The Reverend Harold A. Linn, Pastor

Christ the Redeemer of the World

Painting by Lucas Cranach the Elder, completed after his death by his son, Lucas Cranach the Younger, 1555.

The painting depicts Christ crucified to redeem mankind from sin, death, and the power of the devil.

• The artist himself is portrayed as standing at the foot of the cross, between Martin Luther and John the Baptist, as the Savior's blood pours out upon him.
• John the Baptist, Christ's forerunner, gestures toward Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
• The figure of the Lamb is positioned at the base of the cross.
• Luther holds an open Bible with his finger pointing to the text of Hebrews 4:16, 1 John 1:7, and John 3:14-15.
• To the left of the cross, the victorious Christ rises from the tomb to crush death and the devil beneath his feet.
• In the background on that same side, Moses holds the Ten Commandments while death and the devil drive sinful man toward the fires of Hell.
• The scenes behind Cranach, Luther, and the Baptist present the deliverance of Israel in the wilderness through the bronze serpent, and the angels' announcement of Christ's birth to the shepherds.

In this masterful work of art, with its profound message of Law and Gospel, Cranach the Elder offers his own personal confession of faith, acknowledging Jesus Christ as his Redeemer and identifying with the faithful testimony of Martin Luther.