Making Your Life Count

Born in Dresden to royalty, Nicolaus Ludwig Zinzendorf received the finest education of his time. Raised in a strong Christian home, he decided to follow Christ while only six years old. He thought he was fully committed.

Then one day in May 1719, when he was 19 years old, Zinzendorf visited an art museum in Dusseldorf. There he saw a painting by the Italian artist, Domenico Feti, titled Ecce Homo (“Behold the Man”). This painting portrays Jesus as He might have appeared after being sentenced by Pilate. His head bears a crown of thorns. His hands rest on a block etched with words in Latin saying, “This have I done for you-now what will you do for Me?”

Zinzendorf was stunned. He felt immediate conviction by the message and made a radical commitment to follow Jesus-to make his life count. He went on to launch a massive missionary outreach, and become one of history’s great champions of evangelism.

Today, this painting hangs in the Galleria degli Uffizi in Florence, Italy. It does not dazzle viewers with technique. But its message still is true.

In Feti’s masterful hands, it reminds us of everything Jesus suffered. How He was scourged, even as soldiers “twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and put a purple robe on Him.” How they mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and slapped Him in the face. How Pilate found no guilt in Jesus, and declared to the mob, “Ecce homo.” How the crowd continued to cry out, “Crucify Him!” How He went to the Cross and was resurrected a few days later.

Today, remember all that Jesus did for you. Let the message of Feti’s painting speak to you. How will you respond? What will you do for Jesus?