The artist of this image is unknown, however the image was found in “Standard Bible Story Readers, Book One” by Lillie A. Faris in 1925.
The image, entitled “Jesus is the Shepherd Who Rescues the Lamb,” depicts Jesus in a white robe with a yellow sash. Jesus holds a small lamb in one arm and a staff in the other arm. The sunrise in the background represents the hope that Jesus brings in his all-encompassing love. The parable of the the Lost Sheep is illustrated in this image through Jesus carrying the small, lost lamb back to his flock. Jesus is seen as a benevolent leader who cares for all people and all animals, even a weak little lamb. The lamb in the image is small, meek and helpless-looking. Portraying the lamb in weakness reveals that when one strays from Jesus’ word, they are left destitute and yearning for more. Luckily, Jesus is the hero that can save us all, shown in his powerful stance in the image.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
“Jesus is the Shepherd Who Rescues the Lamb.” La Vista Church of Christ. 2003. 5 December 2016. http://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/Pictures/Standard%20Bible%20Story%20Readers,%20Book%20One/target70.html.
“New Testament: Luke.” Enterthebible.com. Last modified 2016. https://www.enterthebible.org/newtestament.aspx?rid=4.
Ray C. Stedman. “God and the Unthinking.” Authentic Christianity. Last modified 1995. http://www.raystedman.org/thematic-studies/treasures-of-the-parables/god-and-the-unthinking.
“William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible.” Studylight.org. Last modified 2016. https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/dsb/luke-15.html.
I am a second-year college student, and a first-year student at St. Olaf College. I am not unfamiliar with Christianity nor the Bible, however this is my first experiencing digging into the text and viewing the Bible in its literary and historical worlds. The Gospel of Luke was a beautiful book that helped me understand many Christian values as well as the power of Jesus Christ on the people during his lifetime. The mystery of faith remains a mystery for me, however the Gospels as well as the rest of the Bible as a whole have created more questions and curiosities about both the Jewish and Christian faiths.