THIS PAINTING CAME TO ME AT A TIME WHEN I WAS BEGINING TO SEE THE IMPORTANCE OF SYMBOLISM AS A BRIDGE TO ALL THINGS SPIRITUAL. PEOPLE ARGUE ABOUT THE PLAUSIBILITY OF THE LITERAL ASPECTS OF SCRIPTURAL STORIES, BUT IF WE CAN LOOK BEYOND TO THE SYMBOLIC DIMENSION OF THOSE SAME STORIES WE WILL ALWAYS SEE THE PROFOUND TRUTHS WHICH THEY WERE MEANT TO CONVEY.

HERE ARE JUST A FEW GRAPHIC REFERENCES TO THE CHRIST: THE ROSE OF SHARON, THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD, LIVING WATERS, THE COMB OF HONEY, THE BREAD AND THE WINE WHICH ARE ALSO THE WHEAT AND GRAPES OF AGRICULTURAL BOUNTY. EVENTUALLY THE ENTIRE COSMOS RADIATES FROM HIS PRESENCE. ALL OF CREATION CONSPIRES IN A SYMBOLIC CHOIR TO TESTIFY OF THE REALITY OF THE GODHEAD. FINALLY CHRIST HIMSELF BECOMES A SYMBOL. AS SON OF GOD AND SON OF MAN HE SYMBOLIZES THE ULTIMATE AND IDEAL HUMAN BEING, THE POTENTIAL AND THE DESTINY FOR WHICH WE WERE ALL CREATED. BUT THIS IS AN IDEAL THAT MUST BE RECEIVED AND INTERPRETED IN EACH INDIVIDUAL HEART.