A Cohesive Day

Today I met a friend in Trafalgar Square for coffee. While I was there I hit up the National Portrait Gallery. Being a fan of art and all things cool, I wanted to check out some Van Gogh & Monet -- you know, being more into "modern art." However, I was enthralled when I saw the above painting entitled Christ Before the High Priest by Gerrit Van Honthorst. It's a depiction of Jesus Christ before Caiaphas, the high priest in Jerusalem, who conspired & longed to have Christ crucified.

Incredible painting. Painting made cooler by what I read this morning during my time with the Lord.

"Then those who had seized Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. And Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and going inside he sat with the guards to see the end. Now the chief priests and the whole Council were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward and said, "This man said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.' " And the high priest stood up and said, "Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?" But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, "I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God." Jesus said to him, "You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of Heaven." Then the high priest tore his robes and said, "He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy. What is your judgment?" They answered, 'He deserves death.' " (Matthew 26:57-68)

I sat in front of this painting thinking and praying about what this scene spoke. I feel like it's an awesome look at the intensity between Caiaphas and Jesus while the high priest is questioning the Son of God. I love how Van Honthorst locked Jesus' and Caiaphas' eyes -- eye's peering straight into the high priest's. A guilty man, wouldn't have done such a thing. The candle on the table too, is specially symbolic with Jesus being the Light of the world. I absolutely love how the light is used to make the scene dramatic, though I doubt the actual occurrence needed anymore help in that department.

For me, Christ Before the High Priest is a depiction of Caiaphas just as he finishes saying: "'Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?'" and as "Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, "I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God."

The Lord rocked me through this Scripture and painting today, though the later isn't completely accurate. It's cool how all of life has God's hand in it...