Well next year will be the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation when

2017 rolls around and we mark the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther's

posting of the 95 Theses on October 31st, 1517.

But before this year escapes us, before we get out of 2016, I thought we should be talking

about the 500th anniversary of 1516.

After all, that year sets the stage

for the reformation and for the event of Martin Luther.

Well, let's look at 1516. We can look at three things from this year. One is a painting.

This is a painting called The Haywain Triptych. This was a painting by the Renaissance painter from the Netherlands Hieronymus Bosch. He was born in

1450 and he died in 1516. He also completed this painting before he died in 1516.

It was one of his last major works. A triptych has three panels. These were usually installed on altars and the two end panels would close in and

oftentimes painters would even paint the outside of the panel.

On the outside of the Haywain triptych,

there is a painting that Hieronymus Bosch called The Wayfair.

And this is a man who's trying to make his way through what is apparently a rather rough pilgrimage.

He's being chased by dogs and in the background you see a man being robbed and you see fellows fighting off in the background as well.

This is depicting that things are not all that rosy in 1516 and as you open it up you see that things get even worse,

theologically worse.

On the left panel, there is creation.

And as you work your way down the panel,

you see God creating Adam and Eve,

and then you see Eve being tempted.

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