Midshipmen at the US Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) in New York erupted in loud applause recently when they heard a painting of Jesus will once again go on display in their administration building.
The massive 6×3 metre artwork known as Christ on the Water depicts an image of Jesus and merchant seamen adrift in a lifeboat.
It had been a symbol of faith, hope, trust and inspiration for nearly 80 years at the Academy which trains officers for military, national security and shipping careers.
But last year, the Biden Administration ordered its removal and dumped it in a flood-prone basement.
WHY THE PAINTING WAS TAKEN DOWN
The Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) labelled the artwork a display of “sectarian Jesus supremacy” in a room which was used for various administrative meetings, disciplinary hearings and other official events.
“The outrageousness of that painting’s display is further exacerbated by the fact that this room is also used regularly for USMMA Honor Code violation boards where midshipmen are literally fighting for their careers,” MRFF founder Mikey Weinstein complained.
“It’s as though USMMA is screaming that “Jesus Christ is the only approved solution to all of life’s difficulties,” he added.
The painting’s removal prompted petitions with thousands of signatures demanding its restoration.
ACADEMY ELATED BY REINSTATEMENT OF JESUS PAINTING
This month, Secretary of Transportation and devout Catholic Sean Duffy responded to those demands.
He was stunned by the trainee officers’ enthusiastic reaction to his announcement that the painting would be restored to its “rightful place.”
“I think everyone was on their feet for the Jesus painting and clapping,” said one of the trainees.
The 1944 painting was created by Hunter Wood, a merchant mariner whose art drew on his own experiences of being lost at sea,.
It commemorated 9,000 merchant mariners who lost their lives in 1942 during World War II.
WHY THE PAINTING MEANS SO MUCH TO ACADEMY STUDENTS
One midshipman told The Christian Post that the painting of Christ ministering to desperate merchant mariners at sea “is a big deal to me personally.”
He said he saw it as a symbol of God’s faithfulness to him as he feared sinking academically.
He said he prayed under the image when he was afraid he was going to fail.
Another midshipman noted that the painting’s prominent location was encouraging to midshipmen during their hardest times at the rigorous academy.
“That room where the painting was held is where the Honor Board meetings were,” he explained, referring to a student-led hearing body that investigates potential violations of the Honor Code.
“People would look up to that painting and say: ‘Everything’s going to be all right. Jesus is looking after me, just like He’s looking after these sailors who are washed up on a boat somewhere in the middle of the ocean.'”
