The Lion and the Lamb

"Within"

48" x 36" Oil on Canvas

The Lion and the Lamb Original Painting - When I set brush to canvas for my painting Within (48” x 36”, oil on canvas), a quiet word rose in my spirit:

“I am with you, I go before you in all things. By my wounds you are set free. And remember this, for it is the thing that sets you apart; love one another as I have loved you, so you should love one another.”

This message became the heart of the piece.

The Symbol of the Lamb

Throughout Scripture, the lamb is a recurring image—an offering, a sacrifice, a reminder of God’s covenant with His people. Ultimately, it points to Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). In His gentleness and humility, He laid down His life for the sheep.

The Power of the Lion

In contrast, the lion evokes strength, majesty, and eternal reign. Scripture speaks of the Lion of Judah (Revelation 5:5), a title that captures Christ’s authority, victory, and kingship. He is the one who reigns forever, unconquerable and unstoppable.

Both Lion and Lamb

What strikes me deeply is that Jesus embodies both. He is gentle and fierce, humble and exalted. He is the King who washes feet, the Shepherd who lays down His life, the Savior who rules with justice and love.

As we approach Good Friday and Easter, may this painting Within remind you of the love poured out, the life given, and the eternal promise of the One who calls you by name. He is with us, He goes before us, and He has made His home within us.

Why “Within”?

The title “Within” was chosen to remind us of this truth: Christ dwells in us through His great love. As Paul exhorts, “Walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:2).

This Easter season, may you carry this truth in your heart—that the Lion and the Lamb, the risen King, lives within you. Amen.

Crown of Thorns

"Crown of Thorns"

"16 x 20" Oil on Canvas

This painting was the last one in a series of 12 called "Magnify." It felt weighty as I finished with this image of the crown of thorns. I wanted it to be laying on top of the linens that Jesus would have removed at the Resurrection and left in the tomb. The first painting that started me on this journey was the painting of Jesus' face that I felt was the Man of Sorrows.(Isa 53) Yet the painting portrayed a face of deep love, joy and compassion. What a juxtaposition. Likewise, I see the same contrast in this crown of thorns. A crown is generally a symbol of honor and respect but one made from thorns was meant to mock and humiliate.

When I sat down to think of an assortment of paintings I wanted to bring to life, a beautiful crown of pure gold, crested in stunning jewels came to mind. How valuable would a crown like that be? Then I imagined the crown of thorns and what it symbolized. Made of nothing of monetary value or worth, yet I saw the price that was paid from the one who bore the twisted crown for us.

As I look at this image and really ask what it means to me, I see Jesus removing these thorns and placing it down saying, "I'm not wearing that crown anymore." In the book of revelation, John sees Heaven open and One sitting on a white horse who is called Faithful and True. His eyes are blazing like fire, and on His head are many crowns. (Rev 19:12) I wonder, if I let the scripture come to life before me, what those crowns would look like, and what do they mean?

In the Gospels the Greek word "stephanos" is used regarding the crown of thorns. When we come to the many crowns Christ is wearing in Revelation, a different Greek word is used,"diadema." The diadema is for a crown that is royal. It distinguishes the crown as sovereign or kingly. To read that Christ is wearing many of these kingly crowns, could symbolize the kingdoms on heaven and earth He reigns over. "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our God and of his Anointed One! He will reign supreme for an eternity of eternities!" (Rev 11:15)

What do you think of when you see the crown of thorns? What words would you use to describe its meaning or value? What do you think Revelation is speaking about when it has an image of Christ wearing multiple kingly crowns?

Worthy Is the Lamb

"Worthy Is the Lamb"

24" x 24" Oil on Canvas

Throughout the Bible there are analogies of sheep and shepherds to illustrate the relationship between God and His people. In John we read, " My sheep listen to my voice, I know them, they follow me." Isaiah writes that "like sheep we have gone astray." Psalm 23 says, "the Lord is my shepherd and he makes me lie down in green pastures." Matthew writes that, "Jesus saw crowds and had compassion for them because they were harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd."

It gives us a sense of God's desire to lead, protect, and guide His people. In Luke when we read that the shepherd would leave the ninety-nine to go after the one lost sheep, we get a glimpse of God's deep love for His people and how valuable each one is to Him. We are invited into this profound connection between a shepherd and his flock and that starts to help us understand our relationship with God. But then we come into a deeper revelation of this relationship when Jesus tells us that a good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.(John 10:11) A foreshadow of what's to come.

In this laying down, Jesus goes from the good shepherd to the Lamb of God. (John 1:29) This title for Jesus ties together the Old Testament's sacrificial system where lambs were offered as a covering or atonement for sin. Jesus becomes the fulfillment of the law in the laying down and reconciles the world to Himself. It's here I'm taken by the complexity of Christ as both shepherd and lamb.

The phrase, "worthy is the lamb," comes from the book of Revelation where the One is on the throne holding a scroll that no one in heaven or on earth is worthy to open. An angel declares, in what feels like a hopeless moment, that there is one and it is the Lamb standing in the midst of the throne and all gathered. The Lamb takes the scroll and the heavenly choir erupts:

“You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood. Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth. Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”

The word 'worthy' in Greek has a root meaning of weighing, or having the weight of another thing of value, like a scale. In Hebrew, there is a word for worthy that can mean fitting but it comes from the root word 'to see.' What this says to me is that the Lamb of God carries within Himself something of equal value or weight to God. He is worthy because He is the one who sees and is seen by God. This word for seeing is so rich it can also mean best friend!

In Psalm 23, where it says the Lord is my shepherd, the word shepherd comes from the same root word we just looked at above meaning to see. A shepherd is also one who sees and knows His sheep. Through this one word, ra'ah, we can see a connection between the word worthy and shepherd. It was hard for me to understand how Christ could be both shepherd and a lamb, but this word study has led me to see the connection is deeper than I could have imagined. The Good Shepherd is the Worthy Lamb of God. The one who sees - is the one who loves and the one who lays down His life for the sheep. Worthy is the lamb.

"Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends." (John 15:13)