“He Came By Water & Blood” 12″ x 24″ Abstract Mixed Media 3D © 2022 by Donna Gonzalez
When I started making this piece having the background paper glued onto the canvas, I had in mind to create a monochromatic black and white abstract work, incorporating feathers and sparkly beads. And I wanted the Lord’s input, so I prayed about it. The scripture “…He came by water and blood…” came to mind. My initial thought was, “Wait, what? What has that got to do with a monochromatic feathery design at all!” Well it doesn’t.
[And as I write this I’m having another epiphany….funny how this whole summer all of my “plans” have changed!]
Anyhoo…..I’m sure the Lord probably hears that all the time, we have an idea in our noggin and when we ask for His advice, His answers in a much different direction. And either we bulk and sulk, plead and argue with Him to change His mind, or we can enjoy the journey by coming into agreement with Him. And that’s what I did, because I know the Lord Jesus has much better ideas and plans than what I can imagine! (I’ve done my share of bulk & sulk, plead & argue too) But this time I stepped back out of the way, obeying His advice – that’s the key –> obedience – and let Him work. There is a two-fold blessing in leaning into the Lord and just doing what He wants: freedom of enjoying the process and entering into His rest while creating His art. 😀 Here’s 1 John 5:6
“This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.”
Iconography:
This artwork is from Jesus’ point of view hanging from the cross looking down upon the ground. I used as a ground cover a textured black and cream colored batik mulberry paper, the black is the blackened soil, the blackness of sin, the cream the sand stained with the bloody footsteps of the Saviour. The twisted ripped fabric represents Christ’s destroyed garment that He wore, tattered from the cruel scourging received as the razor sharp cat-o’-nine tails tore through His clothing and through His body; now tossed to the ground in contempt. The red jasper beads and red glass beads represent drops of His precious blood, the white glass beads symbolizing His shed tears, sweat and finally the water that would gush from His opened side when the Centurion’s spear would later pierce. The pieces of mirror represent our sinful brokenness as humanity peers into the mirror to see not Jesus Christ but themselves. We see our incompleteness our shattered lives, our brokenness, that Jesus Christ came to redeem us from our sins, willingly paid that sin penalty you and I deserved because of His great love for us. He saves us from an eternity of Hell, from an eternity of hopelessness, despair and death, if we but only believe on Jesus Christ for our salvation.
May this mixed media abstract artwork bring you hope, healing and wholeness that can only be found in the redemptive work that our Saviour Jesus Christ did upon that cross. He did it for me; He did it for you, because Jesus Christ loves you that much.
In Christ Jesus,
Donna