{"id":5046,"date":"2020-03-01T08:00:58","date_gmt":"2020-03-01T00:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jeffangiegoh.com\/?p=5046"},"modified":"2021-10-15T11:16:46","modified_gmt":"2021-10-15T03:16:46","slug":"218-casting-lots-or-drawing-solidarity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.jeffangiegoh.com\/?p=5046","title":{"rendered":"243. Casting Lots or Drawing Solidarity"},"content":{"rendered":"

23\u00a0<\/sup>When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took his tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top.\u00a024\u00a0<\/sup>So they said to one another, \u201cLet us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see who will get it.\u201d This was to fulfill what the scripture says, \u201cThey divided my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots.\u201d 25\u00a0<\/sup>And that is what the soldiers did.<\/span><\/strong> [John 19:23-25<\/span>, NRSV<\/em>]<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u00a0The Crucifixion<\/em>, by Andrea Montagna c.1459.<\/span><\/p>\n

In a superbly composed and very detailed painting on The Crucifixion<\/em>, Andrew Montagna paints realistically with his severe and sculptural style. The setting of the Crucifixion is a rocky plateau outside the walled city of Jerusalem in the background. He offers generations of Christians marvelous opportunities to meditate on the wiles of individualism versus the power of solidarity at the death of Jesus of Nazareth.<\/span><\/p>\n

With Christ at the centre of the painting to emphasise the magnitude of the Saviour\u2019s sacrifice, viewers are invited to reflect on what drives Jesus\u2019 free acceptance of his death. The noble act of ultimate sacrifice made by Jesus is to make possible the salvation of sinners of the world. This sacrifice speaks of what selflessness, love and mercy really are. But, how do human individuals respond to Jesus\u2019 sacrifice? Montagna offers some hints in this masterpiece.<\/span><\/p>\n

First, he seems to invest a great deal on the two figures that stand in front of the three crucifixions, one on the right and one on the left, by presenting a picture of amazing faith in both of them. One might connect this with John\u2019s narrative gospel account where he captures Jesus saying, \u201cAnd I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself\u201d (John 12:32). On the right of the three crucifixions stands Saint John, \u201cthe disciple whom Jesus loved\u201d, who followed Jesus all the way along the via dolorosa<\/em> and remained at the foot of the cross throughout. John the Beloved on the right is balanced on the left by a mounted soldier whom, with his better-decorated armour, reminds us of the centurion of Mark 15:39. Despite being a pagan, this centurion could profess a shocking pre-Resurrection faith at the foot of the cross:<\/span><\/p>\n