Luke 12: 8-12 | Jean-Léon Gérôme | He who openly declares himself for me

Luke 12: 8-12 He who openly declares himself for me

The Christian Martyrs' Last Prayer,  Painting by Jean-Léon Gérôme (1824-1904),  Oil on canvas, Painted between 1863 and 1883, © Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, Maryland Jesus said to his disciples: ‘I tell you, if anyone openly declares himself for me in the presence of men, the Son of Man will declare himself for him in the presence of the angels. But the man who disowns me in the presence of men will be disowned in the presence of God’s angels. ‘Everyone who says a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. ‘When they take you before synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how to defend yourselves or what to say, because when the time comes, the Holy Spirit will teach you what you must say.’ READ MORE Reflection on the Painting In our striking painting of today by Jean-Léon Gérôme, we see a group of Christian prisoners (on the right) who are saying their last prayers before they will be devoured by the wild beasts emerging from the lower ground trap doors. The are surrounded by other Christian martyrs, hanging on crucifixes, covered in tar and several set on fire. This is a very vivid depiction of the persecution of early Christians. The setting is a combination of the Circus Maximus (the scale of our setting, the race tracks, the goals posts…) and the interior stands of the Coliseum (based on the layout of the surviving ruins of the Coliseum), in which gladiatorial combats and other spectacles were held. Similarly, the hill in the background surmounted by a colossal statue and a temple is nearer in appearance to the Athenian Acropolis than it is to Rome's Palatine Hill. So this painting is a juxtaposition of various classical sites. Gerôme gave up historical accuracy to create this very dramatic image… Unlike the early Christian martyrs, it is not always easy for us to be open about our faith in the presence of others. Just imagine these early Christian martyrs though. They could have lived, by simply denying their love for Christ. And yet, they rather died than deny their faith. That is what makes them martyrs: their willingness to be killed because of their testimony of Jesus. For three entire centuries, the Christian Church endured periods of persecution at the hands of the Roman authorities. Through their deaths the martyrs witnessed their love for God and their friendship with Christ. Because of them Christianity succeeded!! So we have to read Jesus’ words today in light that He anticipated conflicts and persecutions ahead… and gave us the courage to persevere and stay strong in our faith, even when faced with imminent death through persecution… by Patrick van der Vorst