Monday, March 18, 2024

"Lent's Temptations" - More Temptations & More Angels

Maitre Francois, Temptation of Christ  From City of God by Saint Augustine of Hippo  French, c. 1475-1478  The Hague, Meermano Museum  MS RMMW 10 A 11, fol. 423r (detail)

“The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert,
& he remained in the desert for forty days,
tempted by Satan.
He was among wild beasts,
& the angels ministered to him.”
Mark 1:12-13

All three Synoptic Gospels relate that Jesus spent a period of 40 days & nights in the desert immediately following His Baptism in the Jordan by John the Baptist & the dramatic recognition given by Heaven to this event. The number 40 obviously has resonance with such Old Testament events as the 40 days & nights of the Great Flood (Genesis 7:9), the 40 days & nights that Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments from God (Exodus 24:18) & the 40 years in which the Hebrews wandered in the wilderness (Numbers 14:32-34).  Mark’s reference to the Temptation of Jesus is the shortest of the three. Matthew (Matthew 4:1-11) & Luke (Luke 4:1-13) both describe in detail the temptations tried by Satan, temptations to power & pride, which Jesus resisted. All three agree that at the end of these 40 days & nights, Jesus was tired & hungry.  In this image, the scene of the angels ministering (& snacking!) at a table in the far background, behind the 2 scenes depicting the temptations.

Sunday, March 17, 2024

Women's Work - A Bit of the History of Crocheting

 Girls Learning to Crochet while bored Cat Sleeps  Edward Thompson Davis (British  1833 - 1867)

When one of my daughters recently began to crochet, I decided to find a few paintings & a quick history of the art & craft of crochet.  It wasn't that easy!  Proud of her, as usual, but not many proven facts about the origins of this lovely & practical artistic craft exist to share with her or you.  Hope you  enjoy this brief overview  Still working on it...     

A Bit of the History of Crocheting

Speculation on the origins of crochet remain largely scientifically undocumented. Some sources suggest that crochet originated in Arabia, where it spread along Arab trade routes to other parts of the Mediterranean. Others speculate that crochet has roots in faraway indigenous South American tribes.  Some historians believe crocheting developed independently in various cultures. Various researchers trace its roots back to ancient China, Egypt, & South America, where similar techniques of interlocking loops with a hook were used.

Crochet has been called many names throughout history including, but not limited to, netting, knotting, needle-coiling, looped needle-netting, Tunisian crochet, Irish crochet, shepherd's knitting, lace making & tatting.  The term in use today, "crochet," comes from the word croc/croche, the Muddle French word for hook. It could be connected to the Norse word krokr, which also means hook. The French, Dutch, & Swedish people call it crochet, while in Italian it’s uncinetto.

Woman Crocheting 1847    Julius Exner (Danish 1825 - 1910 )

What is considered to be crochet today can be traced back to the 15C - 17C. Many cultures from that period have claimed their crochet history including: France, South Africa, England, Italy, Arabia, & China. 

Some believe that crochet started in the Middle East & then was found very soon after in Spain, much like knitting. The Middle East is known for vast trade routes that crossed the continents & some speculate that the art form would be traded along the routes as well. Much like knitting, it is difficult for archeologists to find evidence of crochet as many pieces were made from natural fibers degrade over time. 

Woman Crocheting  William Adolphe Bouguereau (French 1825 - 1905)

Earlier work identified as crochet was commonly made by nålebinding, an early looped yarn technique. Both knitting & crochet were born from this technique called Nålebinding, which literally means “binding with a needle” in Danish. 

Nalbinding is much older than crochet or knitting.  The oldest known piece dates back to  6500 BC. It was found in the 1983 excavation of  Nahal Hemar Cave, an archeological cave site in Israel, on a cliff in the Judean Desert near the Dead Sea & northwest of Mount Sodom. The fabric objects found in the cave included rope baskets, fabrics, & nets. The fabric items were found covered in what was thought to be asphalt from nearby construction projects. Closer scientific analyses revealed it was, in fact, an ancient glue that dated to around 8310–8110 years ago.

Girl Crocheting   Alexei Alexeivich Harlamoff (Russian 1840 - 1925)

Many of the fabric pieces found there were dated from the 7C BC. The flax fiber items were processed & spun into yarn. The archaeologists divided the fabric finds into 4 groups: yarns, nalbinding (looping), knotted netting, & twinning. The fabrics contained nalbinding assembalages, which is an early form of looping or single thread looping crochet akin to modern crochet. Nahal Hemar Cave has been currently noted as the earliest presently known site of crochet.

Nahal Hemar is conjectured to have been to be a place for religious ceremonies or magic from an ancestor cult because of the decorated skulls & carved limestone masks. Celebrants may have worn the masks to honor the dead. Other artifacts at the site such as the partial garments & animal & anthropoid figurines have bolstered the notion of activities in this cave principally serving magical beliefs. Complicating this theory is the possibility that the statue fragments may have been brought from distant locations as a donation that was part of these recognized religious rituals.

Woman Crocheting   Pierre Auguste Renoir (French, 1841-1919)

Another example of of Nålebinding is believed to date back to 6000 BC. Today the women of the Nanti Tribe (an indigenous people of the Camisea region of Peru) still practice it. The Nanti people live along Camisea & Timpía Rivers as well as along the headwaters of the Ticumpinía River in the southern jungle of Peru. Their land is part of the Kugapakori, Nahua, & Nanti Reserve.

Early evidence of Nalbinding was also found in Tybrind Vig, a Mesolithic fishing village in Denmark dating back to 4200 BC. Currently most Neolithic specimens are found in Denmark, although there are some fragments from the Lake Dwellings in Switzerland. However fabric remains from this period are extremely few so nalbinding’s true extent is unknown.

Young Woman Crocheting   Pierre Auguste Renoir (Frebch, 1841-1919)

Since the Stone Age a number of Nalbinding examples have surfaced. A large quantity in cross-knit & simple looping variants appear in the Paracas & Nazca textiles from Peru & surrounding Andean regions. In Egypt over a hundred examples ranging in date from potentially as early at 200 CE through to the 12C. There are also contemporaneous examples from surrounding regions such as Dura Europos in present day Syria, Masada in present day Isreal, & Semna in present day Sudan.

Woman Crocheting   Edith Martineau (British  1842 - 1909)

In other cultures, crocheting had been used for creating clothing & other decorative purposes. In east Asia, crocheting was used to create dolls dating as far back as China's Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 B.C.E.). 

Surviving crocheted pieces include Egyptian socks, with a divided toe, from the 200 or 300 AD. now at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.

The 550 B.C. slip-stitch is an obvious descendant of nalbinding. There is evidence that slip-stitching was done by a hook in Scotland, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Estonia, Romania, & the Balkans.  Crochet was known as “shepherd’s knitting” in the British Isles & in Denmark. 

Tapestry crochet is a technique for designing imagery with stitches. This colorwork called for the development of a taller stitch. Instead of a stitch consisting of a single loop, a taller, square-shaped stitch—the single crochet stitch—was created. Some historians theorize that tapestry crochet possibly developed in Arabia, & it spread eastward to Tibet & westward to Spain, following the Arab trade routes immigrating into other Mediterranean countries. These routes were used between 300 A.D. to 1453 CE.

In these areas, Rashti Duz, which literally means, Rashti-style crochet, was a hugely popular fabric of the time. In Iran, Rashti Duzi is a form of traditional sewing & crocheting of Rasht. Some historians believe Rashti Duzi an ancestor of crochet began between 550 - 33 BC, using a crafted hook & brightly colored silk yarn on a woven fabric. Textile exports from Iran in the 400 AD were popular all over Europe – so much so that European kings & elders would use them to cover the graves of iconic historical figures. The Hermitage Museum in Russia houses an exquisite piece of Sassanid fabric decorated with crocheting work.

Young Woman Crocheting   Pierre-Auguste Renoir  (French 1841–1919)

Crochet started to take shape in Europe during the 16C (but it still wasn’t what we would recognize as crochet yet). It was originally known as “nun’s work” or “nun’s lace” due to its association with religious orders. Italy was the epicenter of handmade lacework for church textiles & exported to royalty & nobility in Europe. And Venetian lace was considered the finest quality, this was extremely delicate work done with a needle, not a hook, & the finest thread.


Arles Women Crocheting Published on Magasin Pittoresque, Paris, 1843

Crochet lace made its way to France with the help of King Louis 14th. His finance minister grew livid about the money that was being sent to Italy for lace, so he banned it's importation to France. He brought Venetian lace makers to teach locals in Normandy the art of lace making. The French eventually made it their own by changing some of the techniques & became the superior lace makers in Europe. Called “The Lace of Queens,” French lace making passed down the generations through the Benedictine Monastery Notre Dame D’Argentan Abbey.

Woman Crocheting 1903   Emilie Mundt (Danish 1842 - 1922)

In 1567, the tailor of Mary, Queen of Scots, Jehan de Compiegne, (d 1581) was a French tailor who served Mary in Scotland & England. He supplied her with silk thread for sewing & crochet, "soye à coudre et crochetz."  Mary, also known as Mary Stuart or Mary I of Scotland, was Queen of Scotland from 14 December 1542 until her forced abdication in 1567. The only surviving legitimate child of James V of Scotland, Mary was 6 days old when her father died & she inherited the throne.

Woman Crocheting   Eugène de Blaas (Italian 1843 - 1932)

The 1st known published instructions for crochet explicitly using that term to describe the craft in its present sense appeared in the Dutch magazine Penélopé in 1823. The 1833 volume of Penélopé describes & illustrates a shepherd's hook, & recommends its use for crochet with coarser yarn.

The earliest dated reference in English to garments made of cloth produced by looping yarn with a hook—shepherd's knitting—is in The Memoirs of a Highland Lady by Elizabeth Grant (1797–1830). The journal entry, itself, is dated 1812 was not recorded in published form until some time between 1845 & 1867.

Crocheting in the Garden at Marly   Mary Stevenson Cassatt (American 1844 - 1926)

In 1844, one of the numerous books discussing crochet that began to appear in the 1840s United States: "Crochet needles, sometimes called Shepherds' hooks, are made of steel, ivory, or box-wood. They have a hook at one end similar in shape to a fish-hook, by which the wool or silk is caught & drawn through the work. These instruments are to be procured of various sizes...:

Two years later, the same author writes: "Crochet, — a species of knitting originally practised by the peasants in Scotland, with a small hooked needle called a shepherd's hook, — has, within the last 7 years, aided by taste & fashion, obtained the preference over all other ornamental works of a similar nature. It derives its present name from the French; the instrument with which it is worked being by them, from its crooked shape, termed 'crochet.' This art has attained its highest degree of perfection in England, whence it has been transplanted to France & Germany, & both countries have claimed the invention."

Lydia Crocheting   Mary Stevenson Cassatt (American 1844 - 1926)

In the 19C as Ireland was facing the Great Irish Famine (1845–1849), crochet lace work was a form of famine relief as the production of crocheted lace became a method of making money for impoverished Irish workers & their families. It was triggered by a blight on the potato crop, which around 40 percent of the Irish people depended on, & resulted in around 1 million deaths. Locals would form a co-operative in order to crochet & produce products. Schools to teach crocheting were started. Teachers were trained & sent across Ireland to teach this craft. 

During the Irish Famine, a woman called Mademoiselle Riego de la Blanchardiere started to teach the farmers wives a new trade & that trade was Irish crochet. The craft was perfect for famine times as it was made from easily accessible materials, could be made in any conditions (droughts, floods, harsh winters) & the final product was coveted by higher society. Crochet had the look of lace which was very fashionable at the time but crochet was much quicker to produce which helped Irish crochet become very popular, very quickly.

Lydia Crocheting 1880   Mary Stevenson Cassatt (American 1844 - 1926)

Mademoiselle Riego figured out how to crochet lace that resembled Venetian needlepoint but instead of taking 200 hours to make (as needlepoint would), the labor would be reduced to 20 hours with crochet. This suited mass production because Irish crochet is not worked in rows, instead it consists of motifs that are made individually & then joined with fans or mesh. This meant that Irish crochet creators would specialise in a particular area according to their abilities. In fact, rare & unique Irish lace designs ‘belonged’ to certain families or local groups & the construction of particular motifs was a closely guarded secret as the family & locals relied upon it for their income.

When the Irish immigrated to the Americas, they were able to take with them crocheting. Mademoiselle Riego de la Branchardiere is generally credited with the invention of Irish Crochet, publishing the1st book of patterns in 1846. Irish lace became popular in Europe & America.

Woman Crocheting 1883   Francis Davis Millet (American 1846 - 1912)

England's Queen Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria 1819–1901) popularized crochet by purchasing Irish crochet instead of expensive lace, helping women make a decent living during the potato famine, when their family farms weren’t producing an income. Victoria was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain & Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years & 216 days, which was longer than any of her predecessors, is known as the Victorian era.

1900 Queen-Victoria Crocheting

In 1900, Queen Victoria presented British military commander Lord Roberts with 8 woolen scarves, all hand crocheted by Her Majesty, with ‘VR’ embroidered in one corner. These were to be presented to “the most distinguished private soldiers serving in the South African Campaign.” 

Woman Crocheting 1882    Bertha Wegmann (Danish 1847 - 1926)

Basic materials required for crochet are a hook & some type of yarn or thread. The spun fibers of the 19C were generally divided into animal & plant fibers. Animal fibers include silk, long hairs of animals such as sheep (wool), goat (angora, or cashmere goat), rabbit (angora), llama, alpaca, dog, cat, camel, yak, & muskox (qiviut). Plants used for fibers included cotton, flax (for linen), bamboo, ramie, hemp, jute, nettle, raffia, yucca, coconut husk, banana trees, soy & corn.

Woman Crocheting  Norbert Goeneutte (French 1854 – 1894)

In the 19C were 6 main types of basic stitches (US crochet terminology often differs from the terminology used in Europe).

Chain stitch – the most basic of all stitches & used to begin most projects.

Slip stitch – used to join chain stitch to form a ring.

Single crochet stitch (called double crochet stitch in Europe) – easiest stitch to master

Half-double crochet stitch (called half treble stitch in in Europe) – the 'in-between' stitch, sometimes called short double crochet in vintage publications

Double crochet stitch (called treble stitch in in Europe) (yarn over once) – many uses for this unlimited use stitch

Treble (or triple) crochet stitch (called double treble stitch in in Europe) (yarn over twice)

Barefoot Young Woman Crocheting  1905   Francois Alfred DeLobbe (French 1835 - 1920))

Woman Crocheting 1918    Anna Ancher (Danish 1859 - 1935)

Girl Crocheting with her Cat 1905   Peder Mønsted (Danish 1859 - 1941)

Woman Crocheting   Bruno Liljefors (Swedish 1860 - 1939)

Woman Crocheting    Paul Fischer (Danish 1860 - 1934)

Woman Crocheting    Peter Vilhelm Ilsted 1861  (Danish 1861 - 1933)

Women Crocheting 1900    Elin Kleopatra Danielson-Gambogi (Finnish 1861 - 1919)

Woman Crocheting 1904   Edmund Charles Tarbell (American painter) 1862 – 1938)

Woman Crocheting 1922    Louis Valtat (French painter) 1869 - 1952)

Woman Crocheting 1916    Harold Charles Francis Harvey (British 1874 - 1941)

Young Woman Crocheting   Elisabeth Sonrel (French painter) 1874 - 1953

Woman Crocheting 1908   Lucie Cousturier  (1876–1925)

Woman Crocheting    Ada A. Wolfe (American, 1878 - 1948)

See:

For Art see Christa Zaat, Art Researcher & Virtual Curator. https://www.facebook.com/christa.zaat

"Art That Saved the Irish From Starvation" by Zelda Bronstein. Berkeley Daily Planet, April 19, 2005.

"Crochet History - Crochet Guild of America (CGOA)." www.crochet.org.

Barber, E. J. W.; Prehistoric Textiles: The Development of Cloth in the Neolithic & Bronze Ages with special reference to the Aegean; Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey, 1991; 

Bar-Yosef O, Alon D (1988). "Nahal Hemar Cave. the excavations". 'Atiqot. 18.

Ben Zion, Ilan (5 March 2014). "Israel reveals eerie collection of Neolithic 'spirit' masks". The Times of Israel. 

Goren Y, Segal I, Bar-Yosef O (1993). "Plaster Artifacts & the Interpretation of the Nahal Hemar Cave". Journal of the Israeli Prehistoric Society. 25.

Paludan, Lis.  Crochet: History & Technique, Interweave Press, Loveland CO.

Pollock, Susan; Schier, Wolfram (2020). The Competition of Fibres: Early Textile Production in Western Asia, South-east & Central Europe (10,000-500BCE) (ebook). Oxbow Books. 

"Science: Cave Cache - Treasures in a hyena's lair". Time. 8 April 1985. 

Walker, Amélie A. (21 May 1998). "Oldest Glue Discovered". Archaeology. Archaeological Institute of America.

Friday, March 15, 2024

"Lent's Temptations" - Christ & a very charming Satan 13C

1228 From a Psalter-Hours French (Paris). c. 1228-1234 New York,  Pierpont Morgan  MS m153.019r  Detail

“The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert,
& he remained in the desert for forty days,
tempted by Satan.
He was among wild beasts,
& the angels ministered to him.”
Mark 1:12-13

All 3 Gospels relate that Jesus spent a period of 40 days & nights in the desert immediately following His Baptism in the Jordan by John the Baptist & the dramatic recognition given by Heaven to this event. The number 40 obviously has resonance with such Old Testament events as the 40 days & nights of the Great Flood (Genesis 7:9), the 40 days & nights that Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments from God (Exodus 24:18) & the 40 years in which the Hebrews wandered in the wilderness (Numbers 14:32-34).  Mark’s reference to the Temptation of Jesus is the shortest of the three. Matthew (Matthew 4:1-11) & Luke (Luke 4:1-13) both describe in detail the temptations tried by Satan, temptations to power & pride, which Jesus resisted. All three agree that at the end of these 40 days & nights, Jesus was tired & hungry.


The Temptation of Christ

Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: " 'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'" Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"  Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'" Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

Thursday, March 14, 2024

Lent - Temptations in the Wilderness - Christ & Satan 15C

1430 Bedford Master and his Workshop Bk Hrs French (Paris), 1430-1435 Morgan m359.050va

“The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert,
& he remained in the desert for forty days,
tempted by Satan.
He was among wild beasts,
& the angels ministered to him.”
Mark 1:12-13

All 3 Gospels relate that Jesus spent a period of 40 days & nights in the desert immediately following His Baptism in the Jordan by John the Baptist & the dramatic recognition given by Heaven to this event. The number 40 obviously has resonance with such Old Testament events as the 40 days & nights of the Great Flood (Genesis 7:9), the 40 days & nights that Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments from God (Exodus 24:18) & the 40 years in which the Hebrews wandered in the wilderness (Numbers 14:32-34).  Mark’s reference to the Temptation of Jesus is the shortest of the three. Matthew (Matthew 4:1-11) & Luke (Luke 4:1-13) both describe in detail the temptations tried by Satan, temptations to power & pride, which Jesus resisted. All three agree that at the end of these 40 days & nights, Jesus was tired & hungry.

The Temptation of Christ

Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: " 'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'" Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"  Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'" Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

"Lent's Temptations" - Christ, Satan, & a hovering Angel 12C

1170 Miniatures of the Life of Christ French (Corbie), 1170-1180 Morgan m44.005v

All 3 Gospels in the Bible relate that Jesus spent a period of 40 days & nights in the desert immediately following His Baptism in the Jordan by John the Baptist & the dramatic recognition given by Heaven to this event. The number 40 obviously has resonance with such Old Testament events as the 40 days & nights of the Great Flood (Genesis 7:9), the 40 days & nights that Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments from God (Exodus 24:18) & the 40 years in which the Hebrews wandered in the wilderness (Numbers 14:32-34).  Mark’s reference to the Temptation of Jesus is the shortest of the three. Matthew (Matthew 4:1-11) & Luke (Luke 4:1-13) both describe in detail the temptations tried by Satan, temptations to power & pride, which Jesus resisted. All three agree that at the end of these 40 days & nights, Jesus was tired & hungry.

The Temptation of Christ

Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: " 'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'" Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"  Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'" Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

"Lent's Temptations" - Clever Devil turns Stones into Bread 15C

Satan Tempting Christ To Change Stones Into Bread, (Matthew 4-3-4) breviary, Rouen before 1498 Besançon, bibliothèque municipale, ms. 69, p. 269.  Fairly strange looking Satan.

The Temptation of Christ

Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: " 'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'" Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"  Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'" Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

All three Gospels relate that Jesus spent a period of 40 days & nights in the desert immediately following His Baptism in the Jordan by John the Baptist & the dramatic recognition given by Heaven to this event. The number 40 obviously has resonance with such Old Testament events as the 40 days & nights of the Great Flood (Genesis 7:9), the 40 days & nights that Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments from God (Exodus 24:18) & the 40 years in which the Hebrews wandered in the wilderness (Numbers 14:32-34).  Mark’s reference to the Temptation of Jesus is the shortest of the three. Matthew (Matthew 4:1-11) & Luke (Luke 4:1-13) both describe in detail the temptations tried by Satan, temptations to power & pride, which Jesus resisted. All three agree that at the end of these 40 days & nights, Jesus was tired & hungry.

During His 40 days of fasting & praying in the Wilderness, Satan tempted Jesus: to make bread out of stones to relieve his own hunger; to jump from a pinnacle & rely on angels to break his fall (both Luke & Matthew have Satan quote Psalm 91:11–12 to indicate that God had promised this assistance); & to worship Satan in return for all the kingdoms of the world.

The temptation of making bread out of stones occurs in the desert setting where Jesus had been fasting. This temptation may have been Jesus' last, aiming towards his hunger.  In response to Satan's suggestion, Jesus replies, "It is written: 'One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." (a reference to Deuteronomy 8:3)

Monday, March 11, 2024

"Lent's Temptations" - Coptic Icon of Christ & Satan & 2 Worried Angels

Coptic Icon of The Temptation of Christ. Christianity is said to have been brought to Egypt by St. Mark early in the 1st century & spread quickly throughout the region. Coptic Christians ranked on par with those in Rome & Antioch at the Council of Nicaea (325 CE). 


 The Temptation of Christ

Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: " 'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'" Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"  Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'" Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

The Temptation of Christ
 Mark 1:12–13
Bible (Revised Standard Version)

Mark 1:12–13

12 The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13And he was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to him.

Saturday, March 9, 2024

"Lent's Temptations" - Christ & a Persistent Satan 15C

1430 Claes Brouwer History Bible Dutch (Utrecht), c.1430 Hague KB 78d38II Illustrates 3 Temptations.

The Temptation of Christ

Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: " 'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'" Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"  Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'" Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

"Lent's Temptations" - Angels Comfort Tired & Hungry Jesus 13C

Christ Ministered to by Angels  From a Pictorial Bible, French (St. Omer), c. 1190-1200  The Hague, Koninlijk Bibliotheek  MS KB 76 F 5, fol. 12v (detail)

“The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert,
& he remained in the desert for forty days,
tempted by Satan.
He was among wild beasts,
& the angels ministered to him.”
Mark 1:12-13

All three Synoptic Gospels relate that Jesus spent a period of 40 days & nights in the desert immediately following His Baptism in the Jordan by John the Baptist & the dramatic recognition given by Heaven to this event. The number 40 obviously has resonance with such Old Testament events as the 40 days & nights of the Great Flood (Genesis 7:9), the 40 days & nights that Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments from God (Exodus 24:18) & the 40 years in which the Hebrews wandered in the wilderness (Numbers 14:32-34).  Mark’s reference to the Temptation of Jesus is the shortest of the three. Matthew (Matthew 4:1-11) & Luke (Luke 4:1-13) both describe in detail the temptations tried by Satan, temptations to power & pride, which Jesus resisted. All three agree that at the end of these 40 days & nights, Jesus was tired & hungry.

Here the angels look like they are tidying Jesus following His confrontation with Satan.  Both Mark & Matthew conclude their descriptions with a reference to ministering angels who attend Him at the end of the time. Unlike the temptations themselves, which are frequently depicted in art over the ages, the ministering angels are not seen that often. They appear in a few medieval manuscripts like this one, but usually in the background of a scene of the temptations.

Thursday, March 7, 2024

"Lent's Temptations" - A Hungry Christ & a Satan with Bread & Horns 16C

 
Temptation of Christ by Juan de Flandes (Hispano-Flemish, active 1496 - 1519) 

The Temptation of Christ

Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: " 'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'" Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"  Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'" Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

Wednesday, March 6, 2024

"Lent's Temptations" - Precarious Christ, a Dark Satan, + Encouraging Angels 13C

Temptation of Christ  Duccio di Buoninsegna (Italian artist, 1255-1319)

 The Temptation of Christ

Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: " 'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'" Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"  Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'" Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

Tuesday, March 5, 2024

Lent - Temptations in the Wilderness - Christ says "Away from me, Satan!"


 The Temptation of Christ

Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: " 'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'" Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"  Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'" Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

Monday, March 4, 2024

Lent - Temptations in the Wilderness - Christ & Satan


 The Temptation of Christ

Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: " 'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'" Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"  Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'" Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

The Temptation of Christ
Matthew 4:1–11; Mark 1:12–13; Luke 4:1–13
Bible (Revised Standard Version)

Matthew 4

4 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2And he fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterward he was hungry. 3And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4But he answered, “It is written,
‘Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”
5Then the devil took him to the holy city, and set him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written,
‘He will give his angels charge of you,’
and
‘On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ ”
7Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ” 8Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them; 9and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10Then Jesus said to him, “Begone, Satan! for it is written,
‘You shall worship the Lord your God
and him only shall you serve.’ ”
11Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and ministered to him.

Mark 1:12–13

12 The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13And he was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to him.

Luke 4:1–13

4And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit 2for forty days in the wilderness, tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing in those days; and when they were ended, he was hungry. 3The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” 4And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’ ” 5And the devil took him up, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, 6and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory; for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. 7If you, then, will worship me, it shall all be yours.” 8And Jesus answered him, “It is written,
‘You shall worship the Lord your God,
and him only shall you serve.’ ”
And he took him to Jerusalem, and set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here; 10for it is written,
‘He will give his angels charge of you, to guard you,’
11and
‘On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ ”
12And Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ” 13And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.

Saturday, March 2, 2024

"Lent's Temptations" - A Determined Christ & Unrelenting Satan 19C

 
Temptation of Christ by Georg Karl Franz Cornicelius (German artist) 1825–1898 


 The Temptation of Christ

Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: " 'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'" Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"  Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'" Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

Friday, March 1, 2024

"Lent's Temptations" - Devil offers Christ complete Rule over the Earth 15C

The devil carries Jesus up to a mountain to tempt Him with an earthly kingdom (Luke 4-5–8 Matthew 4-8–10) Missal, France c.1470-75 Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, MS 425, fol. 48r.  Satan is quite stylish with those feet, tail, & buttons.

 The Temptation of Christ

Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: " 'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'" Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"  Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'" Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

During His 40 days of fasting & praying in the Wilderness, Satan tempted Jesus: to make bread out of stones to relieve his own hunger; to jump from a pinnacle & rely on angels to break his fall (both Luke & Matthew have Satan quote Psalm 91:11–12 to indicate that God had promised this assistance); & to worship Satan in return for all the kingdoms of the world.

Thursday, February 29, 2024

"Lent's Temptations" - An exhausted Christ & a domineering Devil



"Lent's Temptations" - Christ & Satan 13C

Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: " 'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'" Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"  Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'" Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

Wednesday, February 28, 2024

"Lent's Temptations" - Christ & Satan


Modern Version of The Temptation of Christ

Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: " 'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'" Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"  Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'" Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

The Temptation of Christ
Matthew 4:1–11; Mark 1:12–13; Luke 4:1–13
Bible (Revised Standard Version)

Matthew 4

4 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2And he fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterward he was hungry. 3And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4But he answered, “It is written,
‘Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”
5Then the devil took him to the holy city, and set him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written,
‘He will give his angels charge of you,’
and
‘On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ ”
7Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ” 8Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them; 9and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10Then Jesus said to him, “Begone, Satan! for it is written,
‘You shall worship the Lord your God
and him only shall you serve.’ ”
11Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and ministered to him.

Mark 1:12–13

12 The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13And he was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to him.

Luke 4:1–13

4And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit 2for forty days in the wilderness, tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing in those days; and when they were ended, he was hungry. 3The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” 4And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’ ” 5And the devil took him up, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, 6and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory; for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. 7If you, then, will worship me, it shall all be yours.” 8And Jesus answered him, “It is written,
‘You shall worship the Lord your God,
and him only shall you serve.’ ”
And he took him to Jerusalem, and set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here; 10for it is written,
‘He will give his angels charge of you, to guard you,’
11and
‘On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ ”
12And Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ” 13And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.