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Por que celebramos o Natal, o Dia de Reis, a Páscoa, a Ascensão, o Pentecostes? Por que razão a coroa de advento, prendas, estrelas, anjos, pastores são centrais no Natal? Por que comemos cabrito ou borrego na Páscoa? De onde nos vêm expressões como " daqui lavo as minhas mãos " ou " bode expiatório" ou "coisas do arco da velha"? Que está por detrás de tantas pinturas clássicas, de obras centrais da literatura mundial, de filmes como os Dez Mandamentos, o Príncipe do Egipto, The Climb? Que se entende por Verdade, Amor, Justiça, Gratidão, Compaixão, Arrependimento, Perdão...? Quem foi Eva, Adão, Abel, Caim, Sansão, David, Samuel, Rute, Débora, Daniel, Isaías ou Jeremias ?

Monday, February 11, 2013

A Páscoa e o Cordeiro - THE FEAST OF THE PASSOVER and THE LAST SUPPER by Dirk Bouts, c.1460





  
ArtistDieric Bouts 
Year1464–1468
MediumOil paintpanel

The gathering of manna and Passover (recto left), 
The last supper (middle), 
The meeting of Abraham and Melchizedek and Elijah awakened by the angel (1 Kings 19:5-6) (recto right)

The Last Supper with Christ 
was the last ritual Passover Feast because the LAMB OF GOD, Christ Himself, was about to be sacrificed. 
Christ explained the meal pointed to His Death and Resurrection and should be repeated by His Disciples among them, until His Return to reign on earth. 


Passover - Easter supper- Altarpiece

 This painting shows it is an important moment, and those present seem to be reflecting on its significance. 

It is one of the key works in the history of Flemish art..

 Here, Bouts breaks with the tradition according to which Christ is always represented in the act of announcing the betrayal of Judas. Instead, he chooses to show the moment at which he institutes the Holy Communion, that is the sharing of the wine and bread among His disciples.

JESUS being Himself THE LAMB OF GOD, puts an end to the sacrifice of passover lambs, a warning of His Coming as son of Man to be punished for the sin of men. That is why He mentions in this meal that His Blood ( represented by the wine shared ) is going to be shed and His Body ( symbolised by the bread given away) is going to be broken for those that wait upon His deliverance.

The SACRIFICED LAMB is in  the centre of the First Feast of Passover back in Egypt on the Night of the Death of the Firstborns, but not of the one in Jewish homes protected by the blood of the sacrificed lamb.
The sacrificial male perfect lamb that delivered the firstborn of each house from death pointed to the Sacrificial Death of Christ in favour of all those that turn to Him for salvation of eternal death.
 
 The white table cloth is a symbol of the holiness, purity, righteousness of Christ alone.

A JESSE TREE - UMA ÁRVORE DE JESSÉ- A Árvore Geneológica de Jesus



A JESSE TREE is a symbolical genealogical Tree of Christ. It starts from Creation and Adam and Eve through Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahah, Ruth, David, Solomon... till JESUS, THE ROOT OF JESSE.
JESSE was the father of King David of Israel.
When we say JESUS IS THE ROOT OF JESSE it means HE IS THE ONE WHO CREATED JESSE.
At the same time The Jesse Tree shows us that JESUS IS A DESCENDANT OF JESSE too.
This means the TREE OF MANKIND WAS CORRUPT and had to be restarted.
JESUS IS THE NEW SPROUT, the new branch IN THIS TREE - HE MADE A NEW BEGINNING POSSIBLE FOR MEN WHO TURN TO HIM. They can belong to this new generation who loves God above all things and submits to His will, producing GOOD FRUIT.
That is why Jesus is called the Second Adam: he came to UNDO the first Adam's disobedience of God, by being obedient to death ( The Lamb of God, innocent and totally submissive )




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