Comments on: Is this the greatest Christmas painting of all time?

By: Michael Frost

Michael Frost — Wed, 01 Jan 2020 10:32:48 +0000

In reply to Carolyn Bragg. Surely any generous and indeed reasonable reading of this piece would conclude that I am not blaming Christ for unleashing evil. I’m saying his birth prompted Herod’s persecution. I don’t agree at all that I have been “wildly wrong, and dangerously misleading”.

By: Carolyn Bragg

Carolyn Bragg — Tue, 31 Dec 2019 04:48:45 +0000

It wasn’t a birth that unleashed “a malignant force.” It was the paranoia of yet another power-hungry ruler that was willing to murder to protect his wealth, throne, and life. Rumors of any usurper would have pushed that particular man the final step to madness.

Attributing the unleashing of evil to any innocent is both wildly wrong, and dangerously misleading.

By: Eaglehawk

Eaglehawk — Mon, 30 Dec 2019 06:55:04 +0000

As a man I cannot begin to think I could say anything of worth to this scene, but my heart is moved by the vulnerability these mothers must have felt. Leave it to men to convene to such barbaric horrors.

Thank you for providing this post, hoping men’s hearts might be moved to compassion towards such pure and innocent figures.

By: Lee

Lee — Sun, 22 Dec 2019 07:03:51 +0000

In reply to Danielle Di Bona. I thought the same thing!!

By: Danielle Di Bona

Danielle Di Bona — Sun, 22 Dec 2019 00:09:00 +0000

This could be a mother and child on the southern border of the US, fearing that the child will be torn away from mother.

By: Loretta

Loretta — Sat, 21 Dec 2019 14:30:07 +0000

Thank you for sharing this powerful painting. I have never seen it. At first, I was not sure where your article was going; what conclusion you were going to draw. But, after reading through to the end, I agree. There are so many sides of the human story that we do not think about in the Bible, and in life. Reading the comments make think of the horror that Mary and Joseph may have felt as they escaped to Egypt. The Christmas story that we share is one of beauty. But the real story, it so much deeper. A nonbeliever might say, “Who could love a God that allows this to happen?” And my reply is, “Then you must believe there is a God…that man has the capability of doing incredibly sinful things…and that one baby boy escaped, just one.” It’s a very deep painting subject that should create a lot of soul searching not only in the believer, but the nonbeliever as well. Thank you for posting this painting.

By: Susie Becker

Susie Becker — Fri, 20 Dec 2019 08:55:38 +0000

In reply to Norma Farthing. Taking it all upon himself!

By: Norma Farthing

Norma Farthing — Fri, 20 Dec 2019 01:23:46 +0000

Nothing I’ve ever seen even comes close to matching the realism and power of this painting.

A much needed reminder that God came into a world that was anything but joyful and optimistic and warm and safe…and that Christmas didn’t immediately transform the corruption and brutality of human life: God doesn’t snatch us out of the ugliness but is with us in the midst of it, taking it all upon himself.

By: Jeremiah Enna

Jeremiah Enna — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 15:52:36 +0000

It is surely one of the greatest paintings of all. I’ll never forget when I first saw it. I had to sit down.

By: David Brink

David Brink — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 15:51:14 +0000

What a powerful insight into the slaughter of the innocents.