LDS Art - Parables of Jesus

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	Against The Wind When Peter saw the Savior walking on the water he cried out, "Lord…bid me come unto thee." "Come." was all He said. Filled with faith, Peter stepped from the safety of the boat on to the stormy sea. But as the winds picked up and the waves grew stronger Peter’s faith turned to fear. As he began to sink, Peter cried out, "Lord, save me." Two thousand years later, Christ is still calling to us. As we step from the safety of self-reliance on to the stormy seas of discipleship, like Peter we pray, "Lord, save me." With perfect calmness He stills the winds of our doubt, reaches down from heaven and saves us. (See options...)


	All That She Had (See options...)


	All Were Satisfied (See options...)


	Christ Gathers His Apostles (See options...)


	Cleansing Of The Temple (See options...)


	Five of Them Were Wise President Spencer W. Kimball's book, Faith Preceded the Miracle, states: "Attendance at sacrament meetings adds oil to our lamps, drop by drop over the years. Fasting, family prayer, home teaching, control of bodily appetites, preaching the gospel, studying the scriptures—each act of dedication and obedience is a drop added to our store. Deeds of kindness, payments of offerings and tithes, chaste thoughts and actions, marriage in the covenant for eternity—these, too, contribute importantly to the oil with which we can at midnight refuel our exhausted lamps." Original: oil, 30 x 52 inches, 1999. (See options...)


	He That Is Without Sin The leaders of the Jews brought an adulterous woman before the Lord asking if she should be stoned. Christ simply said, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” Convicted by their own conscience, the crowd disappeared leaving only Christ and the accused. “Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?” he said, “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” In my own life it is easy for me to focus on my sins and forget the eternal value of the sinner. I then remember this story and the Savior’s power to heal. When the crowds cry for justice I take shelter in His mercy. (See options...)


	I Know My Sheep (See options...)


	I Know Thee Not In the parable of the Ten Virgins the Lord compares His Second Coming to a wedding feast in which ten virgins are invited to wait for the arrival of the newly married couple. Knowing that the wait might stretch into the night each virgin brought a lamp, but only five brought extra oil. When the wait for the bridegroom stretched longer than anticipated, the five foolish virgins ran out of oil and were forced to go to the market in search of more. While they were away the Savior came and went in with His guests to the feast. When they returned the door was shut and they called to the Lord to open. He said simply, "I know you not." Can you imagine the moment when they realized that they would not be admitted. Some might express anger at having waited so long, it was His fault for not coming sooner. Others might have dismissed it as having never wanted in to begin with. I wanted to capture those who cry out recognizing the finality of those words, "I know you not." (See options...)


	I Would Gather Thee I WOULD GATHER THEE AS A HEN GATHERETH HER CHICKS Parable O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! - Matthew 23:37 I Would Gather Thee (Biblical) On the night before Jesus was crucified, He went to the Mount of Olives overlooking Jerusalem with His disciples. As He sat looking down on the city and people He loved, He lamented, "... how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!" - Matthew 23:37. I Would Gather Thee, A Mother's Vigil (Modern) God still longs to gather us today under His wing. He is anxious to protect us and provide comfort amidst the ever growing storms that surround us. I painted twelve chicks, symbolic of the number of Jesus' apostles - those who assisted Jesus in His work - and the thought that God wants to gather all of His children, but that He often does this through the love and efforts of others here on earth. (See options...)


	In Humility (See options...)


	Lamb Of God As the artist explains, “There is a long period in Jesus’ life—after he taught in the temple at age twelve and before he declared his ministry—that remains unknown. We can assume that as a Jew, Jesus would have taken part in the centuries-old Passover ritual. At twelve he would have been considered a member of the community and expected to make the Passover pilgrimage from Nazareth to Jerusalem. I have portrayed the young Jesus with a sacrificial (paschal) lamb—symbolic of Christ himself, first-born and unblemished—to represent Christ’s sinless sacrifice.” Published from the artist’s original oil painting. (See options...)


	Lamb Of God (See options...)


	Lost Sheep In the parable of the Lost Sheep the Lord compares Himself to a Good Shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine to look for the one sheep who is lost. It is easy for me to become distracted with things that seem important at the time, only to find that I have wandered away from the Lord and become lost. At those moments I take solace in His words: “And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.” (Luke 15:5-6) (See options...)


	Parables What can we learn about compassion and forgiveness from the Parable of the Prodigal Son? What does the metaphor of the Good Shepherd teach us about integrity and leadership? Do the parables of Jesus really apply to us today? The imaginative art of James Christensen illuminates the parables taught in the New Testament by Jesus Christ. Twelve parables and four additional teaching stories are brought to life in this painting. See if you can find them all: Good Samaritan, Widow's Mites, Prodigal Son, Sower, Lost Coin, Good Shepherd, Pharisee and Publican, Importunate Friend, Rich Fool, Ten Virgins, Talents, Sheep and Goats, House Upon a Rock, Woman Taken in Adultery, Rich Man and Lazarus, and Gospel Net. (See options...)


	Raising Lazurus From The Dead (See options...)


	Sermon On The Mount (See options...)


	Suffer The Children To Come Unto Me (See options...)


	Ten Lepers "And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole." Luke 17:15-19 As he did with The Widow´s Mite, James Christensen interprets one of the Bible´s more powerful stories and presents us with an image of elegance, grace and beauty. At the same time he engages us in one of the higher promises of art: provoking thought. In fact, the art of reflection is at the core of the painting´s message. The Ten Lepers were a group of men cured of their disease through one of Christ´s miracles. Their tattered wrappings suggest what was, until this moment, their illness. Of the ten, nine are too preoccupied celebrating their new lease on life to think of anything else, much yet thank him. The tenth, at this moment, grasps truly what has occurred. He is the only one that returns to acknowledge the Master. This image provides an inspiring reminder to take a moment from our fast-paced world and reflect on what we have to be thankful for. And, just as importantly, to take the time to show this gratitude. (See options...)


	The Blind Leading The Blind The Parable of the Blind is one of the best-known sections from Jesus’ famous Sermon on the Mount. It reads: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?” Jesus used the metaphor of the blind men to suggest to his followers that they examine their own hearts and souls before calling attention to the flaws of others. James Christensen has taken the parable in a new, more light-hearted direction in The Blind Leading the Blind. Christensen sees his blind men as archetypal figures, embodying the different ways people deal with difficult situations. All four men are lost, but their expressions reveal their attitudes: one man is unhappy, one is content with his lot, one man is confused and one has tumbled into the pit entirely. The Blind Leading the Blind is a whimsical reminder to remain humble—and to give others the benefit of the doubt. (See options...)