Проповедь труждающимся и обремененным
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The closest predecessor of the Lord Jesus Christ in the work of preaching was Saint John the Baptist, who is therefore called the Forerunner of the Lord. Both sermons are of Divine origin. The difference is that the Forerunner spoke by inspiration from God, and the Savior, like God, is Self-Existing Wisdom. The difference is in the sermon itself: John prepared the people for the preaching of Christ. His word was menacing. His goal was to awaken hardened hearts to contrition and repentance. The Savior sowed words of grace into hearts softened by John’s menacing words. His words were peace and blessing. In the painting, the artist wanted to depict the listeners’ impression of the Savior’s sermon, recorded in the Gospel of Matthew:
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29).
“For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:30).
What could be sweeter for souls burdened with everyday worries and sorrows, like these life-giving words of the Savior of the World?!
Preaching to the weary and burdened. From the icon of Prof. Vladimir Egorovich Makovsky (1846–1920) for the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, erected in 1891–1894 in the village of Borki on the site of the crash of the imperial train in 1888. The church was looted after the revolution and destroyed during the Patriotic War.
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