Monday Meditation: The Four Portraits Of Messiah

 

"And out of the midst of it came the likeness of four living creatures.
And this was their appearance: they had the likeness of man.
But each one had four faces and each one had four wings...

Image courtesy/Old European Culture

As for the likeness of their faces, they each had the face of a man
in front, and each had the face of a lion on the right side and the face
of an ox on the left side; the four also had the face of an eagle
at the back of their heads."
(Ezekiel 1:5,6, 10)

The Gospel of Matthew presents our Lord as King.
(The Lion of the tribe of Judah)

"Where is He Who has been born King of the Jews?
For we have seen His star in the east at its rising
 and have come to worship Him."
(Matthew 2:2)

The Three Wise Men With Herod

Image courtesy/Getty Images

The Gospel of Mark portrays Him as the Servant.
(The Ox)

"And whoever wishes to be most important and first in rank
among you must be the slave of all.

For even the Son of Man came not to have service rendered to Him,
but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many."
(Mark 10:44-45)

The Servant

Yongsung Kim

Korean artist

Image courtesy/Havenlight.com

The Gospel of Luke  emphasizes Jesus' humanity.

( Son of Man)

"And He withdrew from them and knelt down and prayed,
Saying, Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me;
yet not My will, but always Yours be done."
(Luke 22:41-42)

Christ In The Garden Of Gethsemane

(1890)

Heinrich Hoffman

(1824-1911)

German painter

Painting courtesy/Fine Art America

 The Gospel of John proclaims the Lord's deity.
(The Eagle)

"The next day John saw Jesus coming to him and said, "Look!
 There is the Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world!"

(John 1:29)

Saint John The Baptist Pointing To Christ
(circa 1655)

Bartolome Esteban Murillo
(1617-1682)
Spanish Baroque painter
Art Institute of Chicago
Image courtesy/Wikimedia Commons