Metaphor always the same
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The only value a symbol has as a symbol is if it always means the same thing. It does not symbolize anything if it always has a different meaning. How much more do we expect God to understand this principle and use it in his own writings?
John the Baptist declares that the one who follows him will be mightier than he is. [1] This is alludes to John and Jesus being a pair who share a ministry as did Ejijah and Elisha. [2] He is using 'drash' as he makes the comparison. Implied in the drash is the use of the mantle to tie together the works of Elijah and Elisha, since garments are always works. [3] Later we will see that John and Jesus share the work of preaching repentance.
Mark also defines a metaphor for future use. Now he doesn't so much as define it as use the one he finds in the Old Testament. This is the image of the strong or valiant man.
- Mr 1:7 And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier <2478> than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.</ref>
The Mighty men, the valiant men, the captains of the Old Testament are all prophetic riddles and metaphor for Christ. Mark is using the term in the same way. He directly points to Christ as the fulfillment of these earlier scriptures. But he also sets the meaning firm so that we do not misunderstand him when he records Jesus using the same term.
Consider the parable of the strong man.
References
- ↑ Mr 1:7 And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.
- ↑ [[2Ki 2:9 ¶ And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.
- ↑ [[2Ki 2:13 ¶ He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;
