Tuesday, October 29, 2013

The Morning Star of the Reformation

This has to be one of my favorite pictures of the era just prior to the Reformation. It is a portrait of John Wycliffe (known as "The Morning Star of the Reformation"), who laid the groundwork for folks like Luther and Tyndale. Notice Wycliffe resisting the Roman Catholic authorities and clinging ever so tightly to his English Bible - something for which he eventually would be martyred.

This portrait says a lot about the significance of the time period leading up to and including the Reformation, and it speaks volumes about the incredible treasure of having the Bible translated in your own language. Thanks be to God for raising up men like John Wycliffe!

Here is the plaque that accompanies the painting at St. James Clerkenwell.