Empty Tomb
From the Artist's Perspective: The thought of the empty tomb is key to the Christian Faith. Christ has risen from the dead just as He said He would. How amazed those women must have been when they first came to the tomb, found it empty and met an angel or two; one even spoke to Christ whom she thought was the gardener. I tried to express this amazement on the faces of the figures within the scene. Over and over I painted them in and took them out. I changed their posture, and I changed their positioning. The last time I painted them out, I sat down to think about how I could make this work? As I stared at the painting, I was taken back on how the painting looked without any figures at all. It wasn't so much the reaction of those first witnesses that mattered as much as it is my own reaction, or anyone else, who really sees the tomb as empty. I now had the answer for this painting which I then tried to transfer into the paint by contrasting the shadowed tomb and the morning's glow. This contrast is symbolic of our Savior who is the way, the truth, and the life and the tomb which represents our sin and its destructive nature. We can be brought out of the tomb by the same power that raised Jesus from the dead. He invites each of us out into His marvelous light. How do you see the empty tomb? Is it as one who has heard an incredible story and the characters involved in it, or maybe you are seeing the empty tomb for the first time for what it means. Keep looking, and you will realize that Jesus, the light of the world, has risen from the dead. If you accept His invitation, He can raise you too. Just ask Him. He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! - Leo Richardson	From the Pastor's Perspective: What a captivating perspective on the empty tomb that once contained the body of Jesus Christ! All other artists' renderings that I had previously viewed of this miraculous and historical event, were from the perspective of being outside the tomb, looking in. When I first saw this painting, my eyes were immediately drawn to the brilliant light outside the tomb's opening. My thoughts raced in several directions, as I considered the spiritual implications of this unique view. I wonder what thoughts captivated the mind of our Lord, as he departed the dark, cold confines of the tomb, and re-entered the world he spoke into existence. In viewing this scene, I am reminded of the relevance of Jesus' words when he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." This painting is a glorious reminder that the One who is the "light of the world" was willing to enter the darkness of our world, our lives, to set us free from our darkness that we might walk in the presence of his light! There is an intriguing portion of this painting that contains a mystery for me. The abstract hews of lighter and brighter colors just to the right of the tomb's opening; suggest the moving of God's spirit dispelling the darkness and replacing that darkness with life and light. Even, when at creation the Spirit of God hovered over the darkness of the earth, so too, the artist brush seems to depict the Spirit's working, at the resurrection of our Lord. The presence of the folded cloth depicts, for me, the order and control our victorious Savior demonstrated, as he purposefully left visual evidence of his resurrection. God is always in control, even in a tomb. I like to think of the steps, leading from the tomb, as a symbol of my journey from death to life. Praise God! Death has been swallowed up in victory, a victory that finds its hope in an empty tomb and the promise of life eternal. - Pastor David Missel