The Louve Surprise
The Louve. For me, it was a religious experience. So many beautiful paintings and sculptures of Christ lined the walls of the building. I wished I had more time to drink it all in.
But there was one life-size sculpture that stopped me in my tracks, literally taking my breath away. “The Resurrection” was created by artist Germaine Pilon and was a commissioned work by the queen of France, Catherine de Medicis, in the 16th century. She wanted the sculpture displayed outside the Valois Chapel, a tomb, but it never left the artist’s studio, because the chapel was never completed.
While it never made it to the chapel, “The Resurrection” did make it into the Louve, in all it’s splendor for millions to see. God had a plan for this work. I wonder if anyone else was as affected by it as I was? Two Roman soldiers, who have fallen to the ground in awe at the sight of the resurrected Christ. Pilon captured it.
The fear on their faces.
The majesty of the risen Christ.
I have to believe they repented of their disbelief at that moment.
I thought, Will this be the fear we see on people’s faces when Jesus returns again?
I once worked with a young woman who did not believe in the resurrection. I asked her why she did not believe. When she couldn’t give me a solid answer, I challenged her to study and find out what it was she did not believe in. After further study and through God’s revealing of himself to her, she is a strong Christian today. Now, she won’t be surprised when Jesus returns.
Our desire should be that no one is caught by surprise when they hear the trumpet sound. That’s why Jesus’ last words to his disciples were “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
Who in your life do you need to reach out to? Who in your world will be taken by surprise when Jesus comes back? This is one surprise party you don’t want them to attend. (LBW)