Title: Ultimate Sacrifice

For years I’ve been wanting to do a painting of the crucifixion with the perspective of being at His feet.  I have found a model to work with in the spring and have been planning the preliminary photography for that.  But God had other ideas.  Right before Thanksgiving, He asked me to go ahead and do one.  After my usual, “But, Lord!” stuff, He convinced me it was really Him, and I should trust Him to anoint me to do it.  I spent the season before Christmas praying, pondering, painting, and crying.  People walked by the window at my studio and watched me do all this, while they were merrily hustling about doing Christmas shopping.  I asked the Lord why He wanted me to do a painting of the crucifixion during such a happy time, and His response was that this is why He came.  We celebrate His birth in December, but He is not still the baby Jesus.  He was born so that He could die on our behalf, and be raised again, to make a way for us to live with the Father forever.

I know this painting is relatively bloodless, and the beating He took and the crucifixion were a horribly bloody way for our Lord to die.  It is intentionally easier to look upon than what really happened to Him.  In this version, He wants us to be able to see the love on His face, even during the anguish He endured.  He wants us to be able to look upon Him on the cross.  He gave His life there for us as the ultimate sacrifice of love, for a people who could not redeem themselves.  He promised us that if He were lifted up, He would draw all men to Himself.  He is still drawing us to Himself today, and His sacrifice is still just as effective as it was then.  He still offers forgiveness for all sin, because His atonement covered it ALL for each one who will come to Him.  If you don’t already, may He bless you to know Him as Savior, and as Lord of your life.  His love for you is never-ending, without limits, and unconditional.  There’s no one else who can love you like He does.  I pray you will find yourself at His feet.

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