Heinrich Hoffman: CHRIST AND THE RICH YOUNG RULER

THE STORY:

The gospels relate that right after the story of Christ commanding his disciples to let the little children come unto Him, a ruler said, "Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"

Christ listed some of the ten commandments, and the ruler said, "All these have I kept from my youth up." Jesus replied "Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me."

And this is the verse that contains the poignancy of this painting: "And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich."

Christ said, "How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."

ANALYSIS: This painting from a late nineteenth-century German has a classic, Renaissance feel. Part of that comes from the organization of this painting. The poor occupy one third, Christ the middle, and the ruler's back and empty space the third.

The grid here shows the balanced composition of the piece, and the circles emphasize the important areas of emphasis (ish. Good thing I'm not a painter, since I struggle with straight lines and circles!): the young man's head and the hands of Jesus Christ.

Christ's hands gesture to the poor, indicating his commandment to the young man. And you can see the regret of the ruler in his posture: he's looking down and away, like he's sorrowful and truly considering Jesus's words. The poor on the left are depicted in the background, cringing as if they expect no help, but still looking toward this rich young man and Jesus Christ as if they might provide it.

And, of course, One of them does. And the message of this parable is that we must be His hands on the earth to do His will--not our own.

I think the real genius of this painting is they way Hoffman captures Christ's face. It is so gentle, even though this scene tells a sad story of man with wealth and position who cannot give them up.

PERSONAL IMPACT: 

A huge copy of this painting hangs in the foyer of my parents' church, and I was thinking about the story as a follow-up to the post last week about "suffer the little children to come unto me." I like the juxtaposition of these stories and the reminder that when Christ came, he was despised and rejected of men, and that he championed the most vulnerable in society: children, the poor, women.

I think it's very significant that so many of our scriptural stories about women are from the New Testament. Because to Christ, there is no male and female, bond or free, rich or poor, but all are alive in Christ. But to us on earth, there is definitely power and wealth and position.

And we humans really struggle to relinquish any of that to follow Jesus Christ.