Work Of Heart

Breaking. Jesus was seen multiple times in many forms at St Marylebone Parish Church between 6 March and 17 April. No, really. Public art enterprise Art Below teamed up with the parish church at the start of Lent to stage an exhibition of 20 representations of the passion of Christ. Posters across 14 London Underground stations also showed pieces from the exhibition.

One work in particular, though, didn’t make the cut. 'Kill Your Idol' by Antony Micallef was declined by the Tube’s governing body, Transport for London, for not complying with its advertising policy. The picture shows Jesus wearing a crown of thorns and standing before a 'Pop Idol'-type panel.

Antony tells 'The War Cry' that he feels ‘disappointed’ by the decision not to place the poster. ‘Oxford Circus is a very busy station,’ he says. ‘I thought the "Pop Idol" piece would fit very well there. When I was commissioned to do a painting for the Stations of the Cross, I decided it would be a good idea to have a modern-day version of a judging panel in the place of Pontius Pilate.

‘We live in a society where everything is judged in this manner. Our popular culture is very unforgiving. I thought the painting would be an interesting way of implying that.’

Unforgiving attitudes are timeless. That’s why God commissioned his Son, Jesus, to carry out his work - to redeem us. Jesus went about healing people who were sick, comforting those who were broken-hearted and forgiving those who were sorry. The authorities, however, judged him and painted him in a bad light. They considered his work offensive.

Jesus faced judgment. He was rejected. He was put to death on a cross. But he died so that we can be forgiven. His death created a way for us to have eternal life.

Death was not the end for Jesus. God raised him to life. His resurrection is an assurance that no matter how many times we fall, we can get back up. Our personal failures do not have to be the end of the story. If we ask God for forgiveness for the wrongs we’ve done and follow Jesus’ teachings, we can look forward to a life with God that begins today.

Carry your judgment?

UK & Ireland War Cry 19 April 2014