Gospel in Art: John, the other disciple, the one Jesus loved

John the Apostle resting on Christ, Swabia/Lake Constance, 1320-1330 © Bayerisches Nationalmuseum, Munich

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 27 December 2023
John 20:2-8

On the first day of the week Mary of Magdala came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved. 'They have taken the Lord out of the tomb' she said 'and we don't know where they have put him.'

So Peter set out with the other disciple to go to the tomb. They ran together, but the other disciple, running faster than Peter, reached the tomb first; he bent down and saw the linen cloths lying on the ground, but did not go in. Simon Peter who was following now came up, went right into the tomb, saw the linen cloths on the ground, and also the cloth that had been over his head; this was not with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in; he saw and he believed.

Reflection on the sculptural group

Today's reading links Christmas to Easter. The Christ Child whom we welcomed into the world two days ago is also the Risen Lord. Today we celebrate the Feast of Saint John the Evangelist. So why celebrate him during the Christmas octave? As St John is the main evangelist who focuses on the divinity of Christ, the Church wants to remind all of us that the little infant in the crib was God. Fully human and fully divine.

Our German sculpture dating from the early 14th century depicts Saint John, the one Jesus loved as per our reading today, resting his head on the heart of Jesus. Their hands are joined together. They share a clear mission and a beautiful friendship. Carved out of one block of oak wood, the gentle folds of their cloaks run in parallel too. Made in the region of Swabia, close to the Swiss border, quite a few of these sculptures were made. They are thought to have adorned the chapels of Dominican convents there. It is a devotional sculpture about the mysticism of Christ and our friendship with Him. How beautiful it would be to be able and rest our head on Jesus' chest as in our sculpture. Our sculpture beautifully conveys the rich love between two friends, a friendship we all long for to have with Christ.

We are told that Saint John was the apostle whom Jesus loved the most. He remained with Jesus until His death on the cross. He never left Jesus, unlike the others. The strength of his faith in Jesus remained till the very end and beyond. In our own lives we profess our love for Jesus, every day. But when hardship, temptation or challenges come, we often run away and don't fully trust in Him. Saint John is the perfect example of someone who stayed with Jesus no matter what circumstances.

Both Peter and John saw the empty tomb with Jesus' grave cloths neatly folded. However, it is only of John that it is written, 'he saw and he believed'. He recognised the presence of the risen Jesus in the empty tomb. We are all called to see with the eyes of this beloved disciples.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/john-20-2-8-2023/