THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

The only English painting that has 2 originals is The Light of the World painted by Holman Hunt in 1852. It has hung in Keble College, Oxford since 1892. In 1877 with failing eyesight, he painted a larger version. This travelled around the world and many journeyed hundreds of miles to see it. In 1904 it was hung in St. Paul’s Cathedral where thousands still gaze at it in awe and wonder.

The picture depicts Christ knocking at a door overgrown with dead weeds. It is based on the Bible text, “Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in.” [ Revelation 3:20 ] The door is the door to the human heart, it has no handle so can only be opened by the occupier using the keys of repentance and faith in the Saviour who alone can root out the weeds of sin and bring eternal life to the soul.

Holman shows the crown of 3” long Palestinian thorns pushed into the Saviour’s head. He also shows the feet of Jesus turning away from the door. This indicates that He will not knock for long. He wants to enter today before the heart becomes hardened. [ Hebrews 6:7 ]

The loving eyes of Jesus in the picture seem to follow you. They remind us of cocksure Peter who denied Christ 3 times before the cock crew twice as Jesus had foretold. Jesus then turned and looked on Peter who went out and wept bitterly. [ Matthew 26:25 ]

When the picture was finally hung in St. Paul’s, Holman, who was once an agnostic, and now nearly blind, was led out of the cathedral weeping with deep emotion. The late Rev. Eric Hayden’s book, The Light of the World is available from Tim Tiley Ltd., Bristol, BS6 7AH.