What does the mercy seat represent in relation to Jesus?

The mercy seat, located within the Holy of Holies, represented God's presence and the place where sins were atoned for through the blood of sacrificial animals. In the New Testament, Jesus is depicted as the ultimate mercy seat – our propitiation – because He satisfies the demands of God's justice through His sacrifice. As Romans 3:25 states, God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement through the shedding of His blood. Therefore, just as the high priest sprinkled blood on the mercy seat, Jesus’ blood was shed to make atonement for all who believe. His work as our mercy seat invites believers into a relationship with God, affirming that justice has been satisfied.