How do you stand with those who mourn and bear witness? Join Rev. Rob McPherson in exploring Rubens’ The Descent from the Cross and the courage it calls forth in us. Discover where God is inviting you to serve in faith and love today.

John 19:38-42

In this episode of Art and Prayer, Rev. Rob McPherson invites us into a deep and contemplative encounter with Peter Paul Rubens’ dramatic painting The Descent from the Cross. Drawing from Juliet Benner’s insightful analysis in Contemplative Vision, Rob helps us enter the scene of mourning and courage as Jesus’ body is carefully taken down from the cross. This painting, rich with emotion and symbolism, offers a powerful invitation to reflect on sacrifice, grief, and faith.

The reflection begins with the courageous act of Joseph of Arimathea, who risks his safety to ask Pilate for Jesus’ body. Rob reminds us of the gravity of this moment—publicly associating with a condemned man, mourning alongside others who loved Jesus, including Mary, Mary Magdalene, and Nicodemus. Through scripture from John 19, we witness this solemn act and prepare ourselves to see it anew through Rubens’ brush.

As we look closely at the painting, Rob guides us through its details: the limp, lifeless body of Jesus, the tender yet sorrowful expressions of those surrounding him, and the contrast between the white burial shroud and the dark clouds behind. Each figure carries weight in the scene—from the grieving Marys to Nicodemus and Joseph, to the beloved disciple John. Their presence calls us to consider our own place in the story and in the act of faithful witness.

Rob highlights rich symbolism embedded in the painti

ng—the ladder, the crown of thorns, the communion-like elements at the foot of the cross—and reflects on the painting’s original placement above an altar, where it would have deepened the meaning of the Eucharist for worshippers. This connection between art, scripture, and sacrament invites us to enter into Jesus’ sacrifice and ask how it moves us toward response and action.

The episode invites listeners to find their place in the painting and to reflect on how they might participate in the ongoing ministry of love and courage. Through prayerful silence and scripture, we open ourselves to God’s guidance on the tasks set before us. Rob closes by encouraging viewers to share their experience and to carry this contemplation into their lives, remembering that God is always present and active in our response.