Twentieth Century Art: Is it I?

Art: Upper Room by Gail Meyer

Almost all of the art depicting the institution of the Eucharist seems to have two things in common. First of all, the timing. The picture usually depicts the moment after Christ announces: “One of you will betray me” and the disciples ask, “Not me, surely?”

Second, the characters. It is usually easy to identify at least two of those gathered in the Upper Room. Our Lord, is usually shown with a halo and is the one who is obviously presiding over the meal.

Judas, the other easily identified figure, is the one dipping into the same dish as Jesus, or he is wearing the only dark colored garment, or he might be the only one shown without a halo. He is the ultimate betrayer.

The faceless people in Gail Meyer’s Upper Room give us a different approach to the moment of the announcement. We can, as usual, identify our Lord by his halo and garments, but where is Judas? Try as you might, you cannot find him.

Instead of highlighting the verses in the gospels that point to Judas, the ultimate betrayer, Upper Room highlights verses from St. Mark’s gospel that point to the other betrayers. Mark chooses his words carefully.

18 And while they were at table eating, Jesus said, 'In truth I tell you, one of you is about to betray me, one of you eating with me.'
19 They were distressed and said to him, one after another, 'Not me, surely?'

The Greek word that we translate as distressed is lypein. Mark uses the word only twice in his gospel - once to describe the disciples in the upper room and the other time to describe the rich young ruler who chose not to follow Jesus and went away sad. Mark uses lypein to describe those who fail Jesus.

Following the institution of the Eucharist, Mark tells us they sang the Passover Psalms and then left for the Mount of Olives. As they leave, Jesus tells them, “'You will all fall away, for the scripture says: I shall strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered.” (vs. 27) Peter boldly asserts, “If I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” All ten disciples (Judas has already left) confidently agree. (vs. 28-31)

But what happens? Peter, James, and John fall asleep three times during Jesus’ agony in the garden. As soon as Jesus is arrested, “they all deserted him and ran away.” (vs. 50). Shortly thereafter, Peter denies his Lord three times.

It is of this betrayal - the betrayal of all the other the disciples - that Upper Room highlights. Though they confidently assert that their LORD can count on THEM, they all fail. The Eucharist, on the other hand, reminds them that THEY, nevertheless, CAN count on their LORD.