It is Friday, the day of Jesus’ crucifixion and death upon the cross.  His blood was shed for the forgiveness of our sins.  Our question for this day is the hymn, “Were You There?”, an Afro-American spiritual adapted and arranged by William Farly Smith, 1986.  The paintings below depict the question asked in each stanza of the hymn…

“Were you there when they crucified my Lord?”

This painting is “Crucifixion” by Matthias Gruenewald from the Isenheim Altarpiece (ca.1515).  Note the lamb present holding the cross and chalice.  The “sacrificial lamb”, previously slaughtered to atone for sin, is now being replaced by the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the whole world.  Perhaps the lamb might be the one who truly understands all of this! He seems to have his eyes focused on the blood dripping from the feet of Jesus.

“Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?”

“Christ Is Nailed to the Cross” by Giambattista Tiepolo, (1749).  The crowd present here seems to be such a variety of people. Notice the dramatic sky!

“Were you there when they pierced him in the side?”

A stark and stylized scene painted by Fra Angelico entitled “Crucifixion with Virgin, Soldier Longinus, and Saints” (1438). The focus is the soldier piercing Christ’s side and the dripping blood. The simplicity of the painting seems to make those two things more blatant.

“Were you there when the sun refused to shine?”

“Descent from the Cross” by Rembrandt, (1634).  From noon until 3:00 p.m. there was darkness over all the land when Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” He cried out again in a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.        (Matthew 27:45-50).  Here Jesus is obviously the Light of the World!

“Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?”

“The Entombment of Christ” by Titian, (ca.1566). This just feels so real to me. How beautiful is the loving care with which they carry the body of Christ! The angel is present to comfort.

“Were you there?”  Tonight I went to church to receive the Last Supper.  I wanted to experience the passion of Christ, especially on this holy night.  I knelt at the altar, a piece of bread was placed in my hand, then the chalice was offered by a friend who had traveled to Greece with me.  Our hands touched as she offered the juice representing the blood of Christ poured out for us.  I dipped my bread into the cup and dropped it.  My instant reaction without thinking was to quickly retrieve the bread, so into the cup went my fingers, I pulled it out, fully dripping, held my head back, and lowered it into my mouth.  She smiled gently at me.  Oh my gosh…in all my years of serving communion I have never seen anyone do that!  They drop it, but I quickly give them another piece.  I bowed my head, folded my hands together to pray, and felt the wetness of the juice all over my fingers.  I kept gently rubbing my fingers together to feel the wetness.  For me, in that moment, I was touching the blood of Christ.  I felt it, and it was beautiful! What I felt more deeply was that I not only tasted, but I had touched.  I was there!  I was present at the cross, touching the blood of Christ poured out for me.  I don’t think I have ever felt like I was present at the crucifixion in the way I felt it tonight.  It was a gift! It was a moment I will never forget!

Pondering….

I invite you to spend some time this Holy Friday experiencing the last day in the life of Christ.  Choose one of the pictures, or let it choose you.  Put yourself into the scene.  What about the painting stirs you?  How is God present?  Write a sentence or two about what you experienced.

I’ll be back on Easter Morning!

nk

 

 

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