I’m not sure why, but this video of David Garibaldi painting Jesus brings tears to my eyes every time I watch it. Maybe it is the passion with which Garibaldi paints, or the powerful words in the song “The Glory of It All” by the David Crowder Band. What I do know is that when the painting is turned right side up and the face of Jesus is revealed, I simply lose it.
It’s not that His face is extraordinary, for Isaiah 53:2 tells us that “He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to Him, nothing in His appearance that we should desire Him.” But I can’t help seeing His face as beautiful. I can see the kindness in His eyes, but I also see the anguish in the creases of His face as He endures physical pain. However, it is not His outward appearance that makes Him beautiful to me. Rather, the reason I see Him as beautiful is because He bears the weight of my sin and He sacrificed Himself for me. It should have not been Him on that cross; it should have been me. What did I do to deserve such a gift? Nothing. I never did and I never will.
Yet this free gift is in front of me and I reach out to accept it. I am washed in His blood and my sins are no more. I am made new; white as snow.
When I see this beautiful face of His I imagine myself in a spotless wedding gown, walking down the most gorgeous aisle filled with every sort of colorful flower, meeting my Savior face to face, joining the others in the church as the bride of Christ.
I am ruined and I am saved all at the same time. He has redeemed me. I will never be the same. Everything has changed! No, I will never be the same.
Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.
Revelation 22:17