Gospel in Art: Peter spoke up and said 'You are the Christ'

The Sacrament of Ordination (Christ Presenting the Keys to Saint Peter), by Nicolas Poussin, Painted between 1636-1640, © Kimbell Art Museum, Texas

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 16 February 2023
Mark 8:27-33

Jesus and his disciples left for the villages round Caesarea Philippi. On the way he put this question to his disciples, 'Who do people say I am?' And they told him. 'John the Baptist,' they said 'others Elijah; others again, one of the prophets.' 'But you,' he asked 'who do you say I am?' Peter spoke up and said to him, 'You are the Christ.' And he gave them strict orders not to tell anyone about him.

And he began to teach them that the Son of Man was destined to suffer grievously, to be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and to be put to death, and after three days to rise again; and he said all this quite openly.

Then, taking him aside, Peter started to remonstrate with him. But, turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said to him, 'Get behind me, Satan! Because the way you think is not God's way but man's.'

Reflection on the painting

During the course of his public ministry, Jesus asks many questions. The Gospels are filled with questions that Jesus puts to us. But in today's reading we are asked one of the most fundamental questions: 'Who do you say that I am?' It is a question that is addressed to each one of us. But how would we answer if we were asked that question? It is not only a question that looks for mere information or a textbook answer: it can be answered only answer from the depths of our hearts.

Peter's answer to Jesus' question was correct. 'You are the Christ'. However, there is much more to Jesus. He would want us to answer that he is our a friend, our teacher, our judge, our divine encourager,... Even though Peter gave a perfect answer, Peter still had to learn to accept the whole truth about Jesus, and continue to discover who Jesus truly was.

Our painting is by Nicolas Poussin and is part of a series of seven canvasses depicting the seven sacraments. Our painting today depicts the sacrament of ordination (the taking of holy orders to become a priest). Poussin depicted the gospel account of Christ giving the keys of heaven and earth to the kneeling apostle Peter, showing the authority vested in him as head of the Roman church: "You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church . . . I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 16:18-19). Poussin infused the picture with emotional power, conveyed through the varied gestures and expressions of each apostle. The scene in the distance, a group of men discoursing, may suggest the grove of ancient philosophers, recalling the old order that gives way to the new order instituted by Christ. The figure on the far right, with his face obscured in shadow, is Judas Iscariot, who will betray Christ.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/mark-827-33-2023/