I looked in vain on the web for detailed pictures of the front mosaic on the Church of All Nations, also known as Church of the Agony, which I described in my last post. When I was transferring photos to my new laptop recently, I discovered to my delight that I took some really good photos that zoom in on the figures. I am returning to Israel and Palestine on November 8th to spend a couple of weeks there with a group from my church, so I've been going over my photos from my last visit.
Here is the entire pediment.
Here to Christ's right are the wise and powerful of the world - the philosophers, the rulers, the soldiers, the musicians (I *think* that's a harpist at the back), bowing in humility before Christ. One of them holds a book that says "Ignoratio," meaning ignorance. I take that as a symbol that before Christ, all of the "wisdom" of the world is revealed to be foolishness. These figures represent our need for Christ that is revealed in our misuse of our strength.
I believe all of these figures are women. The one in front holds the lifeless body of her son. Others bow their heads in grief or pain; others fold their hands in prayer and look up to Christ in hope, imploring him to intervene on their behalf. In contrast to the strength and power of those on the other side, these women represent the weakness and powerlessness of humanity - our need for Christ that is revealed in our suffering. Perhaps we are to see these two groups as connected; rulers in power are often the cause of much suffering among their people.
Jesus kneels in the center, turning his face up to the Father who sits enthroned and stretching out his hands to both of these groups, showing them to the Father and mediating on their behalf. I imagine him asking forgiveness and mercy for those to his right and for restoration and healing for those on his left.
This is also called Church of the Agony, because it is in the Garden of Gethsemane. When you read the story of Jesus' struggle there, he is focused upon his own struggle - his awareness of what lies ahead of him - suffering at the hands of the powerful - and his ultimate decision to accept that suffering because it was God's way forward for him. By connecting Gethsemane with the book of Hebrews, this mosaic suggests that in those moments of agony, Jesus interceded for all of us - for the people of all nations who have known the folly of human power and the horrors of suffering. It reminds us that he did that for us. Jesus is our Great High Priest. Thanks be to God.
