July 7, 2002

Mindekirken
7 Pentecost
July 7, 2002
Pr. Jens Arne Dale

Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

"The Bible of the poor" was what the art pictures in the churches were called in the olden days. Ordinary people couldn’t always read, and to come to church and see an altar painting or a wall painting with a Biblical motif could be an important way into Biblical history. And if the pastor in the pulpit didn’t speak to their hearts, the pictures might have. Many have their inner image of God, and their faith experience influenced by special pictures. Think of your own experiences. Is there an image that has meant a lot to you? Maybe a card from Sunday school? Or maybe the altar painting here at Mindekirken? It’s not without reason that the picture of the empty grave from Kampen Church has been copied. We also have it in the Gjøvik bedehus and in Molde kirke. Or do you think of a picture by Michelangelo or Rembrandt? The Christian pictorial art throughout almost 2000 years consists of some of the best of our common human heritage.

Today, I’ll tell about the altar painting of Gjøvik Church where I have had services for 18 years. The altar picture was painted by Asta Nørregaard in Paris in 1883. This was the first time in Norway that a woman was asked to do a public decoration. And maybe there’s a bit of equality and women’s liberation in this?

At least it’s suspicious how many women Asta Nørregaard had placed in the circle around Jesus. The motif is picked from Isaiah 61:1-2 where the Lord’s appointed says that he has been sent "To bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives…" Luke tells that it was this very text that Jesus read in his hometown synagogue when he started his public service. (Luke 4: 18-19)

When we meditate about this picture, we might recognize persons who we read about in Bible history. Maybe the woman on the right in front was the one who had been caught in adultery (John 8:1-12). She had been looked upon with lust by many men and now with moral disgust by the Pharisees and the scribes. They wanted to use her to bring Jesus down. If he did not condemn her, he would have a problem with the Law of Moses. But Jesus revealed their hypocrisy and falseness with the words: "Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." No one dared. Jesus saw her humiliation and with a sight of love and forgiveness he gave her back her dignity. She got to start over without condemnation. Have you felt stepped on and degraded? Jesus sees people with respect.

We see a mother with a small child in the picture. The disciples who thought they understood things like this would send them away. I don’t think we may grasp how radical Jesus acted when he got angry and said: "Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs." (Matt 19:14) With regard to the children’s participation in the service we may think we stretch far enough when we argue that they are the future of the church. But that’s absolutely wrong. The children are the church of today, as much as any other. Didn’t Jesus also say that unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven? (Matt 18:3)

We also see the blind Bartimaeus, the beggar from Jericho who sat by the dusty road. He couldn’t help crying: Kyrie eleison, Lord have mercy on me! (Mark 10:47) Today this cry is on the lips of all Christians. We sang it also here at the service in Mindekirken today: "Kyrie eleison, Lord have mercy on me!" So strong is this cry that it has been kept in Greek in the basic text. It’s the cry from a suffering world, the groan of creation to the creator and redeemer. The blind Bartimaeus got his sight back as a foretaste of the day when God shall make an end to all sickness and grief.

Christ is the counselor of the world. Christ is the hope of the world. He represents all that we may long for as human beings: love, forgiveness, life and peace. The painting expresses this by giving Jesus a shiny white robe and the people around him are painted in darker colors. It’s for sure an exaggeration compared to what it really was, but the symbolism is clear: Jesus is the light of the world. He is all the goodness we humans don’t have in ourselves. The light from Christ has its source from above. Jesus is the Son of God.

The year after they built Gjøvik church they put in the altar painting at the church. Surprisingly enough they chose not to consider Asta Nørregaards reference to Isaiah 61 and Luke 4. Instead, they chose to write in golden letters beneath the picture: "Come to me, all you that are wary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Come to me!"

In more than 120 years the outstretched hands of Christ have spoken their quiet language to the numerous people who have found their way to the church. Come to me! It has been said to the families who have come with gratefulness and joy with their children to baptism. Come to me! Has been the call to the young ones by confirmation. The blessing of the outstretched arms has reached down to the wedding couples who have knelt down for the intercession during the wedding ceremony. Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens… Many people have come with the burden of worries and grief and felt comfort in the words of Jesus. Maybe their conscience was heavy, but the burden of sin was taken away during the Holy Communion. Afterwards we will sing: Thanks that you took my burdens, a high mountain of guilt and shame" That song is a great testimony to that.

One time a school class came for a guided tour of the church. A bright pupil commented that there was a empty place in front of Jesus. It was hardly due to laziness that Asta Nørregaard avoided painting someone there. The place is reserved for you! And as if that’s not enough, Christ comes towards us. You may see one of his feet is put forward, he is coming close to the steps to go all the way down to where you and I are. Christ wants to ease our burden and give us rest. It’s not a promise of days without problems. Jesus talks about rest, but also that we should take his yoke upon us (v. 29) The yoke ties two oxen together in a harness. We are not going to live our lives alone. We are going to be bound to Jesus. That’s freedom: To be bound to the one who knows us and even so loves us with an unfailing love.

Sometimes a white casket stands in front of the church. A human has passed away. From the pews it looks like Christ stretches his arms out to welcome to the heavenly home. I will give you rest, couldn’t that also be words about the eternal rest with God? Those who enter God’s rest also cease from their labors as God did from his." (Hebr. 4:10)

Glory be to God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, one true God, now and forever.

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