God sent His only Son to save a sinful world (John 3:16). In many ways Noah’s Ark has many similarities to Jesus Christ.
By entering the Ark, Noah ensured the physical survival of himself and his family. (Gen 6:18-19)
When we enter into saving faith through Jesus (John 10:9), we ensure our spiritual survival through eternal life with Christ.
When the destruction of the world loomed, God called out to Noah: “Come thou and all thy house into the ark” (Genesis 7:1).
Jesus says to us: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
God was with Noah and his family throughout the year-long flood. While there were storms outside the Ark, Noah’s family found comfort and rest within the Ark. (Hebrew 4:9-11)
When we receive Jesus as our Savior, the Holy Ghost comforts and protects us. (John 14:6).
The Ark had only one door through which Noah had to enter in order to be saved from the Flood. Likewise, salvation in Christ has only one door (John 10:9).
We enter it by faith in Jesus’s once-and-for-all-time sacrificial death on the Cross and His bodily resurrection three days later. (1 Peter 1:3, 3:18; Hebrews 9:12)
Finally, after Noah entered the Ark, God Himself closed the door (Genesis 7:16).
We currently have an open door, but there will be a time when that door closes, and then judgement (Hebrews 9:27)
Those people outside who chose not to enter the Ark’s door were left to face the destructive force of the Flood. “Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark” (Genesis 7:23)
Today, we have only this one life to enter Christ’s door of salvation. (John 14:6; Hebrews 9:27)
- The flood revealed that God is just, holy, hates sin, and is there was a coming judgement. And so Jesus bore the judgement for our sins in His first coming and warns of the judgement to come in His second coming for those who do not abide in Him.
- God provided His one and only means of escape, the Ark. So in Christ, God provides sinners with one means of escape from sin, death, and endless works into life, peace, and rest.
- For a period of grace (120 years – Genesis 6:3) God warned of judgement to come and while Noah built the ark it was a witness (Hebrews 11:7) of God’s merciful provision of a way to escape judgement. So now in our time of grace, He calls us to believe in Him and trust in His refuge of mercy–Jesus Christ.
- God protected and saved those who put their faith in Him, sought His refuge, and abided in Him.
- The flood purged the earth of sin. We are washed clean in the blood of Jesus. (Rev 1:5)
- God said “rooms shalt thou make in the ark” to prepare a place for the animals (Genesis 6:14); Jesus says “In my Father’s house are many mansions” and “I go and prepare a place for you” (John 14:2-3).
- The ark had one door (Genesis 6:16); Jesus claimed to be “the door” to salvation (John 10:9).
- God invited Noah to come into the ark (Genesis 7:1); Jesus said, “Come to me” (Matthew 11:28).
- The ark was made of wood (Genesis 6:14) just as the cross was.
- Because God saved him, Noah “remained alive” (Genesis 7:23); Jesus gives us eternal life (John 10:28).
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