Imagining Jesus as an embryo within the mercy seat provides a profound metaphor for the intersection of divine presence, creation, and redemption. The term sacrum, derived from the Greek word ἱερός (hieros) meaning “sacred” or “holy,” emphasizes its symbolic role as the foundation of life and holiness within the body. The mercy seat, the sacred meeting place where God dwelt among His people and atonement was made through the sprinkling of blood, aligns with the central level of the sacrum—the same position as the mercy seat on the Ark of the Covenant. Just as the mercy seat was positioned at the center of the Ark, symbolizing God’s presence and the foundation of His covenant, the sacrum and womb represent the sacred center of human life and divine intervention.
Like the cherubim guarding the mercy seat, the pelvic structure surrounds and protects the sacrum, symbolizing divine care over the Christ-child within Mary’s womb. In this sacred space, Jesus embodied the fulfillment of God’s covenant as the source of atonement, new creation, and eternal reconciliation. The mercy seat, both on the Ark and symbolically within Mary’s womb, became the intersection where divinity and humanity were joined.
This connection is beautifully reflected in Exodus 25:22, where God declares, “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.” Just as God’s presence dwelled above the mercy seat in the Holy of Holies, so too did the fullness of God dwell bodily in Jesus (Colossians 2:9), beginning with His incarnation in Mary’s womb. Through His role as our High Priest, Jesus fulfilled the work of atonement and opened the way for us to meet with God directly. He tore the veil of separation, giving us access to the heavenly Holy of Holies (Hebrews 10:19-22) and transforming our bodies into temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19).
This profound reality reminds us that through Christ, we are no longer distant from God but are made into sacred vessels, dwelling places of His Spirit. Just as the mercy seat was the meeting place of God’s glory in the Ark, so too does God’s transformative power dwell within us, making us holy, consecrated, and equipped to reflect His presence to the world.