Bloch Talk

For this assignment we were asked to look at the painting by Carl Bloch, Christ Healing the Sick at Bethesda. What was struck me that most about this painting was how little people seemed to care about Christ. In particular, the man in the red hat seems disinterested in Christ even though he seems to be waiting to be healed by the pool. In fact, he is on the edge of the pool, seemingly waiting to jump in at the first sign of a ripple (in order to be healed) when it is in fact only by coming unto Christ that he will be healed. I take this as a sort of metaphor for the world. That we rely on other objects and fancies to 'heal' us when all we have to do is rely on Christ.

The question that was asked in assignment was who do I most resemble? I would have to say that I most resemble the child. The child in the painting looks interested in what Christ is doing but also somewhat mystified by it all. I feel that as lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints I am aware of the atonement of Christ but I sometimes fail to take advantage of all the benefits of it.