2024/09/16

161. The Successor to the Apostle John

Recently, I learned that the composition motif on the San Damiano Crucifix, which is said to have spoken to Saint Francis, is based on the Gospel of John. I also realised that it contains particular messages, with scenes from the Book of Revelation inserted into it. 

The finger painted at the very top of the crucifix indicates that the kingdom of God has come, as Jesus said, "But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you" (Luke 11:20). The finger is pointing to one of the ten saints, who is holding a cylindrical object with buttons on it and is trying to hand it over to Jesus Christ, who is reaching his hand out from below. It is the scroll "sealed with seven seals" (Revelation 5:1). Therefore, this figure of Jesus Christ is the Lamb in Revelation and represents the Holy Spirit sent out in the name of Jesus, as written: "And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders, I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth" (5:6). 

Revelation says, "[H]e [the Lamb] went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne" (5:7), whereas, in the crucifix, the fingers of God's right hand point to the saint, and the Lamb is about to receive the scroll from the right hand of this saint. That is to draw our attention to the Book of Revelation because the scroll sealed with seven seals signified the New Testament (cf. blog №13-16). Also, the fact that two saints are depicted on either side of the crossbar means that, together with the ten saints mentioned above, these twelve saints are the twelve Apostles mentioned in Revelation: "And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb" (21:14). 

In addition, above the figure of Jesus Christ in the centre, the words "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews" are written. They are the words of the inscription found only in the Gospel of John (cf. John 19:19) and of which when the chief priests asked Pilate, "Do not write, 'The King of the Jews,' but, 'This man said, I am King of the Jews.'" (19:21), Pilate refused to comply, replying, "What I have written I have written" (19:22). Pilate kept in mind that Jesus had not called himself the "King of the Jews" and that he had not answered when he asked, "Where are you from? " (19:9). At the same time, he asked Jesus "What is truth?" (18:38) and was afraid of the words "Son of God" (cf. 19:7-8). 

As we saw in the previous article, the Gospel of John, which shows the dialogue between Jesus and Pilate in a profound theological way, hints at the Roman Empire, which Jesus sought for Christians and to which Paul was sent. So, the Roman labelled "Centurion" is standing at the far right of the people drawn beside Jesus on the cross, and Christ's blood is also flowing down over him. Although the "Centurion" is not mentioned in the Gospel of John, this centurion is depicted as a symbol of the Roman Empire, which has become God's. 

The artist, painting the crucifix in this way, linking the Book of Revelation to the Gospel of John, seems to have seen John, the author of the Book of Revelation, and "the disciple whom he loved" as the same person. We can say so from the fact that the saint handing over the scroll above has a widow's peak and that the "disciple whom he loved" standing with Jesus' mother to the right of Jesus also has a widow's peak, and no one else does. The mother of Jesus and the beloved disciple, Mary Magdalene and Mary, the wife of Clopas, who are depicted on either side of Jesus on the cross, are witnesses to the fact that the blood and water flowed out when the soldier pierced Jesus' side with a spear after he drew his last breath (cf. 19:35). They are also the Church itself born from his side. 

The blood that pours down on these facts is the blood of the new and eternal covenant, which was poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Therefore, the Christ on the cross, depicted as appearing to be floating and gazing ahead, represents the Eucharist. His gaze is always asking those who look at the consecrated host the following question and waiting for an answer: "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" (11:25-26). The only possible response is: "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, he who is coming into the world" (11:27). 

The composition of the crucifix visualises the kingdom of God that appeared in the New Testament, as God's finger indicates. It is said that Francis perceived it, received it, and heard a voice. He was in the "Spirit" like John, the author of the Book of Revelation. He was baptised at birth with the name John. It is a strange coincidence. 

To be continued.

Maria K. M.