The Defeat of Death
"It is important to remember that Time is not the enemy of Man, Death is."
When reflecting upon the anniversary of the Baron's death and looking at other woodcuts in The Dance of Death, I could not shake the fact that though it is inevitable, Death is not the end. Death has already been defeated.
The Apostle Paul writes in his first letter to the Corinthians, "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
When I saw the painting I laughed, but it was not out of disrespect or disbelief (nor was it because of the artistic license taken by Ricci). My outburst sprung from sheer delight and an overwhelming sense of joy.
~Baron Friedrich von Berger
Though The Old Man from Hans Holbein the Younger's The Dance of Death is not a depiction of the Baron (the book was drawn between 1523-1525 and not published until 1538), it has served Warpers as a memento mori (a reminder that death comes to us all) and we must all "Prepare to meet thy God." According to legend, death came to Baron Friedrich von Berger on August 28, 1543 A.D..
When reflecting upon the anniversary of the Baron's death and looking at other woodcuts in The Dance of Death, I could not shake the fact that though it is inevitable, Death is not the end. Death has already been defeated.
The Apostle Paul writes in his first letter to the Corinthians, "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
With Death's defeat on my mind, I began researching its demise as depicted in art. There were a number of Last Judgement paintings, though it was The Resurrection painted around 1715 A.D. by Sebastiano Ricci that stopped me. (I recommend you check it out at the Google Art Project where you can zoom into and explore it more in depth.)
When I saw the painting I laughed, but it was not out of disrespect or disbelief (nor was it because of the artistic license taken by Ricci). My outburst sprung from sheer delight and an overwhelming sense of joy.
I felt like a moviegoer who stands and cheers at the screen when the hero rises up in victory after a seemingly hopeless fight. Or like an exuberant (perhaps even shameless) fan at a sports arena celebrating the game winning play of the championship.
It was as if my soul were shouting, "Yes, death is defeated! There is my Hero rising up in victory!" Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
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