Thank you to Mark R for this week’s MWB
One of Rembrandt’s most memorable paintings is ‘The raising of the cross’.
In it, Jesus is at the centre as His body is lifted and put in place by 4 men.
3 of the men are in darkness, so it is difficult to see them. The other man wears a painter’s cap, in the style of painters in Rembrandt’s day. A closer look reveals the painter’s face.
It is clear that Rembrandt is identifying himself with those who put Christ on the cross.
Another figure also stands out; an officer on horseback. Again, it is Rembrandt’s face. But this time he looks out of the painting as if to say: “Aren’t you here too?”
In Psalm 18, David is being perused by Saul. He is in fear of his life. But God rescues David from death, and he recognises that it’s only through God’s mercy that he is spared.
At the end of Psalm 18, in verse 50, we read: “God shows unfailing love to His anointed, to David and his descendants forever”.
The purpose of the preservation of David’s line is to provide a Saviour for the world. God’s gracious character finds ultimate revelation in Jesus.
In verse 2 of Psalm 18 we read: “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer, my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold”.
As we remember Rembrandt’s painting, and his identification (and ours), with those who put Christ on the cross, let’s remember that the very purpose of that cross was that we COULD come to the place where we find our rock, our fortress, our deliverer, the One in whom we can take refuge when the twin enemies of sin and suffering assails us.
As verse 16,17 says: ““He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me.”