John's Gospel

It’s funny how overlooked John often is, as one of the four gospels.  I know I focused on the most popular three before this class.  Matthew, Mark, and Luke are always the first gospels people reference and it seems funny to me now because there is so much in John that isn’t in any of the other gospels.  Like we’ve discussed in class, maybe the reason John is taken for granted is the fact that the way it was written and the information it gives on Jesus’ life is the most unique.  The other three share the majority of their information and are more similarly written.  John on the other hand, has a huge amount of information that you can’t find in any other gospel and is written from kind of a different perspective.  While the three main gospels discuss Jesus as a man, John seems to focus more on the fact that he is divine.  Also, because John does have so much extra information that none of the others back up, it might be possible that some people look at it as a less accurate account of Christ’s life.  Yet so many things make that claim almost ridiculous.

One huge thing John has that the other’s don’t is an almost guaranteed eyewitness writing the account.  He talks of the beloved disciple and it is almost surely him.  In John, Jesus is divine from the beginning, he always knows.  John also does not have Jesus speaking any parables which is such a significant part of the other three gospels.

Art Exhibit

I thought it was really fun to have Rita Wright come and change up the class for a few days.  I am also a huge fan of art history so I always enjoy hearing and analyzing new pieces.  

The Types and Shadows: Intimation of Divinity exhibit was really interesting with a lot of really different pieces that happened to relate through subtle details.  I think it was a great idea to discuss some of the exhibit in class before going to see it because there just isn’t time to get through everything in the short fifty minutes of class.  Truly, every piece was interesting but I did have my favorites.

I loved Exchange No. 8.  The realism and striking color contrast caught my attention and the concept is just fascinating.  The chairs seem to signify the throne of Christ and as it said in the pamphlet, the mercy seat.  It’s also interesting that the white chair is stable and upright while the red covered chair is lying on it’s back.  The cloth, a theme throughout the exhibit, possibly a symbol of the shroud that covered Christ and of course the colors that are so obviously significant.  Red, the blood of Christ, passion, sin  while white is purity, sacred, clean.  I absolutely love the contrast between those colors, including their meanings.  The background of this piece is also really intriguing.  The different geometric patterns overlapping and in more neutral colors.  I don’t think I understand this one very well but for some reason I just like it.

I also really like the Devotion painting.  I actually thought it was a photograph at first because the front part is so realistic.  I really like the idea that the woman in the background is from a time devoid of the truth and that the modern vase full of water represents the truth and light of Christ that is available now.  I don’t know if that’s what the artist was getting at but for me that’s what makes sense to me.  Her clothing and manner express that for me.

My absolute favorite though, had to be Christopher Young’s Man of Sorrows.  I think this piece is so beautiful.  We discussed how it was so ideal that it didn’t seem real but I still see it as a perfect representation for me.  I don’t think this is meant to represent a true moment in time, such as his journey to the hill he would die on.  I see this as a representation of his knowledge of the great things he had to and would do for us.  His expression and the title speak to me of his great burden that is incomprehensible for us.  The cross and crown represent the physical suffering he was to go through but they are not in the process of hurting him.  There is no blood on his head and he is not nailed to the cross but I get the sense that this portrays his entire mission in one piece and I love that he is portrayed so ideally, so perfect, because that’s what he is and temptations and even physical scars could not change that.

I don’t know if that’s what I was supposed to write about but I really enjoyed the opportunity we had to see some of that art if only just because I got to see Man of Sorrows.  I loved it so much.

Early Christian Hymn

One of the early Christian hymns that we discussed in class was Psalm 118 which was probably sung by Christ and his disciples as they left the upper room right before Christ went to the garden.

O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.  Let Israel now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.  Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.  Let them now that fear the LORD say, that his mercy endureth for ever.  I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place.  The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?  The LORD taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.  It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.  It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.  All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD will I destroy them.  They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.  They compassed me about like bees: they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.  Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall: but the LORD helped me.  The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.  The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.  The right hand of the LORD is exalted: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.  I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.  The LORD hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death.  Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD:  This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter.  I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.  The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.  This is the LORD's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.  This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.  Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.  Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.  God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.  Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee.  O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Christ's Death in Matthew

 Compared to Mark’s account of Christ’s death, Matthew’s account is much more detailed.  Matthew includes many of the same events that Mark does but then adds on to  those.  One of the things he includes is the change of heart that comes over Judas soon after he betrays Christ and his desire to repent of his betrayal starting in 27:3,

3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,

4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood.  And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.

5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.

Something we really don’t get from Mark’s account.   Another addition is the specifics about the trials Jesus has to go through before he is officially condemned to death.  Starting in 27:11 it describes what happened when Christ met with Pilate.  There is also a larger emphasis on Barrabus, the man that the people chose to set free rather than Christ.  His is a valuable story because it adds to the irony and ridiculousness of Christ’s death.  Barrabus literally means “Son of God”, he was one of the many false Messiah’s.  It is interesting to realize that part of the reason for the civil wars in about 70 AD were people like Barrabus and Pilate released him.  Christ on the other hand brought peace and got rid of contention.  Barrabus was a rebel fighting the government.  Part of the reason Barrabus was seen as more of Messiah was because he was more of the warrior idea that most people had of the Messiah.  He would come in and vanquish the Romans through violence.  They believed a Messiah like that would bring them the justice they deserved.  

Another thing unique to Matthew is his telling of the resurrection of Christ.  Matthew focuses on Christ’s revealing himself to the disciples more than Mark who emphasizes the women’s sighting of him.