Part II – Restoration
Art has always been a powerful way to express emotions. I want to show you some of my art. It tells a story. My story. Maybe this art helps expiate pain enough to allow healing. Maybe. But it points to a certain hope found in Jesus.
Throughout church history, art has had an important place in expressing Christian experience and teaching. When literacy levels were low it was art that was used to explain Biblical stories, themes and passages. Even now with the primacy of Scripture, art still has a place in telling stories and expressing human experience.
For me, the Bible is the supreme standard of how we are to know God and His message of reconciliation. But as I study the Bible I have come across potent passages that resonate strongly with me. And I find it a great way to explain this mix of personal experience and Biblical exegesis through art. This is Part 2 of a 3 part series showing the Bible passages I have studied, the art developed from these passages and the story behind them.
Restoration
I commissioned Rev. Dr. Mark Tronson to create an expression of Daniel chapter 4.
This chapter has King Nebuchadnezzar sharing his testimony. He is a man who thinks his kingdom rules. He begins as a man confident in his own ability and resting on the power of his kingdom.
He is a man like me. As Big Neb explains, he is then humbled and made like the beasts of the field before being restored. He is graciously taught, through this journey, to find peace in God’s Kingdom. He also learns that God uses all things to bring about His glory and for our eternal blessing despite the short-term pain.
Tronson’s painting shows the transformation from the royal red on one side, symbolising his rule, to the green grass of the field, symbolising his fall and becoming like a beast, on the other. The blue splatter represents Nebuchadnezzar on this journey from one side to the other and his return back to being made in God’s image.
This journey is my journey. And it is an ongoing story bouncing between the two sides: some days restoring, other days lost in the wilderness.
The main application of the passage is that it is the salvation journey for us all: Pride leading to restoration. From dying to self to restored to God by Jesus through the Spirit’s revelation.
See more at http://drmarkt.weebly.com/art.html
Jeremy Dover is a former sports scientist and Pastor
Jeremy Dover's previous articles may be viewed at
www.pressserviceinternational.org/jeremy-dover.html
Jeremy Dover is a former sports scientist and Pastor
Jeremy Dover's previous articles may be viewed at https://www.pressserviceinternational.org/jeremy-dover1.html
And https://www.pressserviceinternational.org/jeremy-dover.html