A Picture Worth a Thousand Words - Devotion for October 12

I first encountered this remarkable painting by Lucas Cranach the Elder (circa 1550) at a Luther exhibit at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Recently, I had the opportunity to see a version of it again, this time at the Luther House in Wittenberg, Germany—the historic town where Martin Luther frequently preached and where the Protestant Reformation took root.

The painting is called The Law and the Gospel, and it is much more than a beautiful work of art. It is a sermon on canvas.

During the Reformation, Luther was deeply concerned that people understand the distinction between law and gospel. The law reveals our sin and our inability to save ourselves. The gospel announces what God has done for us through Jesus Christ. Cranach, a close friend and collaborator of Luther, found a way to communicate these profound theological truths through images.

In fact, The Law and the Gospel is considered one of the most influential images of the Lutheran Reformation. It became a model for countless other works of religious art.

Let's take a closer look.

The Law

The left side of the painting represents the law. Notice the frightened, naked man being pursued by a skeleton (representing death) and a terrifying demon (perhaps Satan himself). He is being driven toward hell, while a group of prophets, including Moses, point to the tablets of the Ten Commandments.

The message is that the law can show us our sin, but it cannot save us from it. No matter how hard we try, we cannot earn our way into God's favor through our own goodness or obedience.

In the background, Adam and Eve stand beside the tree in the Garden of Eden, reminding us of humanity's fall into sin. Above them, Christ appears as Judge, his raised hand signaling judgment.

Even the tree dividing the painting tells a story. On the side of the law, its branches are barren and lifeless. On the side of the gospel, they are green and flourishing.

There is another fascinating image in the background: a serpent lifted up on a pole, surrounded by suffering people. This recalls the story in Numbers 21, when the Israelites were bitten by poisonous snakes. God instructed Moses to lift up a bronze serpent, and those who looked upon it were healed.

It's a curious story, but it points us toward something greater. In John 3, Jesus himself connects that bronze serpent to his own crucifixion. Just as the Israelites looked to the serpent and lived, we look to Christ for life and salvation.

Which brings us to the other side of the painting.

The Gospel

On the right side, we see the same naked man, but this time he stands beside John the Baptist, who points him toward the crucified Christ.

At the foot of the cross, a lamb stands triumphantly over death and evil. This is Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. Death and the devil, which seemed so powerful on the other side of the painting, have been defeated.

Notice also the blood flowing from Christ's side toward the man, accompanied by a dove representing the Holy Spirit. It's a striking image of grace—God's forgiveness and new life coming to us through Christ, not because we have earned them, but because they are freely given.

And above it all, the risen Christ stands triumphantly over the empty tomb. Death does not have the final word. Resurrection does. Even the landscape has changed. The tree is alive. The sky is brighter. Hope has replaced despair.

Along the bottom of the painting, Cranach included Scripture passages corresponding to the scenes above. Art has a remarkable ability to communicate truths that sometimes take pages of words to explain. And I'm grateful that, nearly five centuries later, this painting continues to proclaim the good news that was at the heart of the Reformation.

May the GRACE of God be with you all!

Pr. Laurie Neill

Featured art: The Law and Gospel, Lucas Cranach the Elder, ca. 1550