A nude man is sitting in the middle of the foreground on a tree trunk in front of a tree dividing the painting in two sections in a less rigid manner than in other versions of this subject. His head is inclined to the left and his arms are folded. A prophet from the Old Testament is on the left side of the Law. He bends down to the nude men and points with his left hand to the crucifixion on the right side of Mercy. He fulfills the same function as St John the Baptist. By making this alteration Luther expresses his vision of human existence between Law and Gospel and more than in other versions, especially the idea that Law leads man to Christ, which is a pre-requisite for salvation. The Fall of Man and the Brazen Serpent appear on the left side. Instead of being pursued by Death and the Devil, the man lies in an open grave on the left side wearing a shroud and thus clearly juxtaposes Death on the left with the resurrection of Christ on the right side. The resurrected Christ stands in front of the burial cave, under his feet lie the vanquished Devil with Death. The sacrificial Lamb stands above the cave with the crucifix. Behind is a rocky outcrop and the Virgin stands on the summit encircle by heads of angels in a cloud with her hands clasped. The Christ child floats down to her from a gloriole with a T-shaped cross in anticipation of the conception. The Virgin represents the model for the Faithful to respect God's will. Like Moses, the Old Testament's equivalent on the side of Law, who kneels to receive the tablets of the commandments from God's hands.