On Friday afternoon, May 2, 2025, Jesus arrived in Washington DC in the back of a pickup truck. He suddenly appeared with Simon Peter about two blocks south from the US Capitol. Officials report that Jesus and Peter will remain there indefinity, in an effort to influence the culture of the city, the nation and the world. Most people, no matter the political affiliation, agree that Washington DC could use more Jesus.
HISTORY WAS MADE A unique new, public memorial was permanently installed in the “City of Monuments” unlike any other, specifically honor Jesus Christ, who Christians believe is God. There is nothing in Washington DC like the life-size (105%) bronze statue of the Christ and His Disciple. The founding documents of the United States, and all western civilization, are based on the ancient Jewish scriptures and the words of Jesus, as recorded in the most popular book of all time, the Bible.
This monument is more than another piece of inspiring art or reminder of an historical event or person. Many Christians believe this provocative piece of art will become a “type” of spiritual altar (Ps 24:3-6), a “doorway” to heaven and the supernatural realm. All Christians believe Jesus Christ is God, Yeshua (in Hebrew), the predicted Messiah of the Jews, who will return in glory at the end of time as King (Rev 19:11).
THE MONUMENT
A new “Standard” (Isa 59:19) has been raised in the epicenter of the most influential city in the world. Based on ancient scripture, this poignant life-size (1,200 lb.) bronze statue (according to the artist) portrays the extravagant love of Jesus Christ. The Deity is shown humbly washing the feet of His creation, Disciple, Simon Peter, on the night before the crucifixion (Jn 13).
The thought-provoking composition was conceived in 1986 by internationally collected, Christian artist, architect and evangelist, Max Greiner, Jr. (73) of Kerrville, TX (www.maxgreinerart.com). The sculpture was cast by one of the largest art foundries in the world, Eagle Bronze, Inc. (www.eaglebronze.com). The famous art foundry is owned by Christians, Monte and Beverly Paddleford. Eagle monuments are all over the world, including inside the US Capitol Rotunda.
Greiner’s #62 “Divine Servant”® bronze (https://www.maxgreinerart.com/DSIntro.html) took almost a year to cast at the foundry. The realistic statue traveled almost 2,000 miles in the back of the Paddleford pickup truck from Lander, WY, to Washington DC.
THE CHURCH
Earlier, on August 22, 2022, the pastor of Bethel Pentecostal Tabernacle, a small, hundred-year-old Assemblies Of God congregation in Washington DC, contacted artist/evangelist. Pastor Robert Fitzgerld Carter told Greiner they were building a new church on the site of their old church, which would be renamed DC360 Church (www.DC360Church.com).
Due to the ongoing construction project, the small congregation did not have the funds to purchase Greiner’s $100,000 bronze sculpture, but believed “in faith” God wanted the “Divine Servant”® statue in front of their new building, to represent their mission to serve their community.
THE CONFIRMATIONS
Two years went by and only half of the cost of the statue had been raised. However, the artist and pastor believe a miracle happened when the City of Washington DC gave the church a legal deed to land, where the proposed statue would be placed!
Little did Pastor “Fitz” know, but 20 years before (in May of 2006) Max and his wife, Sherry made a special trip to Washington DC to tour the public monuments and gardens. This was in preparation for Greiner designing The Coming King Sculpture Prayer Garden(www.thecomingkingsculptureprayergarden.org), a 24.5 acre, spiritual art park on IH-10 in the Texas Hill Country. Greiner wanted to study every monument, memorial and sculpture garden in the city, with the objective of matching or exceeding the best designs he found.
After three days of viewing the monuments, Greiner was shocked and saddened to discover that in the “City of Monuments”, with hundreds of memorials to everything and everyone, there were NO monuments to Jesus Christ, who he believed was the greatest person who ever lived. Even though the American government and the founding documents were based on the principles found in the Bible, Christ was not honored or acknowledged publicly with a monument. The only artwork of Jesus were icons and paintings found inside Catholic churches and a few art museums. Greiner lamented: “I was stunned to discover that the Creator of the universe, the Messiah of the Jews and the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ did not have a single public monument or memorial honoring His contributions to civilization in our nation’s Capitol. I remember praying at the time, that God would erect a bold public monument for Jesus Christ in Washington DC, so He could be honored forever.”
Upon learning the DC360 Church had not raised the needed funds, Greiner asked God what He wanted him to do now. This was when the Holy Spirit reminded the sculptor that in 2006, he had asked God to put a sculpture of Jesus in our nation’s Capitol.
Convicted by the Holy Spirit, the artist and his wife prayed about the “Word of Wisdom” (1 Cor 12) and agreed to provide the bronze statue to DC360 Church. The Greiners would join with existing church donors in making the gift, so Christ could be honored.
After doing research, Greiner learned that In 2013, 24 years after creating his first “Divine Servant”® artwork, a Canadian Catholic artist named Timothy Schmaltz sculpted a life-size bronze statue of a homeless man sleeping on a park bench. He was covered entirely by a blanket, except for his nail pierced feet. One of these statues was placed in front of the Catholic Charities building in Washington DC.
THE ARTIST
Born in 1951 to Christian parents, Max Greiner, Jr. believes God made him an artist and gave him his talent. He also believes God specifically called him to create his six major, “Signed & Numbered”, Christian monuments over 36 years, which are unique in art and Christian history.
Today, Greiner’s copyrighted and trademarked Biblical themed artwork can be found can be found in all 50 states and about 80 countries. His large public monuments can be seen in the USA, Canada, South Korea and Israel. Smaller versions of Greiner’s bronze sculptures have been owned by Billy Graham, Franklin Graham, Pope John Paul II, Pat Roberton, Paul Crouch, Charles Stanley, Jack Graham, Adrian Rogers, James Dobson, Joyce Meyer, John Hagee, Jesse Duplantis, Mike Huckabee, Ted Cruz and many other well-known Christians.
Initially, Greiner carved his life-size sculpture, “Divine Servant”® entirely out of wax in 1990. He wanted to create the first scripturally accurate rendition of the foot washing example, based on the Bible’s precise description. Many people consider this monument to be Greiner’s first “Masterpiece”.
The artist’s last monumental sculpture is called the “Lion Of Judah”. The #1 statue was given to the nation of Israel, as a gift of love and support from the Greiners and their American Christian friends. The massive bronze sculpture is on permanent display today in Bloomfield Park, Jerusalem. It is the only non-Jewish statue on public display in Israel, according to Jewish officials.
Max Greiner, Jr. earned his Architecture Degree from Texas A&M University in 1974 but chose to pursue art as his career in 1978, after practicing architecture for several years in Dallas, TX. His secular art included drawings, paintings, jewelry and sculpture.
However, the direction of his life and art changed at age 35, when the artist believes he heard the “still small voice” of God (1 Ki 19:11). Greiner was instructed to create a small sculpture of Jesus washing Peter’s feet. This “Word” (1 Cor 12) came during the most humbling time in the artist’s life. The Texas economy had crashed, 95% of his millionaire art collectors went bankrupt, his family suddenly was losing their Kerrville land and house. Then, his wife and father were diagnosed with life threatening illnesses. Finally, after a season of disobedience, Max Greiner, Jr. obeyed God and created a small bronze sculpture of Jesus washing feet. Everything changed and the rest is history.
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
MAX GREINER, JR. DESIGNS, LLC
PO Box 290552
Kerrville, TX 78029
(830) 367 7874
office@maxgreinerart.com
www.maxgreinerart.com
DC360 CHURCH (Bethel Pentecostal Tabernacle of the Assemblies of God)
601 I St. SW
Washington, DC 20024
(202) 204-0509
fitz.carter@dc360church.com
www.DC360Church.com