Gospels and Acts
Baptism of Jesus (Mark Frontispiece)
John the Baptist is shown at the lower right, walking away after baptizing Christ, but his gaze directs you back to Christ standing in the Jordan River. Bright yellow and green plants in the foreground recall the verse from Isaiah, “…the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly.” Spider-like creatures foreshadow what lies ahead in the wilderness.
Loaves and Fishes
The circular loaves, marked with a cross, prefigure the bread of the Eucharist. The circular geometric designs surrounding the image are based on ancient Native American Anasazi basket weaving, acknowledging the American origin of this Bible and the coexistence of other beliefs.
Baptism of Jesus (Mark Frontispiece), Donald Jackson; Two Cures and Mark 5:14-43, Aidan Hart with contributions from Sally Mae Joseph and Donald Jackson, Scribe: Sally Mae Joseph; Loaves and Fishes (detail), Mark 6:1to 34, Donald Jackson; Matthew 27:57-28:20 and Carpet Treatment, Scribe: Brian Simpson, Artist: Donald Jackson, ©2002 The Saint John’s Bible, Saint John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota, USA. Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, Catholic Edition, © 1993, 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Offset Lithograph, high-quality 10-micron stochastic hybrid printing with fade-resistant ultraviolet inks, silver and gold foils, on acid-free uncoated 100% archival cotton Monadnock paper.