Isenheim Altarpiece: Christ Who Knows My Pain

A recent addition to my office wall is a small reprint of the closed view of the Isenheim Altarpiece, known as a polyptych, as shown in the image here. Painted in 1512 by Matthias Grünewald, for the Monastery of St. Anthony in Isenheim. The monks of this monastery took upon themselves the care of those suffering from skin diseases such as the plague and ergotism (known as St. Anthony's Fire).

Before we consider the central image, let's look at the two side panels. On the left, we see St. Sebastian.According to tradition, he was martyred during the 3rd Century, during the Roman emperor Diocletian's persecution of Christians. He was tied to a post and then shot with arrows. The arrows however didn't end up killing him, so upon recovering he went to the emperor and called him to repentance for his sins. At which time, the emperor had him beat to death. St. Sebastian, during the time of the plague in later centuries, became more popular among plague sufferers because arrows and the plague had been connected in people's minds. The image of Sebastian was a hopeful one for those dying of the plague in the monastery, since it reminded them that they too shall recover from the plague, if not in this life then in the next.

On the right panel, we see St. Anthony (3rd Century). According to tradition, he was from Egypt and lived in the desert as a hermit. While he was in the wilderness, he experienced demonic temptations and visions. This is depicted in the altarpiece where a demon is sitting in the window above St. Anthony. Ergotism, which was caused by consuming moldy rye, attacked the nervous system and would cause hallucinations. Thus, reflecting on the life of Anthony, who endured demonic assaults, was a comfort to know that if Anthony could persevere through the demonic temptations, they could too.

Now we come to the central image, that of the crucifixion. In the center we see one of the most painful artistic depictions of the crucified Christ. His fingers are splayed out in agony, blood is dripping from His feet, His head hangs limp with His mouth open, and His body is covered in plague-like sores. As patients at the monastery would have looked up at this altarpiece, they would have been reminded that Christ knows their suffering and pain very intimately. Jesus both suffered with them and for them. Throughout their dying, they would have remembered that Christ hadn't left them, but He's with them and knows what they're experiencing. In a way, they're brought closer to their Savior through suffering, knowing that He lives in them through faith. Indeed, the image of Christ's crucifixion is comforting for all sinners, since we know that His death is for us life. Thus above Christ's head is the INRI (Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews) sign, reminding us that Christ is King, and truly He is the King of the living, even and especially in His death.

To the left of Christ, Mary Magdalene is kneeling on the ground, praying to her Lord. The Apostle John is holding the Virgin Mary who has fainted in her grief and prayer. You might notice that John holds up Mary's arms in prayer when she is too weak to do so on her own. These three would be a comfort to those who cared for the plague infected patients at the monastery. Even though it appears their prayers are not being answered in this life, since so many are dying, Christ still hears the prayers of His faithful and answers them. While the monks may not have been able to heal all of their patients, they did have the opportunity to care for them and pray for them, knowing that they shall receive healing in the life to come. Just as St. John holds Mary's hands up, so do our brothers and sisters in Christ hold us up in prayer when we are weary.

To the right of Christ is John the Baptist, pointing to Jesus who is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He's holding a book open, and the words written next to John in Latin are: "He must increase, but I must decrease." Thus, John the Baptist, a rough man who ate locusts and tree sap in the wilderness, is here much more finely arrayed than the Christ. He reminds us that this life must pass away with all of its riches and pleasures, all shall die and be with Christ, because only when we die with Christ may we live with Him and increase with Him. The job of every pastor is to be like John the Baptist and point sufferers to Christ in their afflictions. 

At the feet of John the Baptist is the Agnus Dei, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. The lamb stands there triumphantly, holding the cross like a beacon of hope, alive in the face of death. Even though we see much death and misery in this life, the Lamb of God lives and is victorious! From this little Lamb, a stream of blood flows into the chalice. Here, in this little cup, is the blood of Christ and the medicine of immortality. It is no mere wine, but the blood of Jesus is in the chalice! This medicine heals all sinners completely, not only in this life but in the one to come.

This altarpiece is a very comforting image for the church in our day. It reminds us that when death comes, even by means of a deadly virus, we have a Savior who knows our pain and suffers with us. It's also convicting to the church of our day. In ages past when there was a deadly pestilence, the church opened its doors even wider and cared for the people of God with both earthly medicine and especially heavenly medicine. When suffering comes into this world, the church ought not close the doors and turn people away, to listen online, but the church ought to welcome God's suffering children inside to receive true medicine that heals us more deeply than any other. When things get worse, the church ought to become more bold, not hide away behind a screen. Let us remember that when Christ suffers, we suffer with Him, and His cross is our cross. We shouldn't shy away from suffering and avoid martyrdom like the plague, but know that in Christ we will endure. Even though we shall be laid in a tomb, like Christ, we shall rise with Him as well. We will rise from the dead like the John the Baptist and the Agnus Dei, death cannot defeat us, since Christ has already died for us!