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Hosanna! (
Jesus )
Hosanna! ( Jesus
) by Tom duBois
34" by 17"
S&N Limited Edition Of 12500 $165.00
While painting Hosanna!, I was totally unaware of any symbolism within it.
After I finished, however, quite an incredible, visual documentary emerged!
Reference after reference can be cited from Biblical text that relate directly
to many vignettes in the image. I was aware that the image was bottom-heavy as I
was painting, but I didn’t know how to solve the problem. The lower-half of the
painting is full of activity and very rich, but the upper half does not have
much going on. This ceased to concern me after I realized what the image was
telling me. Our life with Christ is joyous, full, and complete! A life apart
from Him becomes empty. (1 Corinthians 3:11)
And here’s an interesting comparison. The statue of Caesar displays a powerful
image of idolatry. Like the “dead stones” on top of the painted pillars, the
great Lord Caesar is nothing but a dead stone. This statue represents man’s way.
The blooming bush overgrowing the statue bears the “living vine” that connects
to the branch that bears the flower that will eventually bear fruit. (John 15:5)
You can choose to follow Caesar becoming a dead stone or follow Christ and be
saved. Look at Caesar, again. What is he pointing at? What falls through the
emptiness? The falling flowers cut from the living vine that sustains them will
soon fall to the ground and wither. These falling flowers represent all of our
false gods…money, sex, drugs, alcohol and so on. When we ignore God and do
things our way, the elation we think we feel is only the sensation of a freefall
to the bottom. As we fall, we should hope to land in the hand drum the woman is
holding out to catch us or on the shoulders of one of those following Christ -
those called by God who will help us, like the Apostle is doing as he supports
the old man. Their teachings will be the conduit of the Way, the Truth, and the
Life!
Let’s not forget the “capstone,” which, literally, is the stone on top center of
the arch that keeps the arch from collapsing. There is a sunburst design above
the capstone on the arch. Where is this shape repeated? Some may think I put the
hand drum behind the head of Jesus to create a halo. However, I initially did
this to lead the viewer’s eyes toward Him. Little did I know I was directing the
viewer to the “capstone” Peter is talking about!
And here is the most amazing story in Hosanna! What is the Bible about? Simply,
it’s a love story. God created Heaven and Earth, and He wanted to have a family
that belonged to Him. So, He made man to live with Him in communion in Eden, but
man said no. The rest of Scripture tells what God did to regain his family.
There is one all-powerful story in scripture - God wants to have a family and He
can’t stand not to have one. After Adam and Eve turned away, God came to Noah
saying, “Build a boat!” He came to Abraham saying, “Gather my people here!” and
to Moses saying, “Get my people out !” God constantly makes and keeps promises
that His righteous followers administer, but the people God chooses to be His
family keep rejecting Him and breaking those promises. What is God’s final
effort? The Incarnation of Jesus Christ!
In Hosanna!, Jesus comes into the city, which represents the world, from the
garden in the distance, which represents Heaven. We now have God coming down to
be amongst us again – dwelling with us. The “king who comes to you, gentle and
riding on a donkey” (Zachariah 9:9) fulfilling the Old Testament prophesy that
is in the scrolls Nicodemus held.
The Law, the Sadducees and Pharisees on the left, shows us our sins in the form
of the three women standing before them. The one in a red cloak represents the
sins covered by the blood of the animal sacrifices made in the Temple. The
center character holds a vase containing all the broken rules. The last woman
holds a basket of red grapes (sins committed) and green grapes (sins yet to be
committed) all of which are subject to God’s wrath. No matter how much those
living on the side of the Law may flute their praises of God, as illustrated by
the flute players; no matter what works of righteousness are done in God’s name,
we are still “held prisoners” by the Law, as illustrated by prison bars on the
wall.
Hosanna! tells us that we can be like the dead stones displayed throughout the
image or we can choose to do something infinitely better…CLING TO CHRIST!
Because of His ultimate sacrifice, we walk in assurance with Him as passive as
little children in a wedding procession stepping ahead. (2 Corinthians 5:7)
Through His gift, we repent, laying our sins aside as He lays down the carpet of
His love, His mercy, and His forgiveness. And because of Him, we are now
brothers and sisters, CLOTHED IN CHRIST, coming before the Father whose Holy
Spirit flies high and rejoices, because He finally has His family back!
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”
Soli Deo Gloria!
(to God alone be the Glory)
