Synchronic elements of the painting of Christ before the High Priest:

• The High priest’s gestures and expressions with his finger raised executes a serious moment of interrogation.
• Christ’s calm and composed demeanour contrasts with the tension that the High priest is creating.
• All figures are tightly focused around the candle and there is no clear background.
• The open book in front of the High Priest symbolises the Law, suggesting a reference point of the judgement.
• The candle in the middle acts both as a literal and spiritual light source, redefining a physical and divine illumination .

Diachronic elements of the Christ before the High Priest:

• The painting brings a broader timeline of a past, present and future time of Christ to the viewer’s contemporary world by dramatic use of lighting and realism.
• The tension in the scene foreshadows what the High Priest’s judgement will soon accomplish Christ’s death, suggesting the fragility of Christ’s life.
• Priest’s stance represents a judicial system that will be overturned by Christ’s resurrection.
•  The book in front of the High Priest represents the Torah which symbolises old covenant which Christ is to fulfil and transform to a new covenant.

Positive elements of synchronic message of the painting:

• The synchronic unity gives the scene a sense of timeless significance, suggesting that Christ’s example is ever present and relevant.
• The stillness moment gives viewers a chance to contemplate not just the story, but their own stand with Christ.
• The lighting draws the viewer’s eyes to Christ’s face, making the silent witness the emotional and spiritual anchor.
• Moral contrast displayed by Christ’s peaceful demeanour and the High Priest’s accusatory posture reinforces a positive moral message of virtues that stand firm in the face of hostility.

Negative elements of synchronic message of the painting:

• The painting captures a moment of injustice of truth, reflecting on human resistance to divine or moral clarity.
• Lack of compassion is registered in the facial expressions of the others in the scene, reinforcing the theme of human failure in moments that require courage and compassion.
• Darkness and shadow in the painting portrays spiritual darkness and ignorance particularly among the accusers and onlookers.
• Christ is visually and emotionally isolated.

Positive elements of diachronic message of the painting:

• The scene fulfils the old testament Prophecy in Isaiah 53, about the messiah being rejected and suffering for humanity.
• The tension scene presents moment in part of divine plan that leads to salvation.
• Christ’s moral example of silent endurance in the face of false judgement becomes a model of faith, courage and integrity for all believers.
• While in the moment Christ appears vulnerable, the diachronic message reveals that truth ultimately triumphs.

Negative elements of diachronic message of the painting:

• The painting echoes a recurring pattern of abuse of power by those in authority to persecute the righteous.
• The painting reflects a diachronic critique of religious institutions that distort spiritual mandate for power control.
• The painting shows people continue to reject inconvenient truth.
• Christ’s lonely stance points to the broader experience of prophets, disciples, reformers etc reflecting the enduring burden placed on those who speak truth to power.