“Jesus got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.” (Mark 4:39)
A famous 17th century painting hung in a museum. For years the museum authorities had wanted to have the old master cleaned, but they deliberated a long time since the painting was so valuable. When the specialists did proceed they noticed to their great consternation that specks of paint came off in the process. They proceeded with greater care, but could not keep the paint from disintegrating. As they finished the job they discovered another painting beneath. A later artist had tried to improve the original masterpiece. Now they saw the truth. Better shatter a dream than conceal the truth.
I am about to shatter a dream … a dream which has grown up through the centuries … a dream portrait of Jesus that many hands have touched. The original portrait is in the gospels, but many have tried to improve the original and thereby have spoiled it. By trying to make Jesus more attractive, they have made Him unattractive. By trying to make Him more appealing, they have lost His divine appeal. It may hurt to shatter a dream. But, better shatter a dream than conceal the truth …
Clean the canvas. Get back to the original. Not this religious weakling of our imagination. Not this affected emotionalist of our pretty pictures. But the Christ commanding in His manner, challenging in His message, conquering in His manhood, compelling in His mission -- the revolutionary Christ! It may hurt to shatter the dream, but shatter it we must to see the true Master. Better shatter a dream than conceal the truth.
-- H.S. Vigeveno in “Jesus the Revolutionary”
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