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“The Pieta”
This icon places several people at the lowering of Jesus from the cross and his burial.
The scene is not according to any Scriptural order. John 19, beginning with verse 38, gives us a chronological order of the moments after Jesus’ death. It is Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus who took Jesus’ body and buried it. They do not appear in the scene.
Chapter 20 begins with Mary of Magdala and the empty tomb. She tells Peter and John, “So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb.” in verse 3.
This rendition of the Pieta gathers, first of all, Mary, the Mother of Jesus, near her son. She supports his head on her bosom. There the Savior of the world began his earthly life and was nourished.
John and Peter are reaching toward their friend. He had just recently called them friends. At this moment a feeling of emptiness moves them to silence.
The empty tomb behind them is filled with darkness. Mary of Magdala reaches up in a dramatic expression of loss. Jesus was crucified outside of Jerusalem. The city is portrayed in the background. The vertical crossbar is only partially seen.
Lord Jesus Christ, savior of the world, pray for us!
© 2009 Clyde Rausch, OMI