
Jesus' entry into Jerusalem is one of the more challenging subjects of artwork. The artist has to depict a scene in which the evangelist knows Jesus is riding to his death, the crowds know Jesus is riding in as a king who will rescue them from political oppression, and the disciples at the time are unsure what Jesus is doing. Jesus is the only one who has a clear picture, and we have no idea what he might signal through his body language. In this painting, attributed to Aelbert Cuyp or his school, probably executed in 1650, Jesus is riding one of two donkeys. The light source is behind him and is focused at the same place where his gaze is directed, which is not at us. Even more startling, rather than looking at those people around him or the people who are spreading covers on the road in front of him, he is rather looking toward people some distance off, who are probably not even aware of his presence. The disciples can't be identified in this painting. It isn't about them. It's about Jesus coming in as the king who will rescue those who have barely even noticed him. This painting measures almost 20x36 inches, and is in the collection of the Glasgow Museums Resource Centre.
Notice in the Bible we refer to the following:
Book - John (there are many different "books" in the one book of the Bible),
Chapter - Normally found as a big numeric heading. John has 21 chapters,
Verse - a segment usually about a sentence long.
The chapter and verse markings were added to the text as a handy index about 800 years ago. They are the same in virtually every different translation.
Here's a link to John chapter 12. You can also compare the text in several different languages and translations.
If you want a copy of John's Gospel in print, we're happy to meet you around the Mizzou campus and put one into your hand!
1. In John chapter 12, Mary puts very expensive oil on Jesus' feet. Why would she do this? What does it say about how she understood Jesus? What do the disciples' reactions tell about their understanding?
2. There's a plot against Lazarus, whom Jesus had recently raised from the dead. What are people willing to do to reject Jesus today?
3. When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the people present had different levels of understanding. What does this tell you about Christianity today?
4. Some of the people at Jerusalem were looking for Jesus to worship him, while others were looking for him so as to have him killed. Why was Jesus so polarizing? What does the passage John brings up from the Old Testament tell us about these attitudes?
Be sure to ask your questions and share your ideas in the comments for this post!
Book - John (there are many different "books" in the one book of the Bible),
Chapter - Normally found as a big numeric heading. John has 21 chapters,
Verse - a segment usually about a sentence long.
The chapter and verse markings were added to the text as a handy index about 800 years ago. They are the same in virtually every different translation.
Here's a link to John chapter 12. You can also compare the text in several different languages and translations.
If you want a copy of John's Gospel in print, we're happy to meet you around the Mizzou campus and put one into your hand!
1. In John chapter 12, Mary puts very expensive oil on Jesus' feet. Why would she do this? What does it say about how she understood Jesus? What do the disciples' reactions tell about their understanding?
2. There's a plot against Lazarus, whom Jesus had recently raised from the dead. What are people willing to do to reject Jesus today?
3. When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the people present had different levels of understanding. What does this tell you about Christianity today?
4. Some of the people at Jerusalem were looking for Jesus to worship him, while others were looking for him so as to have him killed. Why was Jesus so polarizing? What does the passage John brings up from the Old Testament tell us about these attitudes?
Be sure to ask your questions and share your ideas in the comments for this post!