I saw this painting years ago in a book, and I just came across it tonight.

The depiction is brutally honest, and it makes me wonder about the Lord. It (the painting) is such a departure from what I typically see depicting Christ.

I feel more connected to my saviour

I see truth, and reality coupled with mercy and grace...

Thank you so very much my friend for sharing such a striking depiction of Jesus...

I saw that, too! And it seems to me to point to Isaiah 53.

Thank you for sharing it. I tried to find it some time ago and here it
is right on time.

Blessings,
signet

I'll add another comment...This was a work painted by Russian artist Ivan Kramskoy, circa 1870's. The picture is entitled "Christ in the Wilderness" and it is a depiction of when He was led to temptation for 40 day's.

I imagine this painting depicts the 40th day of his fast when he was contemplating the stones and the devil then approached him, offering that he make them into bread.

Imagine the power of that moment? It is so unlike this sort of depiction seen below



In Kramskoy painting, the struggle and battle of the temptation is clearly seen on Christ face and its raveging effects. The devil is not anywhere to be seen unlike the painting in the other picture, but the power is so suggestive that the presence of the enemy is certainly there, and that you can imagine satan standing next to Christ, offering him those stones.

And there is the realization, the connection that I make and identify with Christ. My wars are in my mind, they are in my heart and flesh. No devil to be seen, but that nonetheless, the devil is there!

So when I imagine Christ in the wilderness, if I were to stumble across this man in the desert perhaps fifty meters away, engrossed in his thoughts, not even taking note of my presence, I am transfixed, seeing this lone figure. No devil and angles around him. Just a man by himself. And, this soul that is the Son of God is deeply embarked in a search for answers, he is contemplating and suffering just for my sake!

To be the perverbial "fly on the wall" and witness the Lord's journey in the wilderness is to see in essence the very hand of God set the stone of an unshakeable foundation. That's power, that's grace and that is what I see in this picture.

HB,

I saw that, too. When I came upon this I was researching at a Library when I found the picture. It
has been in my head and heart for about 20 years. I later associated it with I 53, and I saw the
poetic, literary beauty of it. The spiritual beauty of the Lord unfolds as a rose, yes? Ever opening
and opening our hearts and minds to Him and His way.

Bless you for sharing this. Bless you.

signet

I thought the same thing!


Isaiah 53 (New International Version)

Who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?

He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.

He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.
Like one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Surely he took up our infirmities
and carried our sorrows,
yet we considered him stricken by God,
smitten by him, and afflicted.

But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.

We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before her shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.

By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
And who can speak of his descendants?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was stricken.

He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.

Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.

After the suffering of his soul,
he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.

Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.

That my friend was one of the most beautiful things I have ever heard anyone say online!

Bravo!!!

PEACE be still...he loves you dearly and walks BEFORE you. many many blessings HB

He's HOLDING YOU, and will not let go.