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As the artist explains, “There is a long period in Jesus’
life—after he taught in the temple at age twelve and before
he declared his ministry—that remains unknown. We can assume
that as a Jew, Jesus would have taken part in the centuries-old
Passover ritual. At twelve he would have been considered a member
of the community and expected to make the Passover pilgrimage
from Nazareth to Jerusalem. I have portrayed the young Jesus
with a sacrificial (paschal) lamb—symbolic of Christ himself,
first-born and unblemished—to represent Christ’s sinless
sacrifice.” Published from the artist’s original oil
painting. |