IT IS FINISHED
Strange things had begun to happen. I had painted a series of 7 pictures randomly, apparently without connection, not knowing why & yet God had a plan that they would be linked to tell the story of my relationship with Him.
This next painting was the strangest of all. My plan was for the face of Christ saying “IT IS FINISHED,” the centre panel of His face reflecting the crucifixion scene with the 3 Marys at His feet until I realised that John & the soldier who pierced His side were also there. Jesus hair & background had taken on the appearance of the fire & flames of hell to suggest Him taking our sin there but amongst the tangle, other figures appeared in the same way that we see faces in the fire & clouds.
The most touching was the dove (God’s Spirit) pierced among the crown of thorns, I cried as I realised God wanted me to glimpse His agony as they crucified His Son. Not only was the Son’s head pierced but also the Heavenly head, God the Father, His heart bled too. I realised these paintings would never be mine they belonged to Him –“ forgive my clumsy hands & proud heart Lord,” I prayed.
This was the place where all that had been, all that was & all that would be, met for a brief time- IT IS FINISHED.
The thorns show His earthly crown but reflected above is the glory of the heavenly crown He would wear again in His heavenly kingdom.
Other images from the old & new testaments & the book of Revelation appeared in the background. I have clarified the images with sketches. see if you can spot them. The hardest to spot is a death mask-like face of Satan hidden in the robes of the Harlot. His mouth forms the same shape as Christ’s as he lets out a roar in defeat when Jesus cries IT IS FINISHED.
Notice the 666 markings on his forehead. I also found the woman clothed in the sun with a crown of 12 stars & the red dragon with 7 heads waiting to devour the child she is to give birth to (REVELATION 12) & the harlot in red & purple robes (REVELATION 17). The beast turns on her making her naked & desolate. Even the colours where right, for I had used red, gold & dark purple.
Above this scene, a lamb stands as though slain (REV 5:6).
I lay in bed reading & stopped, thinking, “how can a lamb stand as though slain?” It suddenly seemed important. Was the lamb in the picture? Heart thumping I crept out of bed to see & there he was between a scene of Jesus & the 2 thieves & the portent in Revelation. I couldn’t believe it! All of these background scenes were simply highlighted on my part to make them more apparent but God had put them there. To the right of the picture are the bronze serpent in the wilderness, Moses & the tablets of the law & Miriam cleansed of her leprosy.
I can’t express how strange it felt to paint this picture, as I seemed to have NO control over it simply emphasising what was already there. I definitely was not in control God was.