"CHRIST VICTORIOUS FOUND WITHIN THE ARTS"
Emmanuel: God with Us
“ And His name shall be called Emmanuel”
By: James Robert Kessler c2005
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Matthew 1:23 (KJV)
Destiny and purpose go hand in hand. The prophets foretold of His coming and now angelic hosts were proclaiming it upon Bethlehem’s hillsides to the shepherds and their flocks. The very stars themselves rejoiced with all of creation to proclaim His glory. This is the inspiration behind this painting- the stable in Bethlehem and the infant child, Jesus.
Although at this very young age Jesus wasn’t yet fully aware of His purpose. The floating down of the feather triggers a sense of longing within Him. The feather is such a small part of this picture puzzle but it is essential in what it represents. When He was later baptized in the Jordan river, John describes the Holy Spirit as a Dove descending down from Heaven. In this manger in Bethlehem I can hear this same voice of the Father as He is saying, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased”. The Father had just become a Daddy and His baby was longing for Him in a stable of straw. This feather was a Father’s tear and this Holy child longed to be held in the bosom of Heaven’s arm-- above and beyond the barriers we know as time.
“For the Joy set before Him, He endured the cross”. It’s so hard to imagine that at this innocent age this child would know this kind of Joy. He willingly came in the fullness of time to fulfill His purpose and to become part of His very creation. The creator of all things came in the flesh to be a bridge that gives us access to an eternal crown-- a crown of life. For make no mistake, this was a mighty King in that filthy stable and in the hands of this baby King, the universe was His rattle. What was it like for the Father to watch His only Son grow up in time? To watch His Son move amongst His own creation, and to hear Him laugh, to hear Him cry? These are the things that make this child’s life so very special, so very divine.
In His foot there is a small thorn. He had just gotten it amongst the straw and dirt of the stable. Imagine as He looks up to His Father a tear forms in His eye and again His purpose is foreshadowed. This small thorn would one day become one of many He would wear as a crown and reminds us of a nail that would hold His feet to a cross. We sing “Away in a Manger” to remember that crib that held Heaven’s most precious gift-- as the lambs gather(one spotted and one unspotted) beside it and watch. There are also the busy sounds of all the animals amongst the whispers of angels rejoicing. The smells of this small stable, the brilliant star that shown down upon it, Heaven’s nursery, welcoming the King of Glory, the lamb of God.
Destiny and purpose go hand in hand. The prophets foretold of His coming and now angelic hosts were proclaiming it upon Bethlehem’s hillsides to the shepherds and their flocks. The very stars themselves rejoiced with all of creation to proclaim His glory. This is the inspiration behind this painting- the stable in Bethlehem and the infant child, Jesus.
Although at this very young age Jesus wasn’t yet fully aware of His purpose. The floating down of the feather triggers a sense of longing within Him. The feather is such a small part of this picture puzzle but it is essential in what it represents. When He was later baptized in the Jordan river, John describes the Holy Spirit as a Dove descending down from Heaven. In this manger in Bethlehem I can hear this same voice of the Father as He is saying, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased”. The Father had just become a Daddy and His baby was longing for Him in a stable of straw. This feather was a Father’s tear and this Holy child longed to be held in the bosom of Heaven’s arm-- above and beyond the barriers we know as time.
“For the Joy set before Him, He endured the cross”. It’s so hard to imagine that at this innocent age this child would know this kind of Joy. He willingly came in the fullness of time to fulfill His purpose and to become part of His very creation. The creator of all things came in the flesh to be a bridge that gives us access to an eternal crown-- a crown of life. For make no mistake, this was a mighty King in that filthy stable and in the hands of this baby King, the universe was His rattle. What was it like for the Father to watch His only Son grow up in time? To watch His Son move amongst His own creation, and to hear Him laugh, to hear Him cry? These are the things that make this child’s life so very special, so very divine.
In His foot there is a small thorn. He had just gotten it amongst the straw and dirt of the stable. Imagine as He looks up to His Father a tear forms in His eye and again His purpose is foreshadowed. This small thorn would one day become one of many He would wear as a crown and reminds us of a nail that would hold His feet to a cross. We sing “Away in a Manger” to remember that crib that held Heaven’s most precious gift-- as the lambs gather(one spotted and one unspotted) beside it and watch. There are also the busy sounds of all the animals amongst the whispers of angels rejoicing. The smells of this small stable, the brilliant star that shown down upon it, Heaven’s nursery, welcoming the King of Glory, the lamb of God.
Wise men journeyed from afar as a brilliant star guided their way to the hills where David once shepherded his flocks, where now the angelic hosts proclaimed His arrival. This little town of Bethlehem became a door, and through that door walked a savior– -a King, a Son, a redeemer, our friend, this baby child, JESUS.
James Robert Kessler
Because of Him Art ministry c2005
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