Beyond Words

For some things there are no words. That’s why we need music and art.

This Sunday we celebrate the most wonderful and amazing—beyond words—event in the history of creation: Christ Completing the Atonement by Rising from the Dead.

I’ll celebrate today with just a few words to tie the artwork to the events. The artists, I find, as I do this collection, both happen to be from my religion, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: Walter Rane and Ken Turner (Ken is a personal friend here in Texas; I have highlighted him for his 9/11 piece "Out of the Ashes").

Palm Sunday—the Sunday before the resurrection—our Lord and Savior entered Jerusalem according to prophesy.

The painting is called “Triumphal Entry” by Walter Rane.

Walter Rane's "Triumphal Entry"

The crowds were in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. That is what Jesus was celebrating during the Last Supper later that week. According to custom the diners sat on the floor at a low table. It was during the meal that Jesus blessed and gave them the bread and wine as a covenant for them to remember Him and keep His commandments.

This painting is Walter Rane’s “In Remembrance of Me.”

Walter Rane's "In Remembrance of Me"

Christ also gave them another covenant blessing: the washing of feet, which showed them service, but also has meaning I don’t yet fully understand.

The painting is Ken Turner’s “Washing Feet.”

Ken Turner's "The Greatest Servant of All"

At the end of the meal, when “they had sung an hymn” (Matthew 26:30 and Mark 14:26), they went out onto the Mt. of Olives. According to the New Testament Student Manual on our Church website,   the hymn they sang

was probably the traditional Jewish recitation from Psalms 113-18, called the Hallel. Psalms 113-14 were traditionally sung at the beginning of the meal, and Psalms 115-18 were traditionally sung as part of the formal closing of a Passover meal.

The painting is Ken Turner’s “They Had Sung an Hymn.”

Ken Turner's "They Had Sung an Hymn"
found on his Facebook page a year ago, no current link

What happened in the garden of Gethsemane is significant beyond our understanding. It was here that Jesus suffered beyond what normal mortals can suffer, so intense that He bled from every pore.

There’s a song our young children sing about this part of the story, called “Gethsemane.” I first heard it in a recording by Claire Crosby—actually it was the first video I saw of her as well; I think she was three.

This painting is another Ken Turner, “Gethsemane.”

Ken Turner's "Gethsemane"

Walter Rane also did a version called “Not My Will But Thine.”

Walter Rane's "Not My Will But Thine"

When the soldiers arrived, seeking to apprehend Him, Jesus let them know which one was Him, so they would not harm the others.

This painting is Walter Rane’s “I Am He.”

Walter Rane's "I Am He"

Peter was the apostle we often think of as impulsive. He drew a sword and cut off the ear of one of the soldiers. Jesus immediately healed the ear. One would think that would indicate to any soldier or observer or accuser that He was who He said He was.

This painting of the healing, and the instruction to Peter not to stop what needed to happen, is Walter Rane’s “Suffer Ye Thus Far.”

Walter Rane's "Suffer Ye Thus Far"

Then came the illegal trials, the scourging, and the crucifixion, until Jesus could say, “It is finished.” He was the sacrificial lamb, without blemish. The sacrificial lambs had just been selected for Passover, and then the Sacrificial Lamb that they symbolized began His ordeal. The lamb image is a screenshot of a video related to our Sunday lesson a couple of weeks ago.

screenshot from here

Then comes the cross. 

This is Ken Turner's "Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs."

Ken Turner's "Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs"

Jesus’s mother was one of the few staying at His feet during the ordeal on the cross. They needed to take His body down and place it in the tomb rather quickly, as the Sabbath approached. Imagining this moment is beyond pain.

This is Walter Rane’s painting “Christ Taken from the Cross.”

Walter Rane's "Christ Taken from the Cross"

Early Sunday morning the women went to the tomb to anoint the body with oils. They did not find Him, but an angel told them He was risen. I have heard people comment on the napkin that had been placed over His face. It was folded neatly. Tradition was, if a person got up from a dinner table, for example, and was not finished, he would fold the napkin neatly. It signified he would return.

This painting by Walter Rane, “He Is Not Here,” is one of my favorites.

Walter Rane's "He Is Not Here"

Was He truly alive again? Mary saw Him at the tomb. This is Ken Turner's "Empty Tomb."

Ken Turner's "Empty Tomb"

He appeared to his apostles, and ate with them. He appeared to them again when Thomas was with them. He appeared to some of them on the road to Emmaus.

This is Walter Rane’s “Christ at Emmaus.”

Walter Rane's "Christ at Emmaus"

He appeared to them again on the shores of Galilee. And He spent weeks among them, teaching them, guiding them in how to spread the gospel—the good news. That good news is that He overcame death for all, and He overcame the separation from God for all who would accept His atonement and keep their covenant to always remember Him and keep His commandments.

It is in keeping those commandments that our lives are different. They are not restrictions from a full and happy life; they are the very guidelines to a good life.

We are reminded, at Easter—and always—that it is not life, but the tomb, that is empty. He came that we might have life, and have it more abundantly (John 10:10). 

I’ll add one more piece of music. This is Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah!” redone with lyrics for the Easter story. I first discovered the words a year ago. (I’ve been arranging the piece for two dulcimers.) But this rendition was passed along to me several times this past week. I think it’s the prettiest one I’ve heard: “An Easter Hallelujah—Cassandra Star & her sister Callahan.”

He taught us how to love perfectly. And He promises to make up the difference for our imperfections if we simply love Him and earnestly strive to love one another as He loves us.

His love is beyond words. But it is not beyond what we can feel.

May you experience a glorious Easter!