Resurrection Glory

The year 1515 brought new responsibilities to a young German monk named Martin Luther. Because of his abilities and diligence, he was put in charge of eleven monasteries. Little more than two years later Martin would nail his 95 Theses to the church doors at Wittenburg, sparking what became known as the Protestant Reformation.

Meanwhile, in another German monastery a few hundred miles away, an artist named Mathis Gothart began to paint what is considered his greatest work, the Isenheim Altarpiece. It is located in the hospital chapel of Saint Anthony’s Monastery in Isenheim. Through the mistake of a later historian, we know the artist as Matthias Grunewald.

The painting we are going to look at is Resurrection. It is located on the inner-right side of the altarpiece door. When both the left and right doors of the altar are closed, the outside of the doors come together and form a painting of Jesus being crucified. It is worth your time to go online and look up Crucifixion, for it is a most harrowing depiction of Christ on the cross.

With so many artistic depictions of Jesus coming back to life, what makes Grunewald’s Resurrection so special? What stands out?

Without a doubt the most significant feature of this painting is the enormous sun in the background of the risen Christ. This is the sun of early dawn (see Luke 24:1). It is possible to see the nighttime stars remaining in the darkness of the black night background.

The symbolism of Christ as both sun and light comes right from the Bible. Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12) In the Old Testament prophecy of Malachi 4:2 we read, “But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings.”

Sin is often symbolized by black darkness, and the blood of Christ is often illustrated with a depiction of dawn. Here, we have both of the images combined into one, and Christ is in the center. The bright light of Christ’s dawn overcomes and overwhelms the darkness of the night.

And therein is the gospel itself. “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 4:6)

Jesus of Nazareth claimed to be God. The religious leaders considered this blasphemy and arranged to have Him crucified. Now, if what He said about Himself was false, and what they said about Him was true? Then the dead body of Jesus would remain in the tomb providing evidence that the religious leaders were right. However, in many places the Scriptures teach that God Himself raised Jesus from the dead, thus vindicating Jesus in all that He had said about Himself.

Note also the color of the mantle at the bottom as compared to that at the top. Coming out of the grave, the cloth is grayish-white with a tinge of blue. These gray-tone colors are symbolic of mourning and humility. When Jesus was placed in a borrowed tomb, it was the last act of “humiliation” He would go through. From the point of the resurrection onward, the position of Jesus was and is forever that of exaltation. Hence, the color of the mantle surrounding Him at the top is bright yellowish-red. Yellow is the color of divinity and sovereign power. Jesus was transformed from the humble, suffering Servant to the honored, Sovereign Savior.

But there is more. Look at the nail prints in the hands and feet of Jesus. Remember how Thomas had doubted that Jesus was alive, saying he would only believe when he saw the nail prints in the hands. Coming to Thomas, Jesus said, “Put your finger here, and see My hands; and put out your hand, and place it in My side. Do not disbelieve, but believe." (John 20:27)

Look at the impotence of the powers at work against Christ. The heavy stone plate on the sepulcher is overturned and the soldiers are asleep. There is humor found in seeing the 16th century European style of graves and soldier’s clothes. Take a look at the soldier on the right. He literally seems to be falling to the ground as he is falling asleep. Apparently we are not to think that the sleep of the soldiers is just the continuation of a night time slumbering. Rather, these characters were overwhelmed with sleep even as they were carrying about their business. Truly, “death no longer has dominion over Him.” (Romans 6:9)

One interesting aspect of the picture is that Jesus is floating in the air. Perhaps this is a foreshadowing of the ascension, or a symbolic display of His “being over all” (Ephesians 1:22).

In conclusion, as we celebrate Easter this year, let us remember that the resurrection of Christ insures our justification. Without the resurrection, there would be no salvation from our sins and no hope of eternal life.

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:4-9)

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.truthinartblog.com.