Lovers Surprised by Death

by Hans Burgkmair the Elder

Our culture is obsessed with Halloween, to the tune of five billion dollars a year. This is not a sign of cultural health. Nevertheless, here is a Halloween-worthy piece of art found in the St. Louis Art Museum. Lovers Surprised by Death is certainly not cute like kittens or pretty like a sunset. However, this piece is useful for discussing the reality of death and the need for spiritual preparation in this life. Although somewhat unpleasant, I hope you find the message of the piece to be beautiful for the simple fact that it is true truth.

The artist is Hans Burgkmair (1473-1531), a German painter and woodcutter during the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. Probably a student of Albrecht Dürer, a financial supporter of the German Reformers, Burgkmair lived in a time of great religious, political, and social upheaval. Near the end of his life, he witnessed the “Peasant’s War” which brought about hundreds of thousands of slaughtered Germans. Burgkmair is not well-known, and yet this particular piece has enjoyed popularity – in spite of its’ macabre scene.

What is the message of this piece?

First, there exists a spiritual world. In the picture, the buildings are real. The woman and the soldier are real. And the skeletal, winged creature depicting death is real. The art brings to visibility a reality that we cannot see with human eyes. Philosophers debate and skeptics scoff, but the reality of a spiritual world forms the foundation of any Christian worldview. Denying that things unseen are unreal is to deny the very existence of God.

In the painting, the depiction of death is opening the throat of the soldier, pulling out his soul. How creepy! This brings up a second point – every human has a soul. Mountains of books have been written debating this point, but the Bible is extremely clear on this point. Jesus said, “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28)

Third, death awaits all of us, and no one escapes. One of Satan’s original lies was “You will not surely die.” (Genesis 3:4) This lie is exposed in Genesis 5, as the genealogist repetitively records, “and he died.” There is no reincarnation. “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27)

But why is there death in a God-created world? The woodcut depicts a soldier and a young woman in the streets of either Venice or Florence, cities known at the time for their sensuality and sexual immorality. The pair is given the title of “lovers”. You can decide for yourself, but many have seen this as a depiction of an elicit pair of lovers, perhaps even a soldier and a prostitute. This leads us to a fourth point, that physical death is a direct consequence of sin - a punishment for disobedience against God.

Genesis 3:16 says, “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” When sin entered the world, spiritual and physical death entered too. “For the wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23)

Fifth, death is often unexpected. In Jesus’ parable about a rich man bragging about the future, God said to the man, “Fool! This night your soul is required of you.” (Luke 12:20) The lovers do not look like they had anticipated death – it has taken them by surprise.

But you may think, “I am young and physically fit, and death is not knocking on my door.” Take a look again at the woodcut. Both figures depicted are young and full of vitality. The soldier is muscular. This reminds us of another point, that death is no respecter of age. Some die young and some die old.

Physical beauty will not keep death away. Wicked Queen Jezebel painted her eyes with makeup, looking to seduce Jehu, only to have him order her thrown from a window. (2 Kings 9:30) The woman being grabbed by death is in the prime of her physical beauty. However, beauty is fleeting. Once death comes, what difference does it make that you are now considered beautiful or handsome?

Nor will money keep death away. Listening to Solomon, one of the world’s wealthiest men who ever lived, there is “a time to be born, and a time to die.” (Ecclesiastes 3:2) Money and riches will not prevent the advance of death, nor does it prepare one for the world to come. The background of the woodcut depicts a wonderful city of beautiful architecture, a gondola floating in a canal, and decoration adorning the columns. However, wealth and prosperity offer no refuge from death. King Belshazzar feasted with golden goblets the very night God judged him and brought on his death. (Daniel 5)

In conclusion, with all we have considered today regarding death, what should our response be? We must be spiritually prepared for death by trusting in the One who conquered death. (Acts 2:24) Only through Jesus Christ will we find life after death. (1 Corinthians 15:22, John 3:16) Having been saved by Christ, we must not fear death. (2 Corinthians 5:8) Because of His life, death, and resurrection, we can be kept in the love of God for all eternity. (Philippians 1:21; Romans 8:38) There is coming a day when death, pain, and sorrow will be wiped away by all who know and are known by Christ. (Revelation 21:4) Finally, in response to the life we have been given in Christ, we must live for Him and tell others about the life He offers. (Romans 12:2)

Next Month: Madonna and Child by Piero Di Cosimo

W. Scott Lamb is a pastor with Providence Baptist Church in South St. Louis County, MO. He and his wife Pearl enjoy the challenges and pleasures of raising their four sons. Feel free to contact Scott at www.pbcstlouis.com.