The Lamb & Lintel

It is still on the easel oxidizing (drying), but at least it is basically finished for Passover. I'm not Jewish, so I can't claim to understand all the deep meaning of this holiday, but I painted this according to how I understand the account in Exodus 12 and the foreshadowing of "...the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"~John 1:29. On the first Passover, each Israelite family was instructed to slaughter a lamb and spread its blood on the doorposts and lintel of the entrance to their home, so that the death angel, who was sent to slaughter the firstborn in Egypt, would pass by (over) without harming anyone in their home. No doubt there is so much more to this account than I can understand or express, but what God did for them is incredible. There is so much to this that it seems inexhaustible. I did some reading about the hyssop plant that was used to spread the blood, and found that it readily grew, even out of walls. These ready made brushes were a gift, I think much like faith. I can't come up with faith on my own, but it is a gift from God. However, it is my choice whether or not to use it. By faith I can apply the blood that Jesus shed for my sins over my life and be saved. So can you! All you have to do is ask Him. The song by Phil Keaggy, Beneath The Blood-Stained Lintel also helped solidify the inspiration for this painting, because it is also based on Scripture.

Artistically, there is plenty of critique to be had here. If you're a painter, then you know that projects like these are often a journey of faith. In other words, you don't really know how it's going to turn out, especially when you start out. This one is no exception, because it didn't turn out exactly how I first envisioned. I had the basic concept and composition in mind when I started, and I had done some studies and preliminary sketches. Even still, I struggled with the process of painting, wondering if in my attempt to be accurate I got too bogged down in the details, and it wound up having too many literally interpreted parts that it lacked unity, continuity, and coherence. Then I wondered how it would be perceived. Is it too graphic of a subject? Is it too frightening? Is my interpretation too far out? Is it irreverent? Others have done similar works over the centuries. In the end, I realized that I simply carried out what I was supposed to do as best as I knew how. I had an inner compulsion to do this, not for approval of mankind or gain, but because there was an inner drive to do it. I'm not saying that it won't at some point be available on my website, but for now it's not my primary concern. Not only am I looking forward to celebrating His resurrection from the dead, but I also look forward to His return.

What do you think about this painting? Please let me know in the comments below. What do you see and feel in this image? How does it speak to you? What questions or suggestions do you have? I'll do my best to answer. Thanks so much for taking the time to read this. May you experience great joy in celebrating the resurrection!