Some protestants may see this as two subjects: BIG Mary, little christ. I see it as one subject: The Incarnation.
Noticed that this needed another comment. The Ark of the Covenant was the ONLY way the Jewish people had to relate to Jehovah. It contains the the tablets that God gave to Moses of the commandments, Aaron's Rod and a golden pot of manna. ALL were representative of God's relationship and leading of the people. The Ark was carried by the Priests - only - ahead of the advancing people through Sinai, as it was God leading his people. God even spoke to Moses from between the two cherubim on the Ark's cover (Exodus 25:22). It was always carefully concealed from view (even from the eyes of the priests) wrapped with a veil of a blue cloth and animal skins as it was carried before them. No one could ever "see" God and live, which is why it was covered like this. It was carried in front of them in all the battles. It was the "power" of God that led them, fed them and defeated their enemies.
When they built the first Temple, the Ark was placed in the Holy of Holies and a three foot thick curtain shielded it from all view, with the exception of the High Priest who would enter once a year at The Day of Atonement. It was ALWAYS the representation of Jehovah. It did not, of course, contain or carry him, but was the way the people could relate to him with something tangible. It represented God to the people and was why the care was taken with who could carry it, touch it, see it and offer sacrifice upon the top of it called the Mercy Seat.
It certainly was a foreshadow of Jesus, who IS Jehovah INCARNATE. By his one-time sacrifice, the veil was torn, he was accessible to all, he could be seen and touched - without those who did perishing before his presence. God becoming flesh removed the barrier between us and now there is no more offering for sin because our sins are no longer covered, but removed from us, Jesus is our mediator with God the Father. Where the Ark was once the ONLY way of accessing the forgiveness of God, Jesus is the fulfillment of the whole purpose of the Ark of the Covenant - the presence and forgiveness of God. Through Christ we have been redeemed and justified and we are found IN Christ clothed in HIS righteousness.
I certainly think one could use the Ark of the Covenant as a simple comparison with Mary. The Ark carried the presence of God and she bore within her the incarnate God, but I think it is incorrect to say she was the fulfillment of what the Ark of the Covenant represented.
I certainly think one could use the Ark of the Covenant as a simple comparison with Mary. The Ark carried the presence of God and she bore within her the incarnate God, but I think it is incorrect to say she was the fulfillment of what the Ark of the Covenant represented.
I think we agree on the typology and your statement.
There is no Incarnate Word as Christians believe without this birth, without the mother.
The Incarnation cannot be separated from the birth and therefore the mother. It is one event.
I may not be describing my thoughts precisely. Mother and Child describe, portray, ARE, the Incarnation. And without this, this single event as one whole, no Christ, no Christianity according to our faith.
Some protestants may see this as two subjects: BIG Mary, little christ. I see it as one subject: The Incarnation.