A question of faith, 1970
Record number
cm000015
Title
A question of faith
Date
1970
Medium
synthetic polymer paint
Support
unstretched canvas
Dimensions
2080 x 2615 mm
Inscriptions
A QUESTION OF FAITH. (brushpoint, t.l.); McCahon Feb '70 (brushpoint, b.l.)
Collection
Extended inscriptions
Martha said to Jesus 'IF YOU HAD BEEN HERE, SIR,
MY BROTHER WOULD NOT HAVE DIED. Even now
I KNOW that whatever you ask of / GOD, GOD WILL / GRANT YOU'.
Jesus said 'your brother will / rise again',
I know that he will rise again', said Martha, 'at the
Resurrection on the last day.
l AM / the Resurrection
and / I AM LIFE
IF A MAN HAS
FAITH IN ME,
EVEN THOUGH
HE DIE, HE SHALL
COME TO LIFE
AND NO ONE WHO IS
ALIVE AND HAS
FAITH SHALL EVER
DIE. DO YOU BELIEVE THIS?
"LORD I DO"
"I now believe that you
are the son of God, who was to come into the world"
With these words she went to call her sister Mary. "The Master
is here, he is asking for you." So Mary went to the place where Jesus / was.
Mary said "O Sir, if you had only been here my brother would not
have died." "Where have you laid him?" "Come and see, Sir."
COULD NOT THIS MAN WHO HAD OPENED THE BLIND MAN'S EYES, HAVE DONE SOMETHING TO KEEP LAZARUS FROM / DYING?
Jesus went over to the tomb. Jesus said, "Take away the stone."
Martha said, Sir by now there will be a stench; he has been there four days."
Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you have faith you will see the glory / of / GOD."
So they took away the stone. Then Jesus said, 'Father I thank / Thee: / Thou / hast heard me.
Then he raised his voice in a great cry "LAZARUS / COME / FORTH
The dead man came out. Jesus said
Loose him, let him go.
MY BROTHER WOULD NOT HAVE DIED. Even now
I KNOW that whatever you ask of / GOD, GOD WILL / GRANT YOU'.
Jesus said 'your brother will / rise again',
I know that he will rise again', said Martha, 'at the
Resurrection on the last day.
l AM / the Resurrection
and / I AM LIFE
IF A MAN HAS
FAITH IN ME,
EVEN THOUGH
HE DIE, HE SHALL
COME TO LIFE
AND NO ONE WHO IS
ALIVE AND HAS
FAITH SHALL EVER
DIE. DO YOU BELIEVE THIS?
"LORD I DO"
"I now believe that you
are the son of God, who was to come into the world"
With these words she went to call her sister Mary. "The Master
is here, he is asking for you." So Mary went to the place where Jesus / was.
Mary said "O Sir, if you had only been here my brother would not
have died." "Where have you laid him?" "Come and see, Sir."
COULD NOT THIS MAN WHO HAD OPENED THE BLIND MAN'S EYES, HAVE DONE SOMETHING TO KEEP LAZARUS FROM / DYING?
Jesus went over to the tomb. Jesus said, "Take away the stone."
Martha said, Sir by now there will be a stench; he has been there four days."
Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you have faith you will see the glory / of / GOD."
So they took away the stone. Then Jesus said, 'Father I thank / Thee: / Thou / hast heard me.
Then he raised his voice in a great cry "LAZARUS / COME / FORTH
The dead man came out. Jesus said
Loose him, let him go.
Exhibition history
1970 Colin McCahon Recent Paintings: Victory Over Death or Practical Religion
Barry Lett Galleries
Auckland
2/3/1970 - 15/3/1970
1972 An Exhibition of Paintings by Colin McCahon
Peter McLeavey Gallery
Wellington
6/3/1972 - 24/3/1972
1988 Colin McCahon: Gates and Journeys
Auckland City Art Gallery
Auckland
11/11/1988 - 26/2/1989
2002 Colin McCahon: A Question of Faith
Stedelijk Museum
Amsterdam
30/8/2002 - 10/11/2002
Notes
The text is John 11:21-44, slightly abridged, from the New English Bible.