The Joyful Season of Lent

Acrylic Painting

Lent is our yearly reminder that God is the one preparing the feast, a banquet better than we could ever make ourselves. We are invited through our Lenten observances to focus our thoughts, our appetites, and our hearts on the One who generously pours out “a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing.” (Luke 6:38 NAB). Lent reminds us that the many joys of this world bear no comparison to the joy that we shall find in the resurrection. Throughout the 40 days of Lent, the Church speaks of joy in the liturgy, illustrating via both Scripture and prayer that Christian joy is about anticipating God's presence:

Peter actually said we could rejoice because we had a “lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1: 3 KJV). Our Lenten prayer, fasting, and almsgiving help us remember the merciful love and compassion that God shows all people and prepare us to receive salvation with joy.

by: Miranda Wong

Acrylic Painting

Easter is specially a meaningful time as it commemorates the suffering and death of Jesus, as well as the resurrection. “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” (Roman 6:4) This drawing has portrayed the stunning moment when our Lord died on the cross. The moment that His life on earth was flashing back. It was a life of legend that was full of God's miracles one by one, and His love to the people is tremendous.

復活節紀念了主耶穌的受難和復活, 特別具意義 。「我們藉著洗禮歸入死, 和衪一同埋葬, 原是叫我們一舉一動有新生的樣式, 像基督藉著父的榮耀從死裡復活一樣。」羅馬書6:4 這幅畫想像了基督死在十字架時的情景。在那一個舜間, 正回顧着主耶穌在世的一生事蹟。這一生不單只是充滿神蹟和奇事而且亦顯明了他對人們的大愛。

by: Hugh Kuo

Acrylic Painting

This artwork captures the scenery after the crucifixion of Jesus when Mary went to look at the tomb. When Mary entered the tomb, she encountered an angel who came from heaven and the angel said to Mary “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where He lay” (New International Version, 1978, Matthew 28:5). After Mary encounter with the angel, she was filled with joy and spread this great news to Jesus's disciples.

by: Trinity Lee

Acrylic Painting

by: Angela Torres

Rain

Arcrylic Painting

Can you guess where this painting was inspired? During a badminton session at church. It was raining outside and pitch black — I couldn't even see past the trees that were loosely silhouetted.

A series of questions popped into my head: What if waiting for Jesus to rise from the dead was like this? Dark, hopeless, dreary, exhausting, bleak, gloomy. How do we respond to the “light at the end of the tunnel” that we can't see? What if waiting for Jesus to return is like this?

That was the moment where God started talking to me not only about hope, but waiting in hope. He reminded me of the abundance of His promises that help us while we wrestle with the tension of the not-yet. How do you wait in hope?

by: Tiffany Koo

Arcrylic Painting

I will say that this painting idea just came to mind as soon as I thought about Easter, the two items the bread and the cup came into mind first. Lots of people call the cup and bread differently like the wine was never called wine in the bible. Some evidence is in Mark 14:25 and Luke 22:18 it says that the wine is “the fruit of the vine” and in 1 Corinthians 10:16 it says “the cup of blessing, which we bless.”

by: Tiffany Ng

Jesus

Arcrylic Painting

This painting came from a private time with Jesus — wherein while coming alongside the Spirit in intercession, I was invited to press in and come closer.

It was a magical moment of intimacy where I not only had permission to initiate physical contact but felt compelled to. It flipped my how-we-“get”-to-interact-with-Jesus schema inside out, and birthed a new way for me to relate to Him. This revelation also came following an Easter weekend years ago. And as I was painting, I was led to scaffold His sacrifice into this Jesus moment I had to layer my reflection. This Jesus, who gave Himself up for us, invites us into intimacy with Him. How stunning is that?

Song pairing: Closer — Amanda Cook

by: Tiffany Koo

Die Before We Live

Arcrylic Painting

We live because Jesus died. Baptism identifies us with Christ in His death and resurrection, portraying our whole life as a dying to self and living for and in Him who died for us (Galatians 2:20). However, are we actually taking up the cross and following Christ? Have our old self fully put to death, especially the sinful ways and lifestyles we once engaged in? Or are we the lukewarm followers who try to live partly in the old life and partly in the new as those whom He will spit out (Revelation 3:15–16). As a Christian, death to self is not an option, it is a lifelong process and it is the only choice that leads to eternal life.

by: Miranda Wong