This morning in the car I heard a story on NPR describing the attempts to clean, repair, and restore the iconic painting, "The Gross Clinic" by Thomas Eakins. It was his masterpiece, a 19th century depiction of Dr. Samuel Gross lecturing a group of Jefferson Medical College students while they surgically treat a bone infection. The painting is historically significant because it, quite realistically and graphic for the time, gives the viewer a glimpse into the emerging science of surgery in the late 1800s. The story went on to explain how, naturally, over time, the painting has been subject to soot and decay. There have been multiple attempts over the past 100-plus years to restore Eakins work to it's original state. However, each time there has been some error or failure to accurately reflect the original vision of the painter. But recently, for the first time, through advancement in process, restoration specialists are able to properly illuminate Eakins' original work.
Lately, I've been thinking a lot about both the necessity of forgiveness and what following Jesus looks like in my day to day life. The lifecycle of Eakins' "The Gross Clinic felt like a great parallel for both of these things and how they work together to glorify the Creator.
"For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."(Eph 2:10) However, while we are our Lord's masterpiece we find ourselves stumbling into sin daily. Even with best of intentions, we "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Rom 3:23). We lust for things and people, lie to advance ourselves in our personal lives and careers and engage in countless other acts of foolishness under the banner of "being true to myself." If you're like me, you can ignore the lasting mark of your daily sins for a while, but eventually the heaviness is undeniable. Much like Eakin's masterpiece, we find ourselves covered in soot and in a state of distress. We are a far cry from what we were designed and intended to be. The good news of forgiveness through Jesus is that we do not have to continue to carry the added weight of the soot. The advancements are already in place, through death on the cross, to seek and receive forgiveness. The result of forgiveness is two fold. The first, is so that we can again experience freedom. "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."(John 8:36) But the second, even more important result of forgiveness, is that we will again accurately reflect our Maker. When we are restored to our original design, those around us will more easily see and be drawn to the Lord. When you see Michelangelo's "David," it's hard not to be mesmerized by the beauty of this singular work. And, I think it is fair to assume that most observers will then be inspired to pursue his other work, like the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel or the Pieta and soon be completely taken by the talent of the Creator. Forgiveness allows for freedom for our benefit but it most importantly allows God to be known and glorified by all those that we meet, speak to and cross paths with daily.
