Finished, by teen artist Elizabeth Crary, Pittsburgh

But Jesus cared for others even in death

John 19:26-30When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” … Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, “I am thirsty.”They held sour wine up to his lips.When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then, crying with a loud voice, he said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” And he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Station of the cross 7: Jesus dies on the cross

A hospice chaplain told me that often a person does not die until he or she feels “free” to go. This perception usually happens when family members, despite their sorrow, release their loved one. Sometimes the dying one waits until a specific person arrives and says goodbye. We experienced this with Karis.

Jesus needed to complete his farewell to his mother and to “the disciple he loved,” ensuring they would care for each other. Even while enduring an extremely painful death, Jesus reached out to them with love.

Elizabeth describes her art piece like this:

“One of the problems with making a piece for the Station of the Cross series is that quite a few of the scenes are rather gruesome if depicted literally, without metaphors or symbolism. I chose a piece that I could draw symbolically, Jesus dying on the cross.

“The idea of a candle, representing his life, being snuffed out intrigued me. I wanted to portray the contrast between the “white” of Jesus’ righteousness and the “red” of his blood shed for us, so I contrasted the white unmelted candle with the red melted wax to portray Jesus’ blood being shed.

“Though it is an artistically simple piece, I appreciated how it didn’t avoid the clearcut harsh reality of the cross. It shows the clear line between life and death and how it was extinguished before the candle (Jesus) had the time to burn through (live a “full life”). As paintings go, this is one of my favorites that I made, and I hope others appreciate it too.”

[Debbie] As I’ve spent some time with Elizabeth’s candle, it seemed to me that the melting red wax uncovering the pure white candle underneath could represent the glory of the revelation on the cross of Jesus’s divinity, such that the centurion exclaimed, “Truly this man was God’s Son.”

Chris Tomlin has yet another understanding of the red and white of the cross (Love Ran Red).

More than clothing, by artist Suzanne Werder, Pittsburgh

But Jesus was stripped

Matthew 27:33-35 They went out to a place called Golgotha (which means “Place of the Skull”). The solders gave Jesus wine mixed with bitter gall … After they had nailed him to the cross, the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice. This fulfilled the word of the prophet: “They divided my garments among themselves and cast lots for my robe.” (Psalm 22:18)

Station 5: Jesus is stripped of his garments

Suzanne says this about her painting:

“I used bright colors to contrast with the subject matter and to show that he was stripped in broad daylight. As I drew, I contemplated how we use clothing not only to cover our nakedness, but to show social status and wealth, to express ourselves, and to look attractive.

The church and followers of Jesus are often called the body of Christ. I wonder what we need to be stripped of.

I left off the head of the man on Jesus’s left not only because I didn’t have room for it on the page, but also so viewers can put themselves in his place. What have you said or done that has metaphorically stripped Jesus and brought him shame?”

Suzanne also made two videos about this work:

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1071021910954924

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1554737401715637

Take a few minutes to let this sink in: Jesus took my shame.

NOTE:

Suzanne earns her living through art. She offers prints of her work for $30. Contact her:

Email artallthethings@gmail.com

Instagram @artallthethings https://www.instagram.com/artallthethings

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/artallthethings

Unfinished, by artist Doug McGill, Pittsburgh

But Jesus’s cross challenges us May 1, 2023

Luke 23:26 As they led Jesus away, a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene [a city in North Africa] happened to be coming in from the countryside. The soldiers seized him and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. … “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.” … “Take my yoke upon you. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Luke 23:26, Matthew 16:24; 11:29-30.

Station 3: The cross is laid on Simon of Cyrene

Doug says the following about his painting:

This piece is very much unfinished, which in many ways reflects the station. It calls each of us to take up the cross and follow Jesus.

My vision for the piece was to capture Simon of Cyrene returning from the field and being surprised by stumbling onto the scene of Christ’s brokenness, the soldiers’ dilemma, and the realization of what he was being called to partake in. In my mind, Simon was off to the Temple to make a celebratory peace offering – hence the young goat in his arms (see Leviticus 7:11-18). In the scene, he’s about to become a partaker in the preparation of a much more significant offering.

I chose a section of the Via Dolorosa that felt closed in, tight, and inescapable, with no option of creating the distance from suffering we so often desire. The dimension is meant to draw the viewer in to see Simon’s confrontation with the cross, feel the tension of a change in course, and emphasize the realizations that can come in a spilt second through the chaos of human drama.

I’m not convinced the current draft captures the intention, but the process of envisioning this work did provide a self-reflection of seeing oneself in the call to love God and others. Even in deep brokenness, facing hostility and suffering, Christ invites us to walk with him.

I hope to continue working on the piece and paint as time allows. Doug

[Debbie] As I’ve taken time to let this painting challenge me, the fact that it’s unfinished lets me see myself in Simon’s place, coming from my own tasks with my own purposes in mind, to a sudden confrontation with Jesus in the very act of laying down his life for me, too hurt and broken to continue bearing the weight of the cross. What will be my response?

Sandi Patty’s beautiful song “Via Dolorosa” captures some of this emotion.

“I found myself rather emotional,” by artist Marissa Bowles, Pittsburgh

But Jesus carried his cross April 27, 2023

Then Pilate turned Jesus over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus away, carrying the cross by himself. … Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. … He was led like a sheep to the slaughter. And as a lamb is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. … Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing. (John 19:16-17, Hebrews 5:8, Acts 8:32/Isaiah 53:7, Revelation 5:12)

Station 2: Jesus Takes Up His Cross

Marissa wrote the following about the significance and the process of creating this drawing:

Before anything else, I prayed. I prayed that the gift of art God gave me would be used to first and foremost glorify him. That after some time away from creating fine art, God would melt away feelings of self-doubt and use me and my now willing hands and heart to create again. I prayed to be led by the Holy Spirit to create something that would be a blessing to many and tell of the immeasurable love that God has for everyone.

Then, I spent time meditating on the Station 2 Scriptures [quoted above]:

I found myself drawn to the use of symbolism. The skull-shaped hilltop with cavernous, tomb-like recesses represents death. Ropes tied about Jesus’ waist, held out of view by soldiers and intended to pull him onward like a lamb led to slaughter, instead trail behind him, symbolizing Jesus’ willing spirit. A halo of light surrounds Jesus’ head, symbolizing his coronation as King of Heaven and Earth. A lamb, traveling the rocky, dirt path opposite Jesus, bows in reverence and gratitude to the truly sinless, spotless Lamb of God, illustrating Jesus as the once-for-all perfect sacrifice for sin. The little lamb is set free from death by Christ’s sacrifice as we too are set free and redeemed — the sheep of his pasture bowing before our Lord. The scene is one of solitude, inviting us to imagine the loneliness that Jesus may have experienced as he selflessly walked the path ahead of him.

I chose graphite on paper as my medium as it has always been a favorite of mine and is forgiving. It often provides me with a feeling of being more connected to the image and the details as they begin to emerge. In particular, I found myself rather emotional, holding back tears, when I began to render Jesus’ wounds. With each stroke of lead, I felt uneasy, sorrowful, guilty and repentant.

I’m so thankful to have had the opportunity to create a piece like this and to be in the company of so many talented artists within the body of the church. I pray that this experience will be a catalyst for more art inspired by Scripture to come into being, not only in the reflective time of Lent, but year round.

In Christ, Marissa