“Jesus Christ, The Love, Light and Hope of the World”
by Sarah T Bookless
My painting is called ”Jesus Christ, the Love, Light and Hope of the World”. In the painting we see Baby Jesus sleeping in His Father’s arms. In Deuteronomy 33 verse 27 we read “The eternal God is your refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms”. The painting shows Baby Jesus being sent on His mission to the world. “For God so loved the world that He sent His one and only Son that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but shall have everlasting life.” John 3 verse 16.
As believers and followers of Jesus we are also sent into the world on Mission. Jesus desires that we also bring His Hope, His Love and His Light to this broken world.
As a teenager I attended the local Academy. Our school’s motif was a beautiful bright golden yellow star and around the star, the words of our motto ”Splendeat Lux” (which as all Latin scholars know, translates as “Let your light shine”). This was our School Badge which I wore proudly on my School Blazer. The words are taken from Matthew 5 verse 16 “Let your light so shine before men so that they see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven”.
John 20 verses 21-22 confirm this commissioning. “Again Jesus said “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me I am sending you and with that He breathed on them and said “Receive the Holy Spirit”.
Jesus knew that we could do nothing in our own strength but only through Him, with Him and in the power of His Holy Spirit. “Not by power or might but by my spirit says the Lord God Almighty.” Zechariah 4 verse 6. Page 13 of 15
Much loved English poet William Wordsworth (1770-1850) in his poem “Ode: Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood” also speaks of this belief that we are all sent by God:
“Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting
The soul that rises with us, our life’s star Hath had elsewhere it’s setting and cometh from afar
Not in entire forgetfulness
And not in utter nakedness But trailing clouds of glory do we come from God, who is our home”.
It is beautiful and exciting to celebrate Christmas… We all enjoy seeing the sparkly, glittery baubles in the shop fronts, the decorated Christmas trees, the wonder of it all, the giving of gifts to one another etc. However, most of all we thank God the Father for giving us the Gift of His Son, Jesus, so that through His Birth, Death and Resurrection we may have Redemption through His Precious Blood and have new life in Christ. He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His Beloved Son”. Colossians 1 verse 13.
May Our Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ Our Lord, grant us His “Shalom” this Christmas 2022 and in the New Year to come. In Colossians 2 verse 10 we read “And you have been made complete in Christ”. May the ”Shalom of the Lord” nothing missing, nothing broken be with us and bless us all. I hope and pray that the Light of Jesus Christ will shine even brighter… even more radiant in us this Christmas and in the coming year… so that we may bring God’s Love, Hope and Peace and Light to this world… a world that He loves so much and this would indeed be a wonderful, precious Christmas gift to give to our Heavenly Father so that when He sees us… He sees His Precious Son reflected in us. Shalom, my Friends!!!
May the Light of His Love Bless and Fill the Manger of our hearts this Christmas and light our Pathways throughout the coming year. Amen
NB: Another similar painting of Sarah’s is “God is Love”.
Sarah Therese Bookless copyright 2022.
Sarah T. C. Bookless, Christian Artist
This picture is reproduced by kind permission of Sarah.