH s Word, and the Messiah. This Word placed in the side of the ark is Life. Deuteronomy 32: 45 Moses finished speaking all these words to all Israel, 46 and he said to them: Set your hearts on all the words which I testify among you today, which you shall command your children to be careful to observe all the words of this law. 47 For it is not a futile thing for you, because it is your life, and by this word you shall prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to possess. John 6: 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. Proverbs 13: 14 The law of the wise is a fountain of life, To turn one away from the snares of death. 3
We can also connect the crucifixion to the Messiah s side. Isaiah 53:5 And he is pierced for our transgressions, Bruised for our iniquities, The chastisement of our peace [is] on him, And by his bruise there is healing to us. John19:34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. 1John 5:8 And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one. This verse in 1 John connects some imagery of the Messiah back to Noah s ark. Out of his side comes the blood of His sacrifice and the water of His Word. Witness 1 The blood of His sacrifice can be tied back to Noah after the Ark rested. Genesis 8:20 Then Noah built an altar to the Lord, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. Genesis 9:4-5 Only you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood. 5 Surely I will require your lifeblood; from every beast I will require it. And from everyman, from every man s brother I will require the life of man. We can see above that the life is in the blood. The wages of sin is death and surely the life of one specific man, our Messiah was required. It is by the life of His blood that we are redeemed. Witness 2 4
His Word is often compared to life giving and cleansing or purifying water. Certainly the water of the flood cleansed and purified the earth, giving new life to those saved within the ark. 1 Peter 3:20 Who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. Witness 3 We know that scripture tells us that when the Messiah leaves he will send the Holy Spirit. In Luke 3 we can see this Spirit is compared to a dove. We see this dove imagery in Genesis 8. Luke 3:22 And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased. Genesis 8:11-12 11 Then the dove came to him in the evening, and behold, a freshly plucked olive leaf was in her mouth; and Noah knew that the waters had receded from the earth. 12 So he waited yet another seven days and sent out the dove, which did not return again to him anymore. John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Could there be a spiritual significance that Noah sent a dove (spirit) out and a dove (spirit) returns with the Messsiah. John 16:7 But I tell you the truth; it is better for you that I go away, for if I may not go away, the Comforter (Spirit) will not come unto you, and if I go on, I will send Him unto you; 5
Below is the comparison that can be made regarding salvation in all three of these images. 1. Salvation for those behind the door, which was placed in the side of Noah s Ark. 2. Salvation for those who follow YHVH s Word, which was placed in the side of the Ark of the Covenant. 3. Salvation for those who follow the Messiah. The Living Word, who was pierced in the side for our transgressions. 6