Thursday, October 04, 2012
Cecilia
Gimenez became an internet sensation when she botched a century old fresco of
Jesus in the town of Borja, Spain. The original painting, titled Ecce Homo, or Behold the Man was painted
in 1910 by an artist named Elias Garcia Martinez. The picture above shows the
before and after. Obviously, Cecilia was
way above her head on this one. She botched the image of Christ so bad that one
BBC correspondent likened it to a “crayon sketch of a very hairy monkey in an
ill-fitting tunic.”
Ironically,
people came from miles around to see the botched painting. Church leaders have
estimated some 30,000 visitors have made their way to the church. The church
started charging one Euro to enter the church and see the painting. Now Cecelia
is threatening to sue the church for a piece of the revenues the painting is
generating. Visitors have suggested that
the painting should be re-titled, Behold the Monkey.
As
I read this story I thought of one thing: I pray that I don’t botch the image
of Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:27 teaches us this, “Now
you are the body of Christ, and each one of
you is a part of it.” In The Message it reads, “You are Christ’s body—that’s who you are! You must never forget this.
Only as you accept your part of that body does your “part” mean anything.”The church collectively becomes the eyes of Christ, the ears of Christ, his hands and feet. We are his body made visible to our culture. Every part is important and every part is needed. What kind of image are we portraying? Do people see the love of Christ in us? His grace? His forgiveness? His kindness? His truth and wisdom? Or do they see a messed up image of Christ.
Behold the Man or Behold the Monkey? What a serious question to consider as we
live for the glory of God.
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