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Jesus: the perfect figure of the prophet Elisha
Jesus: the perfect figure of the prophet Elisha.
The Bible is subdivided into two parts: the Old and New Testaments. The first announces what will come in images, types, and figures. The second realizes in facts and events what the first announced.
So, we have some examples that can demonstrate this to us. The first Adam failed by disobeying the Creator. (Genesis 3,17) The second, Jesus Christ, remained faithful and obedient until death, fulfilling the prophecies of the Old Testament. (Philippians 2, 8) Moses gave the Law to the Israelites. Jesus, the New Moses and the Author of the Law gave us truth and grace, fulflling the prophecies of the Old Testament. (John 1:17) Israel was freed from the house of bondage in Egypt and crossed the Red Sea on dry ground. (Exodus 12.51; 14.14-31). Jesus, the perfect Israel, conquered death and passed through the heavens, giving believers access, fulflling the prophecies of the Old Testament. (John 20, 1f) The Rock of Horeb spouted the water of life to quench the people's thirst in the desert. (Exodus 17.6). On Calvary, water and blood gushed from the open heart of Jesus, fulflling the prophecies of the Old Testament. (John 19, 34) Moses raised the bronze serpent for the healing of the Jews in the desert. (Numbers 21, 4-9) Jesus is raised on the cross for the salvaton of the world. (John 3, 14-15) We can go even further with examples, but we are content with these.
The first reading and the Gospel of this Sunday bring us another example of this figure-realization relationship between the Old and New Testaments. It is, of course, the miracle of the multiplication of loaves. The prophet Elisha commanded that the crowds be fed. Despite everyone's reluctance, he insisted. And what he wanted came true. (Second Book of Kings 4.42-44). Despite the disciples ' reluctance, Jesus performed the same miracle: "Two hundred days' wages worth of food would not be enough for each of them to have a little." The miracle was accomplished, and the crowd was satisfied, and twelve baskets of remaining bread were collected.
By performing this miracle, the gospel of Saint Mark sends a message to the Jews for whom his gospel was written: Jesus is the New Elisha, continuing the legacy of the Old Testament figures. He realizes the prophecies, figures, and types of the Old Testament. Elisha was able to feed a crowd, Jesus the Bread of Life feeds not only the crowd but all those who believe in his divine Word: "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in I will never thirst." (John 6.35)
