Gospel in Art: We are going to stone you for blasphemy

The Incredulity of Saint Thomas painted by Giovanni Battista Cima da Conegliano, 1502- 1504 © National Gallery, London

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 11 April 2025
John 10:31-42

At that time: The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, 'I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?' The Jews answered him, 'It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.'

Jesus answered them, 'Is it not written in your Law, "I said, you are gods"? If he called them gods to whom the word of God came - and Scripture cannot be broken - do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, "You are blaspheming," because I said, "I am the Son of God"? If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.' Again they sought to arrest him, but he escaped from their hands.

He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptising at first, and there he remained. And many came to him. And they said, 'John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.' And many believed in him there.

Reflection on the painting

A few days ago, we read about how some Jews wanted to stone a woman accused of adultery. In today's Gospel, we hear that now they seek to stone Jesus himself. Their hostility, particularly that of the religious leaders, is in some ways understandable. To them, Jesus was a man guilty of blasphemy, claiming something unthinkable: "You are only a man, and you claim to be God." The idea of a human being declaring himself to be divine was scandalous, even outrageous, in their eyes. And we can understand how they must have felt.

Yet, we know that what so shocked the religious leaders is indeed the truth! Jesus is both fully human and fully divine. This profound mystery is affirmed at the climax of John's Gospel when the once-doubting Thomas encounters the risen Christ and proclaims, "My Lord and my God." 'My Lord' affirms Jesus' humanity; 'My God', affirms his divinity.

This moment is powerfully depicted in our early 16th-century panel by Giovanni Battista Cima da Conegliano, showing Saint Thomas reaching out to touch Christ's wounds, confirming His resurrection. The painting was commissioned for the Confraternity of Saint Thomas for their altar in the Church of San Francesco in Portogruaro on 28 May 1497. Payments to Cima da Conegliano began in 1502, and though the altarpiece was nearly complete by 1504, the artist deliberately left it unfinished due to unpaid fees. It was later completed and installed that same year, but Cima had to resort to legal action before finally receiving full payment in 1509. This beautiful work captures the transformative moment when doubt gives way to faith; when Thomas, and through him, all believers, acknowledge Jesus as Lord and God.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/john-10-31-42-2025/ (with audio)