Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Craft (as in handcraft) (02/08/07)
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TITLE: The Bigger Picture | Previous Challenge Entry
By Marilyn Klunder
02/09/07 -
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Walking through the small craft shop she was captured by the amount of Christian apparel, literature, and knickknacks that the room held. Even the music that played softly in the background she could identify as praise and worship. It was always comforting, especially while traveling, to run into these places. It made her feel less alone and more a part of a bigger picture.
As she continued to peruse the collectables, from the corner of her eye a picture caught her attention. It was a beautiful sepia print of the head and shoulders of the dying Christ on the cross. Ah, she thought, this I will need to take a closer look at. She continued to look at the collectables on the shelves; carefully picking up and setting down each item and walking closer to the framed print.
Within several feet of the print, she noticed the image was starting to change. She could see His hair, beard and mustache take on details that weren’t there before. She walked closer taking just one step at a time. In the background she could see an image of an angel and a set of eyes peering through what was once the hairline of Jesus. In His beard she could see other crosses that lined His beard line. How amazing, she thought. Before her very eyes the print was morphing into other images creating a totally different print.
She now stood within a couple of feet of the beautiful print. Instead of the head and shoulders of the dying Christ, she now sees what was his forehead was now the outstretched hands of Jesus upon the cross. What was His nose was now the pierced body; what was His eye is now the head of Jesus; what was His lips was now the garment that covered his torso, and what was His chin was now the bent knees and calves of Jesus on the cross. In the lower right had corner what was once a dark corner of the picture was now the image of John, the beloved disciple, as he watched his Savior being crucified. She looked at the print completely awed by what she sees.
Our lives are not unlike the beautiful print. Like the words to the song, “The Potter’s Hand” by Darlene Zschech, “Beautiful Lord, Wonderful Savior, I know for sure all of my days are held in Your hand, Crafted into Your perfect plan.” We are crafted in detail from the beginning to the end to make a bigger picture; the picture of the body of Christ.
This wonderful print by artist Octavio Ocampo hangs in my living room today. It is a daily reminder of the cost of my salvation and my part in the bigger picture.
Ephesians 4:10-13 reads:
11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. (from New International Version)
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