Look at this magnificent altar piece commonly accepted that Matthias Grünewald
is the artist who painted it between 1510 – 1515. Bear in mind that there was
much controversy about who the author was. Is it magnificent? Maybe it is
better to describe it as gruesome?
And have a good look at the companion painting telling us the story of Christ’s
resurrection; the strong macho soldiers are prostrate before the mighty angels
and the momentous historical happening.
The resurrection – Isenheim Altarpiece
I highly recommend you to click on the link and to read the write-up about
these paintings and carvings. And to think on it.
I, as a practising lawyer, do not want to get involved in this controversy for a simple reason, I don’t know anything about it. My new found friend, Gert Swart, from Pietermaritzburg in KZN, introduced me to this work of art. Thank you Gert for these two images. He provided the images. He is passionate artist!
There is another reason why I focus on the content of these two
paintings: I have accepted these facts to be beyond reasonable doubt of the
crucifixion and the resurrection – this is even in the face of all the contrary
arguments and more so the modern arguments levelled at this.
Maybe it is settled, by now, that the real author was Matthias Grünewald;
and I will accept that proposition. Yes, for the purposes of this write-up, I
accept it as such. Having said that, there is always the die-hards who won’t accept
it.
Yet, I want to get to another “reading” of these masterpieces – I want
to focus on both the crucifixion and the resurrection depicted in these two
paintings. I suggest to you that there are different ways to read a painting or
a sculpture or a piece of literature.
When I listen to radio broadcasts, watching the news on TV and listening
to conversations of friends, and people in the street, I am acutely aware that
our society [that is locally and internationally] is terminally ill. Mathias’
crucified Christ reminds us about that as well.
When I refer to the conversations on the street, I am also reminded
about Svetlana Alexievch’s book SECONDHAND TIME: here is an essay: click here. She wandered through the
streets of Moscow and her home town Belarus with an old-fashioned tape recorder
to record these street conversations – eventually she wrote it down and she was
awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for literature. I agree with the judges who
awarded her that Prize.
And of course, this award was attacked and criticised and it was shot
down, so to speak. Once again, a controversy broke out about this award;
fortunately, the judges remained steadfast and proceeded with the ceremony.
Controversy, controversy, controversy – that is the spice of life.
Controversy is as ubiquitous as is your cup of coffee! I am of the view that
the first controversy arose shortly after Cain slaughtered his brother Abel; or
it may have been somewhat earlier on between Adam and his wife, Eve, about her
generous offer to eat a forbidden fruit? And this state of affairs is remains
with us throughout history. It seems as if we always get distracted from the
message and we focus on the “controversy.” Today I am going to focus on the
message and not the so-called controversy; what is the message of this altar
piece? I suggest to you that it is abundantly clear and unambiguous.
Now you might say to me that the crucifixion as well as the resurrection
are hugely controversial? And you are spot on – and it is not done yet. Up to
this point of me writing this, the Cross of Christ and His resurrection are
riddled with controversy; mostly wild speculation.
I am alive to these difficulties pertaining to the Christ
message. Let me take you back to a couple of days after He was judicially
murdered and miraculously resurrected, the disciples and other like-minded
people were behind closed doors when the Apostle Peter delivered a poignant and
timely message. And we are very fortunate to still have it with us and it is recorded
in The Book of the Acts of the Apostles chapter 1 verse 12.
That was breaking news: an innocent man was murdered, declared dead by a
Roman soldier who was not a stranger to death, who was buried, and after three
days, the dead man was no longer in the grave – the very same grave that was
secured by a large stone and hurly-burly Roman soldiers, obviously armed to the
teeth, watching over it that nobody would tamper with the grave or even more
importantly with the body. He is no longer in that grave and it was not because
the Jews stole the body. No – it was not like that at all. And we are
confronted with those events to today. My literature tells me that the people
at that time were discussing it vehemently: some accepting it and others
disputing it.
The Jews still tell this far-fetched story that He did not succumb to
His mortal wounds; He was actually placed in the grave but was removed from
there and taken to France where he was healed. The late Shlomo Piprz told me
that “story.” I was really surprised to hear that story that His body was
stolen, removed to France where He recovered.
Let’s get back to Mattias’s paintings. Look again at this outstanding [gruesome]
painting by Matthias Grünewald – 1500 years after the physical event.
And it is still controversial. St. Paul is very bold in his letter to
the Corinthians stating the if you can break the story of the cross, that is
the end of Christianity.
I believe that Christ was judicially murdered, and after three days in
the grave, He rose from that grave and after some time He ascended to heaven. Why
do I insist that it was a judicial killing? The judge Pontius Pilate passed
judgement on Christ three times in a row and each time he found Him not guilty
and yet, he handed Christ over to be crucified. That is skewed justice, isn’t
it?
You want to read about these aspects I referred to? Why do I quote from
the Bible itself? The reason is very simple: there are no other documents to
quote from. And there are literally thousands upon thousands of fragments left
to read. Here are some of my references:
More Evidence that Demands a Verdict: Josh McDowell: it is free to download.
The Works of Josephus: it is free to download.
Eusebius: it is free to download.
The Apostolic Fathers: it is free to download.
Deeds, Councils, And Controversies – Edited by J. Stevenson
A New Eusebius - Edited by J. Stevenson
Early Christian Writings – Penguin Classics
The New Testament: it is free to download.
The Old Testament: it is free to download.
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