A Greek Hero Leading a Bull to Sacrifice (1861)

A Greek Hero Leading a Bull to Sacrifice (1861) by Alfred Gatley, is displayed at the Salford Museum and Art Gallery. The poor creature can sense its doom, and a vicious-looking axe lays on the ground beneath its bulk. The Hero is really just a boy; though he has a fine physique, one might question what feats of heroism his young life and well-toned frame have witnessed.  

Exodus chapter 29 regulated the use of bulls in the Hebrews’ sacrificial worship:

But the flesh of the bull, with its skin and its offal, you shall burn with fire outside the camp. It is a sin offering. (v14)

Whereas the young Greek eyes his next feast of roasted meat, the bulls of the tabernacle were burnt up for sin. While manmade religion is pleasurable and offers many temporal benefits, true faith in the living God results in death to self, curtailment of pleasure, extirpation of sin, and obedience to the one, true invisible God.

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me". Matthew 16:24