The Descent from the Cross

Rogier van der Weyden (c. 1399–1464) — c. 1435 · Oil on oak panel · Museo del Prado, Madrid

“And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.” — John 19:38 (KJV)

About

Rogier van der Weyden's Descent (about 1435) squeezes ten figures into a gilded box: Christ's body, lowered stiff in the exact curve of Mary's swooning body beside Him, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus bearing the weight, tears picked out like jewels on every face.

The Meaning

The echo between the Son's body and the mother's is the picture's pulse: as He is lowered, she falls in the same shape — her compassion made literal. A gold background shuts out the world: nothing exists here but this body and this grief.

For Us Today

Linger over the cost of your redemption until it produces Rogier's tears. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed (Psalm 126:6) — tenderness toward the crucified Christ is the seedbed of every other grace.

Image: Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons — the file’s page. Tap the picture to open the full-size original there.