Like Master, Like Servant

Like Master, Like Servant
John 13.12-20

I was given a beautiful present this week. To celebrate a special anniversary, someone close to me spent hours and hours weaving a careful tapestry, a needlepoint work of art. The theme comes from one of the early Celtic gospels, and is a picture of the four gospel-writers, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Each one is accompanied by the particular symbol some early Christians gave them: Matthew by an angel, Mark by a lion, Luke by an ox, and John by an eagle.

I’ve never done a needlepoint tapestry like that, but I’ve watched, and I know how it’s done. You need the pattern, the outline: someone has to design it, and colour it on to the canvas so that the artist can see which coloured threads go where. Then the pattern has to be followed very carefully, stitch by stitch. It’s laborious, and a bit of a strain on the eyes, but as the work develops there is a growing sense of excitement as the picture comes alive, and of anticipation of the complete work. Finally it is framed, ready to be hung on the wall as an object of beauty and interest, a sign (in this case) both of love and of a particular moment...

Taken from John for Everyone Part 2 – by Tom Wright