Greater Love
Greater Love, Acrylic on Canvas, 18" x 24", 2025
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. - John15:13 (ESV)
For the entire duration of His earthly ministry, Yeshua knew exactly where his path ultimately led. The knowledge of the inevitable abandonment, humiliation, and excruciating pain and torture that He would endure was a burden that He willingly carried with Him everyday. This is portrayed in the painting by having the elements of the crucifixion strapped to Yeshua as an unwieldy backpack. Included amongst the items on the pack is a single cup as a reference to His prayer in the garden of Gethsemane in which He asked the Father,
“..if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” - Matthew 26:39 (ESV)
In spite of the horrendous task that was being expected of Him, Yeshua was obedient to the Father, just as Philippians 2:8 records:
“And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
This radical obedience was an expression of love and gratitude to the Father because Yeshua knew there was a larger plan being accomplished. There was a reason for the suffering He was going to endure.
This reason is beautifully summarized in John chapter 4 when Yeshua has a conversation with a Samaritan woman at the historical well of Jacob as he metaphorically explains,
“whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” - John 4:14 (ESV)
This is why He was willing to suffer and die. This was the plan since before the foundation of the world, that atonement for sin would be made through His sacrifice and grant forgiveness of sins and eternal life to all who place their faith in Him.
The entire chapter of Isaiah 53 poetically outlines an elaborate prophecy of the Messiah in striking detail. This prophecy, which was written 700 years before Yeshua was born, is shockingly accurate concerning many of the facts about Yeshua’s life and suffering.
“But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned--every one--to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” - Isaiah 53:5-6 (ESV)
“Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.” - Isaiah 53:5-6, 11-12 (ESV)
If you have never read the entire chapter of before, which is only 12 verses long, it is incredibly eye-opening and well worth the time. Much of this painting is inspired by the themes and elements covered in Isaiah 53 and this is alluded to by the small green sprout in the bottom corner of the painting as a reference to verse 2,
“For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground…”
The painting also includes a ram with it’s horn caught in a thorn covered thicket as a reference to Abraham being asked to sacrifice his son Isaac as described in Genesis chapter 22. It’s interesting to note that Abraham was asked to sacrifice Isaac on a mountain in the land of Moriah which later ends up being the same location that Solomon ultimately builds the temple. (2 Chronciles 3:1) Centuries later, Yeshua is sacrificed at Golgatha which was, at that time, just outside the city of Jerusalem. So in reality, the symbolic sacrifice of Isaac and the crucifixion of Yeshua both took place within the same small region!
There are actually many fascinating parallels between Yeshua and Isaac.
Isaac was a miracle baby who was born to a woman to old to conceive. Yeshua was a miracle baby born to a virgin, conceived by the Holy Spirt.
Isaac was an only son (Gen 22:2) and Yeshua was an only son (John 3:16)
Isaac was figuratively dead for 3 days, since the journey to go and sacrifice him took 3 days. Yeshua, however, was literally dead for 3 days.
On his journey to be sacrificed, Isaac was accompanied by two servants. At his crucifixion, Yeshua was accompanied by 2 criminals.
Isaac carried the wood for his own sacrifice while Yeshua carried his own cross for the crucifixion.
Being old enough to easily resist him, Isaac willingly submitted to his father’s wishes. And as already discussed, Yeshua also willingly submitted to His Father’s wishes.
Isaac was figuratively brought back from the dead when he returned home after having not been sacrificed. Yeshua was literally brought back to life when he rose from the grave.
It’s also amazing to note that on their way up the mountain Issac realizes they have the fire and the wood for a burnt offering, but no animal. When he asks his father about this, Abraham gives an answer that is also a prophecy.
“Abraham said, "God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son." So they went both of them together. - Genesi 22:8 (ESV)
It is extraordinary to me how the Father orchestrated the lives of Abraham and Isaac to paint a prophetic picture of his plan for redemption. How astounding that the Father chose to stay Abraham’s hand and not require him to kill his only son. And yet, the Father WAS willing to sacrifice HIS only son in order to redeem us to all. The lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.
“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13 ESV)
For the entire duration of His earthly ministry, Yeshua knew exactly where his path ultimately led. The knowledge of the inevitable abandonment, humiliation, and excruciating pain and torture that He would endure was a burden that He willingly carried with Him everyday. This is portrayed in the painting by having the elements of the crucifixion strapped to Yeshua as an unwieldy backpack. Included amongst the items on the pack is a single cup as a reference to His prayer in the garden of Gethsemane in which He asked the Father,
“..if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” - Matthew 26:39 (ESV)
In spite of the horrendous task that was being expected of Him, Yeshua was obedient to the Father, just as Philippians 2:8 records:
“And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
This radical obedience was an expression of love and gratitude to the Father because Yeshua knew there was a larger plan being accomplished. There was a reason for the suffering He was going to endure.
This reason is beautifully summarized in John chapter 4 when Yeshua has a conversation with a Samaritan woman at the historical well of Jacob as he metaphorically explains,
“whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” - John 4:14 (ESV)
This is why He was willing to suffer and die. This was the plan since before the foundation of the world, that atonement for sin would be made through His sacrifice and grant forgiveness of sins and eternal life to all who place their faith in Him.
The entire chapter of Isaiah 53 poetically outlines an elaborate prophecy of the Messiah in striking detail. This prophecy, which was written 700 years before Yeshua was born, is shockingly accurate concerning many of the facts about Yeshua’s life and suffering.
“But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned--every one--to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” - Isaiah 53:5-6 (ESV)
“Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.” - Isaiah 53:5-6, 11-12 (ESV)
If you have never read the entire chapter of before, which is only 12 verses long, it is incredibly eye-opening and well worth the time. Much of this painting is inspired by the themes and elements covered in Isaiah 53 and this is alluded to by the small green sprout in the bottom corner of the painting as a reference to verse 2,
“For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground…”
The painting also includes a ram with it’s horn caught in a thorn covered thicket as a reference to Abraham being asked to sacrifice his son Isaac as described in Genesis chapter 22. It’s interesting to note that Abraham was asked to sacrifice Isaac on a mountain in the land of Moriah which later ends up being the same location that Solomon ultimately builds the temple. (2 Chronciles 3:1) Centuries later, Yeshua is sacrificed at Golgatha which was, at that time, just outside the city of Jerusalem. So in reality, the symbolic sacrifice of Isaac and the crucifixion of Yeshua both took place within the same small region!
There are actually many fascinating parallels between Yeshua and Isaac.
Isaac was a miracle baby who was born to a woman to old to conceive. Yeshua was a miracle baby born to a virgin, conceived by the Holy Spirt.
Isaac was an only son (Gen 22:2) and Yeshua was an only son (John 3:16)
Isaac was figuratively dead for 3 days, since the journey to go and sacrifice him took 3 days. Yeshua, however, was literally dead for 3 days.
On his journey to be sacrificed, Isaac was accompanied by two servants. At his crucifixion, Yeshua was accompanied by 2 criminals.
Isaac carried the wood for his own sacrifice while Yeshua carried his own cross for the crucifixion.
Being old enough to easily resist him, Isaac willingly submitted to his father’s wishes. And as already discussed, Yeshua also willingly submitted to His Father’s wishes.
Isaac was figuratively brought back from the dead when he returned home after having not been sacrificed. Yeshua was literally brought back to life when he rose from the grave.
It’s also amazing to note that on their way up the mountain Issac realizes they have the fire and the wood for a burnt offering, but no animal. When he asks his father about this, Abraham gives an answer that is also a prophecy.
“Abraham said, "God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son." So they went both of them together. - Genesi 22:8 (ESV)
It is extraordinary to me how the Father orchestrated the lives of Abraham and Isaac to paint a prophetic picture of his plan for redemption. How astounding that the Father chose to stay Abraham’s hand and not require him to kill his only son. And yet, the Father WAS willing to sacrifice HIS only son in order to redeem us to all. The lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.
“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13 ESV)