Gethsemane

Artist: robert oneill
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Gethsemane

Judas Betrays Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, for some money. Arguably the most famous betrayal of all time.

What flashed across my mind, was Judas’ brutal materialism, and the lack of satisfaction it gave him. He topped himself a few hours later.

It’s particularly poignant in this part of Germany-~~completely unaffected by the war (the rest of Germany was pretty much destroyed)~~-and wealth flows like a river.

The Western philosophy of consumerism equates possessions and money with happiness and self fulfillment.

But most people have an expression of utter misery on their faces.

Still, most of us would chose to be miserable millionaire than a miserable pauper. Helps pay the bills.

The image is a slightly enhanced wood carving found on the door of Constance Roman Catholic Cathedral, Germany.

What is also interesting, to me, was the portrayal of Jesus.

Jesus has often been portrayed Jesus as a white Anglo-Saxon—long hair and goatee beard. It seems the enduring image of Jesus in the West, to the point of caricature.

This wood carving offers a different physical depiction, although it’s interpretation seems artistic more than literal. .

As we know, the official gospels themselves give no physical description, they focus on Jesus’ words, actions and interactions.

Gethsemane belongs to the following groups:

Complex Simplicity of Art, ***♂♥♥QUORN♥♥♀, 1 In The Beginning - Ancient Practices, Abstract Realism, All Things Poetic, Prose, Philosophical., Art from the Workplace, Art Inspired by Dreams, Art Students and Beginners, AW Welcome Center, Bits and Pieces , Cards - Best of the Best, Character Development, Designers United, Graphic Editing 101, Happy Haven, Live, Love, Dream, Living Christianity, Mixed Media, Passions, PixElations - The Art of Photoshop, Religious Art & Photography, Safe Haven, Sepia-Toned, Something To Say, Spiritual Art, Symbolism in Art and The Beginners' Corner

KEITH R. WILL..., 2 months ago

magnificent
butchart, 2 months ago

hmmmmmmm…. not quite sure about the effeminate white freaky hippy///// seems to step on toes on several different feet….. if there was a jesus i wonder what his compassion would think of the description there,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,b
theyellowfury, 2 months ago

Beautiful image. Can you reccommend an extra-biblical text to read?
robert oneill in reply to butchart’s comment, 2 months ago

I know that you mean Butch. Often Jesus is characatured by many people, however, from south park to images on redbubble.. Often this is to poke fun at Christians themselves.

This is not my intention here.

If it seems like it, I can reword the commentary.

Nonetheless, there is no physical description of Jesus in the Gospels. There is a slight description of him from a written source, but it is unremarkable.

Every image, then, is the product of someone’s imagination. The dominant one is the sacred heart style image. This is the one that gets characatured.

Of course, as no description exists, it could be the right one…..
robert oneill in reply to theyellowfury’s comment, 2 months ago

Do you mean the extra-Biblical Gospels? One of the most famous is the Gospel of Thomas.
here is a link

http://shc.stanford.edu/shc/Thomas_Gospel.pdf
robert oneill in reply to butchart’s comment, 2 months ago

Also, Butch didn’t mean to step on anyone’s toes or offend. Apologies.
butchart, 2 months ago

i’m sure you didn’t mate… and i’m not trying to be a downer…. just went with my initial reaction…. it’s your image and commentary…. it’s all good friend… no worries…......b
Jacqueline Baker, 2 months ago

hey i really like it, the lightings good and so’s the clarity and i understood what you were trying to say in your commentary perfectly so didn’t tread on my toes lol. Actually with all that israeli sun he was probably nearer the color of the wood in your image above..nicely olive..than the pasty white he is normally portrayed as being anyway!
robert oneill in reply to Jacqueline Baker’s comment, 2 months ago

Thanks Jaqueline. Yes, he may have had a good tan. Mind you. his great, great . . .. grandfather King David likely had red hair. So, anything is possible.
robert oneill in reply to KEITH R. WILLIAMS’s comment, 2 months ago

Thanks Keith
Tony Ryan, 2 months ago

Think it is fantastic that you are taking the time to make open comments about Jesus. Think he is a very important person to understand. Do not believe that many people go deep into understanding him yet now more so than ever we could all benefit by doing so.
robert oneill in reply to Tony Ryan’s comment, 2 months ago

Thanks for the view and the comments Tony.
lightsmith, 2 months ago

First and foremost, it’s a pretty impressive piece of work.
In terms of Jesus and Judas, I often wonder just how much he was a victim rather than the perpertrator of the ‘greatest’ betrayal. I recall reading phrases like ‘this happened to make the prophecy come true’ and so on. Also, his dejection when Jesus said that Judas would betray him. ‘Do what you have to do’.

Was he such a bad guy?
Was he just weak?
Was he actually so comitted that he knew that he had to do what was needed?
Where is the concept of redemption by crucifiction without Judas?
Where is the resurection without Judas?
Where, in fact, would Christianity be without Judas?

Not challenges to common thought, just questions…..

Art moves the heart and drives the mind. Good stuff.
robert oneill in reply to lightsmith’s comment, 2 months ago

Thanks for the view Lightsmith and the extended comment. How bad was Judas is an often debated point. Certainly, Christianity relies on his betrayal, as you have said.

Also, whether this was the ‘greatest’ betrayal or not is another matter. I think it is the most ‘famous’, however.

I think he was a bit of a materialist, like us all, but his financial reward didn’t make him happy.

I think as you said, if he was that evil, then he wouldn’t have tried to return the 30 pieces of silver or hung himself afterwards.
Theresa Rankin, 2 months ago

Beautifully executed….beautifully described. Personally think Judas was just another human…and obviously felt bad about his transgression.
robert oneill in reply to Theresa Rankin’s comment, 2 months ago

Thanks Theresa. Thanks for the comment about Judas. I guess all of us have betrayed someone, or some cause, or denied some person. Most of us have also been betrayed as well. Universal scenario i think
vonne, 2 months ago

EXCELLENT!
robert oneill in reply to vonne’s comment, 2 months ago

Thanks Yvonne.
carlotta peacock, 2 months ago

Religion is a very arguementive subject, I am sure we all have our own gods we believe in, still this is very captivating xx
robert oneill in reply to carlotta peacock’s comment, 2 months ago

Thanks for the view Carlotta.

As you say, Religion always provokes strong feelings.

The posting of this image isn’t about belief, gods, atheism or anything else.

I posted it because I think it is an attractive piece of work. Religion itself has inspired some great works of art.

It was about the false promises of materialism.

Less significant reason was an slightly academic issue—how are persons visualised when no physical description of them exists?
mmills3080, 2 months ago

very emotive work! strong image
robert oneill in reply to mmills3080’s comment, 2 months ago

Thanks mm. Glad you like it. Very emotive, but sometimes that’s a good thing.
Tony Ryan, 2 months ago

Love the depth of questioning you have put forward. I agree that we have an unhealthy priority with externals as the path to joy. I truly believe that our external life will only provide peace and happiness once we are secure in our self esteem. Judas sold his soul and quickly felt the pain. For some in modern times the selling of soul is not so obvious especially when money or fame is involved.
robert oneill in reply to Tony Ryan’s comment, 2 months ago

Thanks for the view and comments again Tony. I agree with what you say totally. Lots of us are unhappy because we cannot obtain the dreams our society imposes on us. Even if we feel content, we sometimes feel guilty at that because we often believe we should be unhappy because of our failure to obtain fame, status, money etc.
Tony Ryan, 2 months ago

Thats cool. Didn’t realise I had commented before. At least I don’t seem to have contradicted myself. Fully agree with what you say about how we place so much guilt and doubt on ourselves.