John the Baptist preaching in the Wilderness
If we take a close look at the Baptist preaching in the wilderness painting we can see how the sloping cross forms an X in the topmost part.
Note also how John the Baptist wears a lambskin about his loins. Does he gird his loins with the skin of a lamb and await the coming of The Son of the Widow? All these things are connected and that is why they are portrayed in varied form with single meaning so that when the time comes for men to see then they might see - if they so choose. The hour is late.
John prepared The Way for Jesus and this is represented by his being depicted facing forward and ahead of him with Jesus coming behind. Once again the theme of the pointing finger, indicating the pointing of The Way, is obvious.
Think about the First and the Last when you see the lambskin and the X form so that you may see the root of the message that Leonardo is pointing to. Note the illuminated tree/bush in the background, close to the figure of Jesus, representing the concept of Light and Knowledge.
You may be interested to know that in times past, John the Baptist was closely associated with the Knights Templer (also Templar) as he was both a cousin and a half-brother of Joshua Ben Miriam, also known as Jesus The Christ.
Leonardo depicted a common theme running through things that are in full view of the everyday viewer but would only ever be fully visible to those who had the eyes to see. Can you see?
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