Luke 5

Healing of the Paralytic (2009) (9" x 12")

collage on paper

Many of Jesus' miracles seem to necessitate the faith of the one being healed. In this case, the only faith in Jesus implied in the story is that of the paralytic's friends who bring him to Jesus.  Jesus' ultimate motive in healing was to demonstrate his love, not to test others' faith.

Luke 5

Gennesaret (2009) (9" x 12")

collage on paper

This is the miraculous catch of fish recorded in Luke 5:1-11. It is also the story containing the famous phrase "fishers of men."  Peter's actions are interesting to observe. First he agrees to Jesus' suggestion on where to cast the net even though this is an area in which Peter is the recognized expert, not the son of a carpenter.  And then, when Jesus' advice proves fruitful, Peter's reaction is to declare his unworthiness to be in Jesus' presence.

Most of us in the same situation would probably have sneered at Jesus' advice to start with. And if we did follow it, it would be only to prove Jesus wrong. Then after his words proved true, we would probably have said, "I was just going to fish on that side of the boat anyway."

The Prodigal Son: Part 3

Earner (2010) (17" x 17")

collage on hardboard

The elder brother is perhaps the most interesting character in the parable; at least he is the one we can identify with the most.  His major problem is not jealousy of his brother, although that certainly comes out clearly in the story. His problem lies in thinking that he can only gain love and respect from his father by his hard work.  The concept of grace is foreign to him.

The Prodigal Son: Part 2

Giver (2010) (24" x 13")

collage on hard board

The return of the prodigal son and his acceptance by his father is one of the clearest examples in the Bible of the principle of pure grace extended by God to all those who repent and turn to Him as their only hope of salvation.

The Prodigal Son

Taker (2010) (17" x 17")

collage on hardboard

Our home Bible study group is going through the Sermon on the Mount. To comment on Matt. 27:9 ("Which of you, if your child asks for bread, will give him a stone?"), I read a quote from George MacDonald collected in an anthology by C. S. Lewis: "The Father will never give the child a stone that asks for bread, bt I am not sure that He will not give the child a stone that asks for a stone."

One of the people in our group noted that this was exactly what the father in the parable did; he gave the younger son what he asked for, knowing that it was not best for him but realizing that the son needed to learn his lesson first hand, the hard way.

Luke 24

Road to Emmaus (2010) (16" x 20")

collage on canvas

Just as the beginning of Luke's Gospel describes the various witnesses to the miraculous events surrounding Jesus' birth, the conclusion describes the witnesses to his resurrection--including the two travelers on their way to Emmaus.

Acts 9

Road to Damascus (2010) (16" x 20")

collage on canvas

The concept of "road" or "way" is especially important in the New Testament. One of the first names for Christianity was actually The Way.  One fateful road was that taken by Saul on the way to persecute Christians in Damascus. This four-panel "cartoon" describes what happened to him, as related in Acts 9, 22 and 26.

The Seven Deadly Sins

Prisoners (2010) (12" x 16" x 10 3/8"h)

mixed media construction in antique vending machine

The concept of seven deadly sins is not present in the Bible but arose in early Catholicism. These sins were said to lead to all other sins.  Each of the polymer clay figures in the above assemblage represents one of the sins.

Joseph in Prison

Dreamers (2008) (34 3/4" x 23")

collage and metal grate on hardboard

Genesis 39-41 describes Joseph's stay in prison before being released by Pharoah. While he was dreaming of freedom, his fellow-prisoners were literally dreaming. In fact, it was Joseph's interpretation of their dreams which eventually led to his release. This piece is in the Museum of Biblical Art in Dallas.

Chiasms in the Gospel of Mark

"Come" (Mark) (2008)

mixed media in modified cigar mold

Mark's Gospel has a number of symmetrical word patterns (such as chiasms) hidden in it. A simple example is found in all the appearances of Satan:

                                                                         Tempts Jesus (1:13)

                                                                               Against himself (3:23-26)

                                                                               Against believer (4:15)

                                                                         Tempts Jesus (8:33)

The triptych above is based on the most elaborate pattern in the Gospel, a 22-part symmetrical pattern formed with all the occurrences of the Greek word aperchoma ("come").  This work is now housed in the Museum of Biblical Art-Dallas.

Uriah the Hittite

Uriah ((2007) (12" x 16")

collage on canvas

The sympathetic figure of Uriah is another personage whose character can be analyzed in one of two ways.  On the one hand, he is portrayed in the Bible as being a warrior fiercely devoted to David and his cause. Thus, his betrayal and death at the hand of David makes for a truly tragic story.  On the other hand, one wonders whether his total devotion to his work hasn't alienated his wife, in which case Uriah himself is partially to blame for the consequences.

Bathsheba

Bathsheba (2007) (12" x 16")

collage on canvas

Bathsheba, the original bathing beauty, remains a somewhat enigmatic character. One could accuse her of purposely seducing David so that she could trade up husbands. On the other hand, she appears to act  passively in other episodes such as when Nathan has to urge her to get assurances from David that Solomon will succeed him and when she agrees to Adonijah's  dubious proposal that he be allowed to marry Abishag, David's "concubine."

King David

David (2007) (12" x 18")

collage on canvas

In most of us there is a mixture of our carnal and spiritual lives, but these two are possessed by David in the extreme. His nobility of character and reliance on God are demonstrated by his psalms and by the way he treats his enemies. However, his lust and betrayal of his loyal supporter Uriah come to the forefront in the story of David with Bathsheba.

Job 38-39

 Hard Questions (2006( 24" x 24")

collage on canvas

More Questions (2006) (24" x 24")

collage on canvas

God's long speech to Job toward the end of the book seems at first to have little to do with Job's complaint. It is a list of rhetorical questions regarding the physical world. However, its pertinence is seen in Job's reply, given in Job 40:4: "See, I am of small account; what shall I answer you?"

It is only when we realize our smallness before God that we can stop trying to figure out what God is doing in any given situation in our life or the lives of others.