The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-11-19

At the morning service yesterday, in the First
Lutheran Church, Rev. John Baltzly preached
q sermon on the isolation Of Christ, suggested
by Munkacsy's painting OF Christ Before Pr
late" Mr.. Baltziy's text was from John vii, ):
''For even His brethren did not believe on
Him." Mr.. Baltzly said: II do not altogether
like Munkacsy's Christ before PLATE and yet
it is prs-eminsnt in this one respect; it brings
out, as does no other picture / know OF, the
unique isolation of Jesus. The very fewness OF
the figures put into it, which at first sight occa-
sions disappointment; for We think Of a great
crowd crying cruelty Him.; this very fewness
OF the figures heightens the effect I have spoken
OF. Jesus appears all the ~loneller for what
strikes one as q belittling of the moment 1t il
no Luther at Worms that We sec, facing church
and state in an array that lent grandeur to the
scene. It was an august presence" indeed,
that the poor monk of Wittsnburg appeared be-
fore, that ever memorable day. But this picture
gives us no such scepe. Ii is o scene abou.
which there is something really sqralid. No sea
of u~pturned faces to make 1t appear even pota-
BILE The same sentiment that moved Major
Andre to beg OF Washipgton that he might be
shot, rather than hanged, moves US to wish for
a more heroic representation OF this great mo-
mens in Christs life.
ZANE yet the artist may be rieht--I incline to
think he is. AT any rate, he has brought out
the more strikingly in this very b~elittling OF the
surroundings, the isolation, the forlornness Of
the central figure. He was despised, as well as
rejected, OF men. Rejected means here, for
saken. According TO this picture, there even
WAS not sufficient interest in the procurement
OF his death to crowd the judgment-halL. When
Savonarala was burnt, the great square OF
Florence was packed, and every window looking
into 10 alive. But how lonely Jesus looks! "As
for HIS generation. who among them considered
that He was cut off out OF the land of the
~livingln "a man Of sorrows and acquainted
with ~grieF-that, OF itself. tells tho story Of His
lifelong isolation. He that reeds the gospels
closely has borne in upon him, | think.
de went up to Nazareth, where
be had been brought up. only to learn the truth
OF the saying. that no prophet is acceptable in
his own country. When his own kinsmen heard
how the people away from home crowded after
him, they went out to lay hold on him, for they
said: he is beside himself When he tried &c
take his disciples into a closer intimacy with
himself, by revealing TO them the deep things OF
God, upon this many Of his disciples went
back, and walked no more with him" And
what pa:hos there is in the sentence
that follows: "Jesus therefore said unto the
twelve, viii ye also 20 awayT And further on
AGAIN standing over against him. Why don't
you 20 into Judea, say they, and permit your
disciples there to behold your works. If thou
doest these things, manifest myself to the
world. For even bis OWL brethren do not be-
lieve on him" SO 10 was all the way to the end;
aud more and more so as the end WAS neared.
They all left him and fed" says Mark, in con-