Acts 10:34-43 This reading is about the passing on of a message. It was a message that began in Galilee with John the Baptist. It spread through Judea to Jerusalem, and from there to all people. The Acts of the Apostles ends with the message reaching the centre of the then world: Rome It is a very simple message. It is about Jesus God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and power to do good and to set people free. God raised this Jesus, who they rejected and crucified, from the dead. It is an incredible, almost unbelievable message. André Kamba Luesa (Congolese, 1944–1995), The Resurrection), 1992. Easter, Day 6: Mfurahini, Haleluya – Art & Theology When the women told the first followers of Jesus that the tomb was empty and that men in dazzling clothes had said that Jesus was risen – the disciples do not believe them. It is only when they see the empty tomb for themselves, and the graveclothes wrapped up in a separate place, that the penny begins to drop. And notice here how Pe...
And Jesus says, “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (John 12:32) At first glance this is a very simple icon. But it is rich in meaning. Icon of the Resurrection, Moscow C14th, Rublev museum We’ve looked at this when we were talking about John 19:26-27 how Jesus – by his death – makes a new community, and links his mother and the beloved disciple. And we saw how, certainly in John’s gospel, Mary represents both the mother of Jesus but also all people who put their faith in the promises of God; she represents the whole church. And John represents the individual believer, beloved by Jesus. The title above the icon is the Crucifixion of our Lord, and there are six characters here There are two angels representing the heavenly world. I think we can see three of their six wings There is Christ himself on the cross. Above him on the left and right are the initials – they appear to us as IC and XC – IC Jesus, XC Christ. On his halo – it is faded – a...