Two Strangers, One Burning Mission
They arrived quietly in Prague—two strangers from England. Their names were never recorded, but their mission was clear: to bring the light of the gospel to a land cloaked in religious tradition and papal power. They were men of learning, deeply moved by the truths of the Protestant Reformation, and determined to share that light wherever God led them.
At first, they preached openly, denouncing the pope’s supremacy and pointing the people back to Christ. But it wasn’t long before the authorities silenced them. They could no longer speak—but they could still create.
When Preaching Is Forbidden
These strangers were not only preachers. They were artists. And so, with quiet determination, they turned to their brushes. In a public square where crowds often gathered, they began to paint. A silent sermon rang out through the open air: none could hear it but all could see.
The first image showed Jesus entering Jerusalem: “meek, and sitting upon an ass” ( Matthew 21:5 ). His followers walked behind Him, clothed in humility, weary and barefoot, yet full of purpose.
The second image could not have been more different. It showed a lavish papal procession—the pope crowned in gold, riding a richly adorned horse, trumpeters leading the way, and cardinals trailing in his wake like royalty. Pride and pomp in full display.
The Sermon That Couldn't Be Silenced
No one could miss the message. The contrast was striking, even to the uneducated. The humble Christ versus the self-exalting pope. The true Shepherd versus a counterfeit throne. People came by the dozens, then hundreds, to study the two paintings. Without a single spoken word, the strangers had preached a message that shook the city.
The authorities were not amused. Commotion stirred. Tension mounted. For their safety, the two men eventually had to flee. But the images remained burned into the memory of those who saw them. Especially one man: Jan Huss.
Kindling a Reformer’s Fire
Jan Huss, a university priest and scholar, was already familiar with the teachings of Wycliffe. But the artwork planted something deeper in him—a conviction, a visual truth he could not unsee. He turned again to the Scriptures. He began to preach with boldness, denouncing the pride, corruption, and worldliness of the papal hierarchy.
Huss would later pay for his faith with his life, singing hymns as flames consumed his body. But the fire did not die. It spread.
Disturbances in the University of Prague caused hundreds of German students to withdraw. Many of them had received from Huss their first knowledge of the Bible, and they carried the truth of the gospel back with them. On their return, they spread the gospel through their fatherland. The work of two nameless artists in Prague lit a fuse that would ignite across Europe.
Power in Hidden Faithfulness
What a ministry. What a legacy. And all from two men whose names history never recorded. They weren’t bishops or kings. They weren’t famous scholars. They were just willing—and talented—and faithful.
Scripture says, “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise...” ( 1 Corinthians 1:27 ). When we offer what we have—whether it’s a voice, a brush, a pen, or a kind word—God can amplify it beyond imagination.
Their paintings are long gone. But the ripple effects of their courage still echo today.
(Account taken from The Great Controversy , p.99-100)
Scripture References
- Matthew 21:5 — Jesus enters Jerusalem “meek, and sitting upon an ass.”
- 1 Corinthians 1:27 — “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise...”
- Zechariah 4:6 — “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord...”
- Matthew 5:14–16 — “Ye are the light of the world... let your light so shine...”