9 Things We Learned From Jesus Paintings

Since humanity’s very earliest days, artists have sought to use their craft as an expression of mankind’s relationship to the divine. This urge has led to some of the purest and noblest expressions of art that humanity has ever produced, from the sprawling narrative of the Sistine Chapel to the transcendent strains of Handel’s Messiah. From them, we are able to grasp, however faintly, some effervescent quality of our communion with God in a new light, and learn to see our journey in a way that had heretofore been dark to us.

Here are a select few modern examples of those endeavors, and what we can earn from them. These Jesus pictures taught us …

… To always be closing.

… That no one is ever completely beyond restoration.

… That sometimes spiritual warfare needs to be settled the old-fashioned way.

… That in this economy, no one should be ashamed of settling for a traditional suit-and-tie office job.

… That there was a fourth wiseman.

… That diversity matters, at least as far as sports are concerned.

… That, well, actually, there’s a lot going on in this one.

… That Brett Favre isn’t the only one who plays football with friends wearing blue jeans.

… That a referee who knows everything is not an excuse to play nice out there.