This painting depicts three views: a microscopic
view of God’s angel appearing and delivering the message to the shepherds, a
church community view of shepherds (pastors and church leaders) guiding their
flock towards a Christ-oriented life journey, a macroscopic view of the hope of
the second coming of Christ.
(1) The Microscopic View:
“There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night
watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and God’s
glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, ‘Don’t be
afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for
everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who
is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a
blanket and lying in a manger.’”(Luke 2:8-12 The Message)
Above was the vision of God’s angel delivered to the shepherds in the
neighbourhood of Bethlehem.
“At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises: Glory to God in the heavenly heights, Peace to all men and women on earth who please him. As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. ‘Let’s get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us.’” (Luke 2:13-18 The Message)
I wonder if the shepherds left the sheep and hurried off (as fast as they can) for the above vision God gave to them through the angel, or if they hurried off with their sheep. My husband said, “Good shepherds won’t leave their sheep, only hired hands would leave the sheep.” That has something to do with John 10:13-15, and the Good Shepherd there refers to Jesus himself, who is God. (They are good shepherds, but not perfect shepherds, as only God is perfect. They are good in their hearts. Herod had bad motives in his heart so that the wise men and the angels didn't reveal to him the nativity's location.) I also had done the research, and discovered sheep can gallop up to 40 Km/hr! They hurried off so that they could make it to the nativity location with the flock, or they hurried off without the flock so they could return back as fast as they could to the flock trusting that their flock would be safe under God's care? Personally, I prefer to paint a nativity scene with a flock as the flock symbolizes people.
(2) The Church Community View:
The flock is a symbol of the congregation. The shepherds are a
representation of the pastors and church leaders. The shepherds are plural; the
flock needs a pastoral team working closely together, complementing and
accountable to each other in guiding their sheep towards a Christ-oriented
journey. In terms of leadership, the shepherds walk behind and alongside with
their flock of sheep for alignment and caring, rather than walking in front of
the flock. The flock, although appears to be quite fluffy, its fluffiness
inhabitates smelliness!
You are welcome to join us on the journey towards a Christ-oriented community.
(3) The Macroscopic View:
“I am the Alpha and the Omega (A to Z),” says the Lord God, “who is, and
who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8 NIV)
You might recognize there is a judge wearing a wig, in which Jesus is the
mouthpiece. Running down from the wig are the arms and body extending to all.
The manger cave is of the letter shape Omega Ω, and the circular shade of light
inside the cave and along with the two rays penetrating through the slits make
up the letter Alpha α.
Appendix - The Pilgrimage of this Painting:
I started with a much wider span of scripture, which included the sages
visiting Herod and the city of Jerusalem; however, the painting didn’t quite
turn out what I had been expecting. Upcoming Herod’s order to kill all baby boys was distracting. I was a little bit frustrated, so I discarded the first painting, which included the sages visiting Herod and
Jerusalem, plus the birth of Jesus, Bethlehem and the shepherds/flock. I prayed
again. I took out another piece of canvas and started painting the background
without any ideas in my mind but only by focusing on the birth of Jesus,
Bethlehem, the shepherds/sheep, the hope, and the guidance. All of a sudden when I
was moving the thick paint around and around, I had an urge of turning it into
a circle in the upper middle. Then everything came naturally, or should I say
flowing from the Spirit as guided by God. Thank God and Amen: all troubles
continue in the world and around us, but only by focusing on Christ and
discerning His voice (as shepherds heard the angel), then we will be guided
in His Peace and towards His vision. The red stain, the blood from the
massacre of the innocents by Herod (Matthew 2:16), in the dark/tainted purple in
the background represents wickedness and darkness; however, the true Light
penetrated through it. The Light penetrates through the slits in the rock
and shines in the darkness (c.f. John 1:5).