The Passion of the Soul: Leonardo da Vinci and The Last Supper (The Art of God's Messages Book 2) by Elaine Wilson

Author:Elaine Wilson [Wilson, Elaine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2015-05-24T18:30:00+00:00

The senses are of the earth, the reason stands apart from them in contemplation.

Leonardo da Vinci

8

SIMON PETER /CEPHAS

Simon Peter the knife welding fifth disciple at the table In Leonardo’s mural Peter sat beside his brother, Andrew, until Jesus made his announcement. As soon as Peter heard a betrayer loomed in their midst, he impetuously jumped to his feet, grabbed a knife in his right hand, and shoved Judas forward. With his left hand he pushed John backward. In defense of his Lord, Peter intended to kill the betrayer. First he had to learn from Jesus the identity of the man.

Curiously Leonardo placed single-minded Peter beside double-minded Judas. Leonardo painted Peter true to his character … angry, impulsive, and loyal. The knife in his hand symbolizes other events as well. First, it points directly at Bartholomew who will be martyred by being flayed alive with knives. It, also, forebodes an event later that evening in the garden when Peter attacked one of the men in the arresting party with a knife. In the painting The Capture of Christ Peter is to the right and in the action of cutting off the ear of Malchus, a servant of the high priest.

The Capture of Christ, 1440, Fra Angelico Peter lived in Capernaum and owned a fishing boat. He and his brother, Andrew, made their livelihood casting their nets into the Sea of Galilee. Jesus' call to the two to become his first disciples was recorded by Matthew in verses 4:18-20:

18. As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea – for they were fishermen.

19. And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.”

20. Immediately they left their nets and followed him.

When Peter met Jesus he may have been married or widowed. On one occasion when Jesus visited with the brothers in their home, Peter’s mother-in-law lay in bed with a high fever. Jesus went to her bedside, took her hand, and lifted her to her feet. The fever left.

Recovered, she served them a meal. The news quickly traveled that Jesus could restore health to the sick. Many gathered that evening outside the door of the house. They walked away healed and praising God.

Foundation of Peter’s house, Capernaum, Galilee, ©BiblePlace.com When the disciples are listed, Peter is named first. Jesus charged Peter with the singular responsibility of strengthening all his brothers. The Gospels depict Peter as the spokesman for the disciples. For that reason, James the Less immediately reached toward him for an explanation when Jesus announced a betrayer sat in their midst. According to scripture, Peter was part of an inner-circle of three, which included the Sons of Zebedee … the two brothers, James the Great and John. Jesus chose Peter to receive the symbolic Keys to the Kingdom, as shown in the Rubens painting below.

St. Peter, holding the Keys to the Kingdom, 1611, Peter Paul Rubens Of all the disciples, Peter exhibited the greatest and most powerful passions, instability.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.