Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Resurrection II
Morbid or thought provocative?
This painting is "The Body of the Dead Christ in the Tomb" by Hans Holbein the Younger. Holbein did this oil painting in 1521. It is currently at Kunstmuseum, Öffentliche Kunstsammlung, Basle. As an aside, Holbein is known for his famous paintings of Henry VIII and wives. Nevertheless, this painting had a great impact on Fyodor Mikhailovich (a.k.a Dostoyevsky, author of famous works like Crime and Punishment). To Dostoyevsky, this painting showed that God did truly become a Man. And he died!
I am by far no expert in art; however, I have a great respect for the arts. Where I live in the realm of numbers and laws of nature, artists live in concepts and laws of emotion. For the time being, I hope to attempt to be an artist. To me, art--poetry, paintings, sculptures, music, etc.--can be considered true art if they stir emotion in most observors. Holbein's painting, by my definition, is true art. The first emotion that hit me was one of shock. Then came disgust and discomfort. I was then taken into the emotion of sadness. Christ could have really looked like this. He died and was dead for three days. And he did it for me. "Anyone who is hung on a tree is under God's curse" (Deuteronomy 21:23). Christ became a curse for me. Being a Christian and believing that Christ died for me, I immediately rush into the emotion of joy. Jesus is no longer dead and looking like that painting. He is alive--resurrected! Hallelujah! By studying this painting, I have quickly progressed through the emotions felt by the disciples during the weekend of Christ's death and resurrection. However, where I felt the emotion of shock, discomfort, and sadness in a few seconds, the disciples felt this for days. But not any more! We all can now celebrate the resurrection of Christ Jesus.
This painting is "The Body of the Dead Christ in the Tomb" by Hans Holbein the Younger. Holbein did this oil painting in 1521. It is currently at Kunstmuseum, Öffentliche Kunstsammlung, Basle. As an aside, Holbein is known for his famous paintings of Henry VIII and wives. Nevertheless, this painting had a great impact on Fyodor Mikhailovich (a.k.a Dostoyevsky, author of famous works like Crime and Punishment). To Dostoyevsky, this painting showed that God did truly become a Man. And he died!
I am by far no expert in art; however, I have a great respect for the arts. Where I live in the realm of numbers and laws of nature, artists live in concepts and laws of emotion. For the time being, I hope to attempt to be an artist. To me, art--poetry, paintings, sculptures, music, etc.--can be considered true art if they stir emotion in most observors. Holbein's painting, by my definition, is true art. The first emotion that hit me was one of shock. Then came disgust and discomfort. I was then taken into the emotion of sadness. Christ could have really looked like this. He died and was dead for three days. And he did it for me. "Anyone who is hung on a tree is under God's curse" (Deuteronomy 21:23). Christ became a curse for me. Being a Christian and believing that Christ died for me, I immediately rush into the emotion of joy. Jesus is no longer dead and looking like that painting. He is alive--resurrected! Hallelujah! By studying this painting, I have quickly progressed through the emotions felt by the disciples during the weekend of Christ's death and resurrection. However, where I felt the emotion of shock, discomfort, and sadness in a few seconds, the disciples felt this for days. But not any more! We all can now celebrate the resurrection of Christ Jesus.
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Resurrection
Inspired by the words of Job, I wish to keep the theme of resurrection and the new flesh:
"But someone will ask, 'How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?' You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body. ... What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is shown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. ... I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:
"But someone will ask, 'How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?' You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body. ... What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is shown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. ... I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:
'Death is swallowed up in victory.' (Isaiah 25:8)
'O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?' (Hosea 13:14)
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." --1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-44, 50-56 ESVProphetic Words of the Past
"For I, yes I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:
Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me."
--Job 19:25-27 KJV
What prophecy! What faith! What hope! Many scholars debate the timing of Job's life. However, the latest date is still 1000 years before Christ. Job is already putting his faith in a personal saver--"my Redeemer"--and displaying hope in the second coming when Christ "shall stand at the latter day upon the earth." But Job does not stop there; he testifies about his new flesh. This concept is later echoed in Paul's letter to the church in Corinth: "for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." Oh, to see the face of God in our new flesh! What a day that will be!
Monday, August 29, 2005
Agur son of Jakeh
"I am the most ignorant of men;
I do not have a man's understanding.
I have not learned wisdom,
nor have I knowledge of the Holy One.
Who has gone up to heaven and come down?
...
What is his name, and the name of his son?
Tell me if you know!"
--Proverbs 30:2-4a, 4e NIV
I do not have a man's understanding.
I have not learned wisdom,
nor have I knowledge of the Holy One.
Who has gone up to heaven and come down?
...
What is his name, and the name of his son?
Tell me if you know!"
--Proverbs 30:2-4a, 4e NIV
