Sermon Central
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Light Of The Wporld Holman Hunt
Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Dec 23, 2025 (message contributor)
A verse that means a lot to me is Rev 3:20 where Jesus says
20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
The famous painting known as the Light of the World, was begun in 1849 and completed in 1854.
It was painted by the famous Pre Raphaelite painter Holman Hunt (1827-1910) and it is based on Revelation 3:20
There are three versions of it and Maddy and I have seen the original in the side chapel of Keble College Oxford.
The other two are in the Manchester Art Gallery and St Paul’s . London
When the painting was first being exhibited, someone noticed that there was no handle on the door that Jesus was standing in front of.
So they asked Holman Hunt why that was
Holman Hunt replied: I painted the picture with what I thought, unworthy though I was ,to be a divine command, and not simply a good subject.
The door on the painting has no handle and therefore can only be opened from the inside. representing ”the obstinately shut mind”
Because the handle is on this inside
We have the free will to open the door to invite Christ into our lives
It is not just a one off invitation. We need to do this regularly
Are you willing to do so this Christmas?
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