"When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God." John 24: 50-53
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This expressive painting captures the glorious moment of the Ascension of Christ. With a masterful blend of ethereal light and shadow, the artist brings to life the essence of this awesome event. Thirty-three monarch butterflies, each signifying a year of Jesus' mortal life, flutter through the clouds, symbolizing the completion of His earthly mission. The ascension marks a transition from His physical presence to a spiritual reign, seated at the right hand of the Father.
The painting invites us to contemplate not only the historical moment, but also its implications of resurrection power and hope for all who believe. Just as the monarch undergoes metamorphosis, so are we offered the chance to be transformed into His image. This transformation is an ongoing journey, one of becoming, of growing ever more into the likeness of Christ Himself. In beholding Him, we are changed, and this artwork serves as a visual reflection to that promise of transformation and the future hope it holds. We, like the butterflies, are released from our chrysalis of mortality to ascend in spirit, carrying within us the transformative power He has extended, and awaiting the fulfillment of what is yet to come.
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