Jesus Dies on the Cross

Secular presentation

The fifth sorrowful mystery

The scull and crossbones make it plain for all: Jesus is dead.  The sky is stormy, heaven trembles.  Jesus the God-man is dead!

But the artist wants you to know that death is not the end.  The dark wood of the cross has become green, for in His death - Christians believe - Jesus brings life.  Remember I spoke about how He pays the price for our wrong doing?  Jesus becomes the door through which we can pass into friendship with God.  God is everlasting and so our friendship with Him can be everlasing too.  And if our friendship is to be everlasting then we will have to be everlasting too!

For this reason Christians associate the blood that Jesus spilled with being rescued.  We're not happy about the death of Jesus, but we are happy about being rescued.  And for this reason the artist shows the red line spreading out behind and all around.  The people shown with red halos are the first ones to stand in His friendship as He opens the door.