I am inspired by this painting from Andrew Gadd entitled, “Bus Shelter Nativity” Andrew Gadd, the artist, says:
“At first I didn’t like the idea of painting a nativity scene in an urban setting. However, once it was explained that it was to be designed for bus stops, it gave me an idea… this idea. The bus stop when simplified is like a stable. It is after all a shelter; a place people go to but never want to be. So where better to stage a nativity? How unlikely! The image reflects the environment it will be shown in, and therefore includes the viewer. Which is what it is all about.”
This painting moves me in several ways:
- The mix of Renaissance style with a modern scene reminds me that the incarnation of Christ is just as real today as it was 2,000 years ago.
- The colors give me hope that in this season of darkness, the light of Jesus Christ still shines strong.
- The painting is a challenge ot the church to go into the world and reveal the love of God to all those in need.
How does this painting inspire you?
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This post is part of a monthly Synchroblog. Other contributions are linked below.
- Phil Wyman at Phil Wyman’s Square No More
- Adam Gonnerman on being “In Darkness”
- Lainie Petersen at Headspace
- Jeff Goins is “Walking in the Light with Jesus”
- Ellen Haroutunian finds Holy Darkness
- Bethany Stedman thinks Light is Coming
- Julie Clawson walks through Darkness and Light
- Kathy Escobar will Take a Sliver Anyday
- Susan Barnes at …and here’s a photo of one I made earlier
- Joe Miller thinks you can Discover Light in Darkness
- Beth Patterson talks about Advent: Awaiting the Ancient and the Ever New
- Liz Dyer says What the Heck
- Sally Coleman muses about Light into Darkness
- Steve Hayes with the Lord of the Dark
- Josh Jinno with Spiritual Motifs of Darkness and Light
- KW Leslie contrasts Darkness versus blackness
- Erin Word writes Fire and Sacrifice
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When did Jesus every admonish his disciples to remember his birth?
Except for the dinner plates behind the heads, this is a scene that should be familiar to lots of people who live in a large city.
Am I being too crass? Ah well.
Hi Jerald, you asked the question, “when did Jesus ever admonish his disciples to remember his birth?”
I don’t know that Jesus did, but the Holy Spirit did inspire the disciples to remind us of Jesus birth. For example, see Matthew 1:18
“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows…”
So I guess there is some value in remembering the birth of Jesus since it is in the Scripture.
Yes, there is great value in remembering the first advent of the Savior. I guess my reaction to the picture was because of the way that the baby Jesus is remembered today in a lot of places.
I appreciate what you said about the way the nativity moves you. Just thinking about that event and all that it meant to the world moves me too.
I just want the remembrance of the Savior, that God has come to the earth, to move people, not a nativity scene.
I really enjoy your site too.
awesome painting. cool book coming out as well. i’m just beginning to learn about finney.
i like, also, how jesus is born in the dark. it makes that scripture about a light coming to the gentiles so much more visual. the light came to the darkness, dwelt amongst it, and then illuminated it.
I really like that painting,and the bus shelter idea… the dark and light contrats are wonderful…. and it should make us uncomfortable!
Thanks for this art, Joe–
What it did for me was stir some memories…of seeing this Christ child in Alabama, Mexico and Haiti, at bus stops and in crowded buses…maybe ill, traveling for healthcare. Maybe new, going home to the hill country.
But yes, I’ve seen this Christ child before. What have I done about knowing it was the Christ in one of his many distressing disguises? Not enough…not nearly enough.
Thank you, thank you–
i like this picture, these kinds of images remind me of Jesus' humanity & divinity all mixed up together…