Stations of the Cross: Station V

Jesus is Judged by Pilate

The chief priests with the elders and the scribes, that is, the whole Sanhedrin, held a council. They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. Pilate questioned him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He said to him in reply, “You say so.” The chief priests accused him of many things. Again Pilate questioned him, “Have you no answer? See how many things they accuse you of.” Jesus gave him no further answer, so that Pilate was amazed.... Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barrabas... [and] handed [Jesus] over to be crucified.

(Mark 15: 1-5, 15)

Stations of the Cross: Station IV

Jesus is Denied by Peter

Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. One of the maids came over to him and said, “You too were with Jesus the Galilean.” But he denied it in front of everyone, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about!” As he went out to the gate, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This man was with Jesus the Nazorean.” Again he denied it with an oath, “I do not know the man!” A little later the bystanders came over and said to Peter, “Surely you too are one of them; even your speech gives you away.” At that he began to curse and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately a cock crowed. Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had spoken: “Before the cock crows you will deny me three times.” He went out and began to weep bitterly.

(Matthew 26: 69-75)

Stations of the Cross: Station III

Jesus is Condemned 

by the Sanhedrin

When day came the council of elders of the people met, both chief priests and scribes, and they brought him before their Sanhedrin. They said, “If you are the Messiah, tell us,” but he replied to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, and if I question, you will not respond. But from this time on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?” He replied to them, “You say that I am.” Then they said, “What further need have we for testimony? We have heard it from his own mouth.”

(Luke 22: 66-71)

Stations of the Cross: Station II

Jesus, Betrayed by Judas, is Arrested

Then, while [Jesus] was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived, accompanied by a crowd with swords and clubs, who had come from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. 

His betrayer had arranged a signal with them, saying, “the man I shall kiss is the one; arrest him and lead him away securely.” He came and immediately went over to him and said, “Rabbi.” And he kissed him. At this they laid hands on him and arrested him.

(Mark 14: 43-46)

Stations of the Cross

The season of lent is a time of life in shadow. Our days are still full of hustle and bustle. We’re buying Easter outfits one minute and then attending a prayer service or practicing a Lenten discipline the next. It’s a time full of life in the shadow of the cross. And before we sing alleluia, don our Easter best and bring our flowers, we must first journey with Christ to the cross.

For centuries, the church has used a special way to enable Christians to experience the passion story. “The Stations of the Cross” involves 14 illustrations that tell the passion story from the garden of Gethsemane to laying Jesus in the tomb. 

As my Lenten discipline this year, I have chosen to paint contemporary versions of The Stations of the Cross to share with you. Each painting is a modern, minimalistic abstract depicting a piece of the story. They are designed to be stark signposts to help you to stop and contemplate the story in new ways. Rather than depicting the traditional gory details, I tried to focus on the emotional themes of rejection, isolation, betrayal, and other sufferings. 

Be on the lookout for these in the coming days. As you view the upcoming posts, I hope you will take a moment to contemplate the suffering love of God in Jesus Christ. 

May you all have a blessed Lenten season.

40 Days: Day 40: Come to the Table

40"x40"
Oil on Canvas

Commissioned

This is my final posting for this year's "40 Days" journey. It is a commissioned painting I have been working on for First Presbyterian Church, Franklin, TN. It was installed today—just in time for an Easter debut. 

“Welcome one another just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.”

Romans 15:7

This painting is a vision of God’s grace and serves as a reminder of how we are to be to each other. The painting depicts a peaceable, abundant table which has been prepared for all ages, genders, races and abilities. Among the variety of food on the table, there are also sacramental symbols of bread, wine and water. The figures are vague and rough around the edges because we come together as we are, with all of our imperfections. Near the bottom, there is an empty place setting which is an open sign of grace for all people present, separated  departed and yet to come.

Worthy Is the Lamb

8"x10" Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders; they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, singing with full voice,

“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and blessing!”

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, singing,

“To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor and glory and might
forever and ever!”

And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the elders fell down and worshiped.

Revelation 5:11-14

40 Days: Day 40: Torn

6"x6" Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. 

Matthew 27:51

40 Days: Day 39: Psalm 22

6"x6" Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
    Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?

O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer;
    and by night, but find no rest.

 Yet you are holy,
    enthroned on the praises of Israel.
 In you our ancestors trusted;
    they trusted, and you delivered them.
 To you they cried, and were saved;
    in you they trusted, and were not put to shame.

 But I am a worm, and not human;
    scorned by others, and despised by the people.
 All who see me mock at me;
    they make mouths at me, they shake their heads;
 “Commit your cause to the Lord; let him deliver—
    let him rescue the one in whom he delights!”

Yet it was you who took me from the womb;
    you kept me safe on my mother’s breast.
 On you I was cast from my birth,
    and since my mother bore me you have been my God.
 Do not be far from me,
    for trouble is near
    and there is no one to help.

 Many bulls encircle me,
    strong bulls of Bashan surround me;
 they open wide their mouths at me,
    like a ravening and roaring lion.

 I am poured out like water,
    and all my bones are out of joint;
my heart is like wax;
    it is melted within my breast;
 my mouth[a] is dried up like a potsherd,
    and my tongue sticks to my jaws;
    you lay me in the dust of death.

 For dogs are all around me;
    a company of evildoers encircles me.
My hands and feet have shriveled;
 I can count all my bones.
They stare and gloat over me;
 they divide my clothes among themselves,
    and for my clothing they cast lots.

But you, O Lord, do not be far away!
    O my help, come quickly to my aid!
 Deliver my soul from the sword,
    my life[c] from the power of the dog!
     Save me from the mouth of the lion!

From the horns of the wild oxen you have rescued[ me.
 I will tell of your name to my brothers and sisters;
    in the midst of the congregation I will praise you:

You who fear the Lord, praise him!
    All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him;
    stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel!
 For he did not despise or abhor
    the affliction of the afflicted;
he did not hide his face from me,
    but heard when I[g] cried to him.

 From you comes my praise in the great congregation;
    my vows I will pay before those who fear him.
 The poor[h] shall eat and be satisfied;
    those who seek him shall praise the Lord.
    May your hearts live forever!

 All the ends of the earth shall remember
    and turn to the Lord;
and all the families of the nations
    shall worship before him.
 For dominion belongs to the Lord,
    and he rules over the nations.

To him,[j] indeed, shall all who sleep in[k] the earth bow down;
    before him shall bow all who go down to the dust,
    and I shall live for him.
Posterity will serve him;
    future generations will be told about the Lord,
 and proclaim his deliverance to a people yet unborn,
    saying that he has done it.

Psalm 22

40 Days: Day 27: I Am the Resurrection

6"x6" Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days.  Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles away, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”  Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”  Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live,  and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”  She said to him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah,the Son of God, the one coming into the world.”

When she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary, and told her privately, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.”  And when she heard it, she got up quickly and went to him.  Now Jesus had not yet come to the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him.  The Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary get up quickly and go out. They followed her because they thought that she was going to the tomb to weep there.  When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”  When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved.  He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.”  Jesus began to weep.  So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”  But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”

Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it.  Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead four days.”  Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”  So they took away the stone. And Jesus looked upward and said, “Father, I thank you for having heard me.  I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me.”  When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”  The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

John 11:17-44

Butterfly

6"x6" Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

30 Paintings in 30 Days: January, 2015—Day 29

Almost didn't make a painting today. But I'm glad that I did. Today, another painting was born. That gives me a great feeling. It makes my day a little more beautiful.

Racing to Resurrection

11"x14" Oil on Canvas

with Palette Knife

SOLD

In Luke’s account of Jesus’ resurrection, the women were the first to discover the empty tomb. They ran back to tell the disciples—most of whom discounted their story. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb to see for himself. 

This painting shows Peter racing to the tomb on that early morning. Burdened with a cloak of shame and guilt from Jesus’ death, Peter is fueled by hope. Hope that his beloved Jesus is not dead. Hope that brokenness can be mended. Hope that forgiveness can be given. Hope that The Way will continue.

May we all run with that Easter hope. 

May we get up every morning and race to find our living LORD. 

Breakfast at Dawn

Personally, I have never attended an Easter sunrise service. But my wife has told me how powerful they have been for her. Perhaps it’s the anticipation of glorious Easter—when we get to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord. Perhaps it’s the magic of witnessing the light of a new day—joining the morning birds to sing praises to God. There must be something special for christians to celebrate this way for so many years. However, I bet they were nothing like what the disciples experienced one beautiful morning.

The Gospel of John has a wonderful post-resurrection story. The last chapter reads like an epilogue of sorts. Peter and some disciples decide to go fishing in the night. They catch nothing. At daybreak, Jesus appears on the shore. He instructs them to cast nets again. They catch an abundance of fish. Realizing their Lord has returned, they quickly sail to shore where Jesus shares a fireside meal of bread and fish with them. Jesus then specifically speaks with Peter. Jesus asks, “do you love me” three times – one time for each betrayal Peter committed on the night of Jesus’ death. And after Peter responds “yes,” Jesus instructs him to “feed my sheep.” How wonderful that morning must have been.

In this painting, I tried to imagine that beautiful morning meal. The composition is both macro and micro. Brother sun rises over the world’s horizon—illuminating the sea with dancing light. The reflections swell to the shore where we see the abandoned boat and a circle of fellowship. Looking close, you can see a communion of grace taking place.

This is more than a sunrise breakfast. It is morning worship. God’s people abandon the work of the day, gather together to break bread and be near the Lord again. In this circle, Christ makes himself known to us, teaches us, and forgives our sins. Christ feeds us and calls us to act in love for the world.

Today, the circle spans around the world. In fact, this painting was commissioned by a patron living in Singapore. The Resurrected One calls us, from all shores, to come together and dine in grace. Wherever you are, may you answer the Lord’s loving call and join in the feast. And may the song of Alleluia, be heard all over the world.

Happy Easter.

The Emmaus Road

This is an oil painting of the post-resurrection story found in the Gospel of Luke. It depicts the disciples and Jesus on the road to Emmaus. The piece was intended to convey the feeling of new life, grace and worship. The fragmented colors and light in the tree tops are abstracted to resemble stained glass. The trees cross each other to resemble archways. I wanted to make the point that this is the new day of the Church. A new world where Christ reveals himself to us, journeys with us, comforts us and ministers to us. A Church where we glorify God and minister to each other daily in the most beautiful cathedral ever built, this Good Earth. More than just a painting of a story, this piece is a vision of today’s reality, when seen through eyes of faith.

Have a beautiful day.