Risen

"Risen" Oil on canvas 24” x 36”

I was drawn to this composition for a number of reasons, but mainly it was the focus on the lion and everything else melting away. There was a high contrast in my palette in the early stages but as I reflected on this image in pairing it with the painting of the Disciples running, it started to change and transform.

I have gotten to explore and immerse myself in different parts of God’s character through painting lions. This one however, is capturing a very specific moment that I was trying to imagine. What would it have been like to be there as the stone was rolled away from the tomb where Jesus had been laying? Can you imagine the sound and the weight of the stone moving? Maybe it was the sound of stone rubbing against stone, breaking the silence of the atmosphere around the numb and desolate scene. Maybe you hear the footsteps crushing the ground as they moved from death to life. Maybe it’s the breath of life itself inhaling and exhaling. What would it have been like to stand in the very moment where everything was brought into the power and glory of the resurrected Christ and Messiah?

The Kingdom of God was alive and moving. Everything in the scripture points to this moment and everything Jesus had said had come to pass. Death is defeated and God has restored the world to Himself. This is my way of imagining the power of God, manifest in the rising of Christ as He left the tomb. #emptytomb #heisrisen #christ #ressurection  #magnifyseries

Footsteps of Faith

"Footsteps of Faith" Oil on canvas 24” x 36”

When the Disciples ran to the empty tomb, they didn't know what they were going to find and they didn't know what to believe. I'm sure in those moments they were consumed by grief, fear and confusion. The resurrection of Jesus was not something they had fully grasped yet. Still they ran.

As they arrived, John's Gospel tells us that one of them went into the tomb and saw the grave clothes lying where Jesus had been and THEN He believed. Something happened here that opened his eyes to what he had not been able to see before – their reality went from death to life.

I felt a gentle reminder in this scripture and through this painting that faith can look different sometimes. It can look like these feet running on the heels of confusion, fear, pain etc. yet, they are still moving towards Him, towards the empty tomb. I felt the Lord say, it’s in these places that He provides everything we need to believe, to hope, to heal and to find Him. So often I think my feet need to be running with boldness and confidence and forget that it’s okay to be honest with God at where I am at and let Him be my strength. This is still faith and still trusting Him with my unbelief.

#magnifyseries

#christianart

#bibleart

#christianartist

#jesus

#faith

#footstepsoffaith