Concordia Evangelical Lutheran Church
Ash Wednesday - February 18, 2026
Aschermittwoch (Ash Wednesday) by Karl Spitzweg
I began last night’s sermon by saying that when I searched for images relating to Ash Wednesday very few came up in the search. There were a lot of results relating to the holy day, but nothing really caught my eye. The painting above was the only one I noticed, and initially it didn’t really interest me. Then, I researched it a bit and became more intrigued with it.
I asked the question what do you perceive to start the sermon. I did a quick inventory of the painting: the darkened door on the front right, just inside the door some sort of table upholding a pitcher. This section of the painting is the most dark. Towards the back left sits a man in a jester/joker outfit. He wears a conical hat. His clothes are what we expect: baggy with bright colors on a grey background. His exposed socks reach to his knees, and he has some sort of color fastening on his shoes—clown shoes. He sits in the light that comes through the window in the upper right of the painting. Shadows from bars in the window mark the back wall. Overall, the painting is impressionistic, meaning it is a bit blurry—an impression.
Next, I talked about how all these parts interact with each other—their structure. The darkened door is at the front of the painting, suggesting that this is the place to start. We enter into this unmarked room from carnival, Mardi Gras, revelry, debauchery. Shame from these activities leaves the man cross-armed in the back corner, as if he is trying to hide from what he has left behind. That he is still in the party clothes indicates he cannot toss aside what has happened, though. Yet, the in the top right light breaks through the imprisoned moment, shining down on the jester/joker!
The reading from Matthew 6–part of the Sermon on the Mount—tells us that Jesus says not to draw attention to yourself when you give to the needy, pray, or fast. Rather, do these things “in secret”, so that only God knows. In other words, we are not to draw attention to ourselves—like the joker/jester. Yet, we all recognize that it is hard not to seek the praise of the people in our lives!
Thankfully, Jesus did not seek the adulation of those around him. He set his face like flint to go to Jerusalem, setting aside his glory for you! His only attention-seeking is to die for you on the cross. He did not get adulation but scorn—for you! In the most God-focused moment in history, Jesus gives himself totally for you. The Apostle Paul tells us, “[Jesus] emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. (Philippians 2:7, ESV).
The only attention Jesus seeks is to die for you and me! That’s no joke!