The Great Painters' Gospel Part 10

As it began to dawn towards the first day of the week, "there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it." (Matt. 28:1-2.)

_Naack, Plate 159,_ has designed a panel which presents a synthesis of the various accounts of the resurrection, and adds the symbols of victory and triumph. Other artists have given more literal renderings of particular texts. For example:

[Ill.u.s.tration: The Resurrection.]

Plate 159. _The Resurrection._ A. Naack.

_Hofmann, Plate 160,_ has Mary sitting upon the stone outside the tomb, weeping (John 20:11), and the risen Christ approaching her from behind.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Easter Morning.]

Plate 160. _Easter Morning._ H. Hofmann. 1824-

_Di Credi, Plate 162,_ has selected the instant when Mary, turning, appeals to "the gardener," as she supposes, to show her where the body of Jesus has been hidden. (John 20:14-15.)

[Ill.u.s.tration: Christ Appearing to Magdalene.]

Plate 162. _Christ Appearing to Magdalene._ Lorenzo Di Credi. 1459- 1537.

_Plockhorst, Plate 161,_ expresses the joyful surprise of Mary when she recognizes her Lord. Jesus is directing her to go to his brethren and say, "I ascend unto my Father and your Father, and my G.o.d and your G.o.d." (John 20:17.) One hand is held as a warning to Mary not to touch him, the other points upward towards heaven.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Risen Lord and Mary Magdalene.]

Plate 161. _Risen Lord and Mary Magdalene._ B. Plockhorst. 1825-

AFTER THE RESURRECTION.

In the afternoon, after the resurrection, two disciples on the way to Emmaus found themselves accompanied by a stranger with wondrous power as an expositor of scripture. (Luke 24:13-27.)

_Plockhorst, Plate 164,_ takes us along the road with the three. The speaker is asking, "Was not the Christ bound to undergo all this before entering upon his glory?" (Verse 26.)

[Ill.u.s.tration: Walk to Emmaus.]

Plate 164. _Walk to Emmaus._ B. Plockhorst. 1825-

_Scheffer, Plate 163,_ shows Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James, and another woman who, after their vision at the sepulchre, are on their way to tell the disciples. (Luke 24:9-10.) These are the women whose words seemed to the disciples but idle tales unworthy of belief. (Verse 11.)

[Ill.u.s.tration: Three Marys.]

Plate 163. _Three Marys._ Ary Scheffer. 1795-1858.

_Hofmann, Plate 166,_ shows the two urging the stranger to stop at Emmaus. (Verses 28, 29.)

[Ill.u.s.tration: Walk to Emmaus.]

Plate 166. _Walk to Emmaus._ H. Hofmann. 1824-

_Furst, Plate 165,_ shows them inviting him into the house. (Verse 29.)

[Ill.u.s.tration: Walk to Emmaus.]

Plate 165. _Walk to Emmaus._ M. Furst.

_Muller, Plate 167,_ ill.u.s.trates verse 30, "he took the bread and blessed it."

[Ill.u.s.tration: Supper at Emmaus.]

Plate 167. _Supper at Emmaus._ Carl Muller. 1839-

_Diethe, Plate 168,_ shows him in the act of breaking the bread.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Supper at Emmaus.]

Plate 168. _Supper at Emmaus._ Alfred Diethe. 1836-

In the picture of _Rembrandt, Plate 169,_ the glory appears, and the disciples recognize the Master "in the breaking of the bread."

(Verses 31 and 35.)

[Ill.u.s.tration: Supper at Emmaus.]

Plate 169. _Supper at Emmaus._ Rembrandt 1607-1669.

That very evening at Jerusalem, Jesus appeared to the disciples who were gathered in an upper room. Thomas, one of the twelve, was absent, and doubted when the others told him that they had seen the Lord. (John 20:24, 25.)

Eight days later the disciples were again together, Thomas being with them. Suddenly Jesus stood in the midst. (John 20:26.)

_Guercino, Plate 170,_ shows what followed. "Then said he to Thomas, reach hither thy finger and see my hand, and reach hither thy hand and put it into my side; and be not faithless, but believing." (John 20:27.) The painter has given Jesus a banner as a symbol of victory, a Christian symbol as old as the catacombs.

[Ill.u.s.tration: "Thomas the Doubter."]

Plate 170. _"Thomas the Doubter."_ Guercino. 1590-1666.

THE ASCENSION.

At the end of forty days Jesus appeared to the disciples once more, and after giving final instructions as to their future work, "he led them out until they were over against Bethany: and he lifted up his hands and blessed them." (Luke 24:50.)

_Hofmann, Plate 171,_ ill.u.s.trates the next verse. "And it came to pa.s.s, while he blessed them, he parted from them, and was carried up into heaven." In Acts the added information is given that "a cloud received him out of their sight." (Acts 1:9.) Luke says, "they wors.h.i.+pped him" (verse 52); but Hofmann has angels wors.h.i.+pping (the "two men" of Acts 1:10), for the disciples are too greatly astonished to wors.h.i.+p just then.

[Ill.u.s.tration: The Ascension.]

Plate 171. _The Ascension._ H. Hofmann. 1824-

_Rembrandt, Plate 172,_ emphasizes the glory of it all. The prayer of Christ (John 17:5), is answered, the promise of G.o.d (John 12:28), is fulfilled. The Spirit which appeared at the baptism of Jesus in the form of a dove, descending upon him as he began his ministry, here descends again as he enters the heavens where he ever liveth to make intercession for us.

[Ill.u.s.tration: The Ascension.]

Plate 172. _The Ascension._ Rembrandt. 1607-1666.

And many other such pictures have been painted, which are not given in this book; but these are given that ye may be helped to see Jesus the Christ, the Son of G.o.d, and that seeing ye may believe and have life in his name.

Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.

HABAKKUK 2:2.