Gospel in Art: Jesus said to him, 'Leave the dead to bury their own dead'

Christ Calling the Apostles James and John by Edward A Armitage © Sheffield Galleries and Museums Trust, UK

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 1 October 2025
Luke 9:57-62

At that time: As Jesus and his disciples were going along the road, someone said to him, 'I will follow you wherever you go.' And Jesus said to him, 'Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.' To another he said, 'Follow me.' But he said, 'Lord, let me first go and bury my father.' And Jesus said to him, 'Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.' Yet another said, 'I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.' Jesus said to him, 'No one who puts his hand to the plough and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.'

Reflection on the painting

In the Gospels, the path Jesus walks is also the path He sets before His disciples. Just as He had to summon all His strength to follow the will of the Father, those who would follow Him must share in that same determination. The disciples went where Jesus went. In today's reading, Jesus meets three people who show an interest in discipleship, and His responses are startlingly blunt. He wants them (and us) to see that following Him is not a comfortable choice, but one that demands real resolve. When one man asks to delay his response until after he has buried his father, it sounds like a fair request. Yet we may need to realise that the Jews would bury their dead within 24 hours, so when the man asks Jesus his question, it is fair to assume that his father is still aline. What in effect he is saying to Jesus is maybe something along the lines of "I'll join you later, once my family responsibilities are finished, once my father has died, maybe years from now, and yes then I will join you."

Jesus' reply, "Let the dead bury their dead", sounds harsh, but it highlights something crucial: the urgency of His call. Discipleship cannot be postponed indefinitely. The invitation to follow is always in the present tense-now is the time to say yes! Too easily, we fall into the temptation of delay: "I'll pray more when life is less busy… I'll serve others when my situation is easier... etc..." But Jesus does not let us off so lightly. His call is urgent because the kingdom of God is urgent. To follow Christ means to take that step today, with courage and conviction, not waiting for a tomorrow that may never come.

The Apostles understood this urgency. When James and John were called by Jesus , they left their nets and joined Jesus - there and then, immediately. In our painting by Victorian artist Edward A. Armitage , we see Jesus standing on a rocky shoreline bathed in soft light, addressing James and John who are in their boat. The landscape reflects the great adventure that is awaiting them. Edward Armitage was a noted Victorian painter trained in Paris under Paul Delaroche. Rooted in the tradition of Academic realism, Armitage specialised in historical, classical, and biblical subjects. His is a master at depicting -dramatic narrative moments with great technical detail.

You will see that the font of the boat carries a four letter inscription. I haven't been able to work out what it stands for... Feel free to leave comments on our webpage below today's reading to share your thoughts or... if you know the answer. Thank you.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/luke-9-57-62-2025/