Daily Devotion for Friday 25th April 2025
Matthias Grünewald section of Isenheim Altarpiece, 1512–1516, photo by Gleb Simonov, public domain
Information
The altarpiece was painted for the Monastery of St. Anthony in Issenheim near Colmar, which specialized in hospital work. It is on display at the Unterlinden Museum at Colmar, Alsace, in France and is Grünewald’s largest work and is regarded as his masterpiece. The Antonine monks of the monastery were noted for their care of plague sufferers as well as for their treatment of skin diseases. The image of the crucified Christ is pitted with plague-type sores, showing patients that Jesus understood and shared their afflictions. The veracity of the work’s depictions of medical conditions was unusual in the history of European art. Grünewald’s Crucifixion stands as one of the most poignant representations of this scene in Western art, due to the artist’s masterful depiction of horrific agony, with Christ’s emaciated body writhing under the pain of the nails driven through his hands and feet. This body covered with sores and riddled with thorns must have terrified the sick, but it also left no doubt about Christ’s suffering, thus comforting them in their communion with the Saviour, whose pain they shared. However, the altar piece has sections which can be opened or closed and, when open the resurrection/ascension section can be viewed.
Reading: Matthew 27: 62 – 28: 4
The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, ‘Sir, we remember what that impostor said while he was still alive, “After three days I will rise again.” Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day; otherwise his disciples may go and steal him away, and tell the people, “He has been raised from the dead”, and the last deception would be worse than the first.’ Pilate said to them, ‘You have a guard of soldiers; go, make it as secure as you can.’ So they went with the guard and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone. After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men.
Reflection
The power of Grünewald’s altarpiece is painting to freeze a moment. What we see in this resurrection is in deliberately stark contrast to the crucifixion dominating the altarpiece when it is closed. I suspect it impossible for us to regain the impact of that emaciated and destroyed body on the cross which the sick and dying saw in the monastery’s chapel. Equally hard for us to imagine their feelings as the huge wooden wings were opened up; the broken Christ replaced by this explosion of energy, power, light and colour.
Grünewald depicts events at night. Christ is literally rising from the tomb, its heavy stone lid heaved aside as the earthquake topples the guarding soldiers. We see human power confronted by divine power, and humanity sent reeling. Death and suffering are still present though. Jesus’ shroud trails behind him, anchored in the tomb in its stark whiteness like a flowing pillar of marble. Jesus’ hands and feet carry the fresh scars of nails. Look really closely, and these scars are shining with rays of golden light. Indeed, it is light that signals the resurrection as much as the movement of Christ. The cloth transforms into rich reds and oranges as it seems to enfold, support and flow around him. His skin is dazzling and his face is a source of such brightness that the features become indistinct. Around him, like a sun vivid in the dark sky, a vast halo of light and colour glows, pulsing like a rainbow from yellow all the way to blues as it merges into sky. Flecks of white, like stars or sparks, fly outwards.
We witness what no one recorded seeing; the actual moment of resurrection. We are shown power, glory, and grandeur; a world literally being made new in a new creation’s dawn. And Jesus looks directly out at us, as we watch him. He’s smiling. His abused hands are raised in blessing. “I did this for you,” he makes me feel.
Prayer
Jesus, I find it easier to think of your humanity:
those words of wisdom,
those acts of healing mercy,
the table shared with friends,
the silent prayers,
the dusty road.
Thank you for Grünewald’s gift to us:
earth shattering into resurrection
and light set free again to shine into deepest darkness.
Help us to believe,
and so to live.
Amen.