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(Continued from page 9.)
they recognized the face of Michelangelo as Judas. Leonardo felt

some temporary vindication.

first forgave his servant—he set the example he wished his people But then came the last step in his grand artwork—painting
would follow—and then expected his servant to go and do likewise.
the face of Jesus. As he tried to capture the image of Christ, he

But the ungrateful servant did not have a forgiving spirit. He would paint His countenance but would feel dissatisfied and wipe

did not allow the compassion of the king to change his heart. When it away. For the next few weeks, he did this over and over again. He
the servant wouldn’t forgive in turn, all that he owed was put back had Jesus’ body completed, but he couldn’t create the right face—

onto his account.
that magnificent countenance of mercy and kindness.

When Christ forgives us, we must walk in that same spirit. In desperation Leonardo prayed that he could paint the face
Yet forgiveness isn’t simply a legal transaction. Peter thought of it that would express the love and compassion of Christ.“Lord, help

in a mechanical way, attempting to follow the letter of the law me to see Your face,” he pleaded

and completely overlooking God’s desire that we obey from with God.
the heart. When it is our motive to love and even forgive our Finally, a voice spoke to his

enemies, only then will we reveal to others the most beautiful heart, saying,“You will never see
the face of Jesus until you change
attributes of God.
the face of Judas.” Leonardo was
The Face of Jesus
convicted. He thought about
The famous Italian artist Jesus on the cross praying for the

Leonardo da Vinci was commissioned forgiveness of those who crucified

to paint a mural on a monastery Him, and about how offended he
dining hall in Milan, Italy. The result himself had been by petty insults.

was The Last Supper, one of the most He erased Michelangelo’s face

recognized and beloved works of art and painted the image we see
in the world. It depicts Jesus sitting today. Only when Leonardo let go of his bitterness toward

with His disciples at a feast table just Michelangelo and removed the offense could he clearly paint

after He told them that one of them the image of Christ.
would betray Him.
Some of us cannot see the face of Jesus because we

During the time da Vinci was refuse to forgive our enemies. We are so determined to pay

working on the piece, he got into people back that all we can see is what they have done wrong.
an argument with another famous Italian—Michelangelo. The We are the ungrateful servant, demanding our debtors pay up in

biographer Vasari wrote that they had “an intense dislike for each full, yet our vengeful hearts keep us from fully seeing Christ and
receiving His forgiveness.
other.” The two were jealous of each other’s work and often made
disparaging comments about one another in public.
Do you need to erase the face of an enemy in your life? Do

Legend has it that when the time came for Leonardo to you need to write a letter, make a phone call, or talk with someone
paint the face of Judas in The Last Supper, he got the sinister idea who has wounded you? It is time to let it go. The moment has come

of using the face of his rival, Michelangelo, to be the face of the to say,“I forgive you.” Perhaps it begins by you asking forgiveness.

betrayer. He felt it was a great way to immortalize how he felt Either way, when you strike out the person’s debt, you will see the
about his enemy. People came by as he worked and gasped when
face of your compassionate King.

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Inside Report 2Q 2016