CHRIST

This painting to me is “holy”. I never dared to even think of painting a portrait of Christ before, but this time I felt that that is exactly what the Holy Spirit wanted me to do.

I feel humbled to represent Him in this way by “making Him known” in inverted commas. I painted what to me feels like an iconic image of how He has been portrayed to the world.

I felt to capture His Godliness – He is both God and man, yet without sin – by not colouring His face in flesh tones, but leaving the picture “transparent” so to speak. I literally left the raw canvas blank in its natural state. It almost adds a glow, a bright white that illuminates Him.

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14, NIV).

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin” (Heb 4:15, NIV).

To me, this portrait portrays distinct Jewish features and witnesses with my spirit that if I were to picture Him, this would be my idea of what He would look like in His “human” embodiment.

What really jumps out is the expression in His eyes, and no matter from what angle you look at the painting, His eyes follow you from every angle.

This portrait is a commemoration and a pointer to Christ. It speaks of His love for us that he laid down His life, so that we can experience abundant life.

“…I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10, NIV).

I really felt that I needed to paint the crown of thorns red. It is a prominent red and represents His blood that He shed at the cross for us. Our sins demand a price to be paid and He took our place and paid with His life so that we can experience the overcomer’s life to the fullest, right here and now, in this lifetime, on this earth.

“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds, you have been healed”        (1 peter 2:24, NIV).

“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds, we are healed” (Is 53:5, NIV).

When people see this image, it is my heart’s hope that they will be touched by His Spirit and have a personal encounter with Our crucified and resurrected Christ as Our LORD and Saviour.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16, NIV).

Last but not least I feel that this portrait is also a reminder that He is coming again. He paid the price for us to be reconciled to Him and He will fetch His bride. One day we will look Him in the face and give an account of how we have lived our lives.

Did we disregard Him and the price He paid for us, or will He say: “Well done, good and faithful servant!” … (Matt 25:21, NIV).

Blessings

Corinne