2.7 Statues of Jesus

1. Key Statues of Jesus:

• Christ the Redeemer (Rio de Janeiro): Jesus with outstretched arms symbolising his obedience to God and love for all people.

• The Crucifix: A statue or image of Jesus on the cross, symbolizing his sacrifice to free humanity from sin and death.

• Sacred Heart Statue: A statue representing Jesus' total love and sacrifice, emphasising his willingness to suffer for humanity's salvation.

2. The Sacred Heart Statue:

The Sacred Heart statue shows Jesus’ self-giving love for humanity. Key features include:

• Expression of peace and love on his face.

• Flames from the heart: Symbolise the burning love Jesus has for all people.

• Pierced heart: Represents when a soldier pierced Jesus’ side with a spear after his crucifixion.

• Crown of thorns around the heart: Reflects the crown placed on Jesus’ head during his crucifixion.

• Pointing hand: Draws attention to his heart, symbolizing the depth of his love.

• Nail holes in his hands: From where Jesus was nailed to the cross.

For Catholics, the Sacred Heart statue reminds them of Jesus' sacrifice, representing the love he had in dying to save humanity.

3. Christ the Redeemer:

• The Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro shows Jesus with outstretched arms. This posture reflects his obedience to God and his love for all people, symbolising openness and protection over humanity.

4. The Crucifix:

• A crucifix shows Jesus nailed to the cross. It is a powerful reminder of Jesus’ crucifixion, symbolising God’s act of love in freeing people from sin and death.

5. Christian Attitudes to Art Depicting Jesus:

• Supportive views (Catholics and others):

  • Art can help people focus on aspects of Jesus’ life and teachings, enriching their faith.

• Opposing views:

  • The Second Commandment warns against worshipping images, and some believe art depicting Jesus could lead to idol worship. “Thou shall not have any other God’s before me”

  • Jesus was both fully human and fully God, so trying to depict him in art may be seen as misleading.

  • No one knows what Jesus truly looked like, which can make artistic depictions inaccurate or inappropriate.