Wherein the Christ Child is Laid

Wherein the Christ Child is Laid

This drawing is inspired mostly by the popular version of a quote by Luther: "The Bible is the cradle wherein the Christ child is laid." (I've finally found the actual quote's source which takes on different forms than this popular quotation in Luther's Works vol. 35.) A lot of Luther's quotes are quite visual (although, it might not be good to illustrate all of them, especially some of the more graphic ones :). At any rate, this quote reveals an important focus of a Christian interpretation of the Scriptures. Arriving at a faithful interpretation of them must begin with Christ as our lens for reading. Therein we find Him as all the Scriptures testify to Him, if not directly, we at least see the need for Him. 

I've also been working on a project as an example for illuminated manuscripts that could make clear connections for Jews to see Christ as the fulfillment of the OT Scriptures. The text that I have on the left page is the beginning of Isaiah 53 ("The Suffering Servant") to show the path this Christ child will take for us. The vision of Jesus as the cute baby is popular at Christmas, but his suffering is not so attractive. Neither are our shortcomings, failures, or sins. But what unfolds in Jesus life is the fulfillment of the Suffering Servant for us, the way of the cross.