Fulfilled and Revealed in the New

“Jesus journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God.” Luke 8:1

What would have it been like to have heard Jesus? I know I would have wanted to sit at His feet, and just listen to Him preach. It would have been exhilarating. Just as I cannot have enough of listening to Scott Hahn, Ravi Zacharias, Brad Pitre, Louie Giglio, Steve Ray, Priscilla Schirer, the late Nabeel Qureshi, etc., I would have wanted to listen to Jesus forever! 

What a wonderful experience for Cleophas and another disciple who were walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus when Jesus appeared to walk with them! At first they were downcast and filled with confusion about his crucifixion until, “beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself.” (Luke 24:27) Their hearts burned within them as their eyes were opened to the truth, most especially when Jesus joined them for the breaking of the bread! 

I certainly would like to discover for myself what Jesus expounded from the Old Testament. It would have been so easy for Saint Luke to interview those two disciples and write down what Jesus revealed, wouldn’t it? Instead we have to discover this for ourselves, like digging for ancient treasure! The early Church Fathers, St. Ambrose, St. Augustine, St. John Chrysostom, etc. in their Sunday sermons showed clearly that the New Testament writings were concealed in the Old, and the Old is revealed and fulfilled in the New. 

It is exciting to rediscover this for ourselves, to see how Jesus is the new Moses, how God sent a saviour baby who was targeted by an evil ruler, how that child grows up, passes through the water, fasts for 40 days and 40 nights. Moses receives the law of the covenant up on the mountain, and Jesus gives us His sermon on the mount. There are many more rich parallels in the Old and New Testaments which show us how God’s plan was put in place since the beginning of time. Nothing is an accident. Just as what we are experiencing now is not an accident. God’s plan is proceeding as it should. And we have a sure place in it.