Life, Death, Resurrection
‘The Human One’
Thirty paintings that tell the story of the Life, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
With poems by Father Thomas Bates-Bourne
On a sunny Sunday morning in September 2018 a seed was sewn. Like most seeds, it started off rather small and primitive… perhaps a few drawings or a couple of paintings that would illustrate and enable me to share my faith in Christ. As the research began and the thumbnail drawings, doodles and notes started to fill my sketchbook, the concept became much clearer and much larger in scope, a commitment that would take several years to complete. Within just a few weeks this small journey had grown into something of a pilgrimage, complete with highs, lows… and lockdowns!
After much deliberation I settled on the notion to produce thirty images, one for each piece of silver that was paid to Judas Iscariot for the betrayal of Jesus. Echoing this idea, each painting would include thirty pieces of silver, often hidden within the image, sometimes within the rain, the stars or the dust as it catches the light. The paintings are full of other hidden details too, often becoming visible as you delve below the surface.
I have worked through the story of Jesus’ Life, Death and Resurrection in chronological order, taking elements from each of the Gospels and interpreting them through the medium of oils. As I approach each new painting it feels like a doorway is opening and I quickly find myself immersed within each moment of the Gospel narrative. I read, I question, I pray for guidance and I load my sketchbook with thoughts, notes and thumbnail sketches. Sometimes ideas come quickly and unexpectedly and on other occasions it can feel like a long and laborious process but I always seem to get there in the end.
And another thing… This is totally self-funded, it is an expensive, risky and incredibly time consuming project for a full time artist, but I absolutely believe that art can be a wonderful way of sharing the good news…. I have seen it working already.
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah 9:6
“1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it.”
—John 1
“11And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.”
—Luke 1
Holy of Holies
Sacred space,
The ground of heaven’s
Incarnate shape made of polished stone.
All that we know of paradise:
A doorway in the dark,
A billowing curtain,
Edges smudged by clouds
Leading us onward
Leading minds upward. ‘
May my prayers rise before you
Like incense, the raising of my hands
As the evening sacrifice.’
So often we reach
So often we grasp
Seeking to discern;
Define a shape.
To trace the eternal in our prayers:
The longing of a barren house,
And a faithful servant’s broken heart.
In reaching we surrender
In grasping we hope
In discerning we see.
We see, but things not for human eyes.
Our hands of clay grasped by hands of heaven. Fallen and falling we are caught up
In more than we dared to hope,
Failed to believe, And seeing,
the incomprehensible purpose of love
Before which mere mortals
Can do nothing but stand: speechless.
“26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
— Luke 1
Let It Be
The dappled shade of knowledge
Dances like freckles on the innocence of my cheek.
Eyes closed, still I can see the sun burnt on my retina.
The dawn that will break over all things Cannot be shut out.
I can feel the warmth spread over my skin
The delight of its rays sinking beneath, rejoicing into my flesh and bone.
As if all creation were to be willing life,
calling it forth from the recesses of the earth
where it has lain cold and dead.
The Sun who holds his court,
commands the planets dance and wheels the stars
and even in this cosmic ballet of giants, titans and kings,
Life: something so small inside me stirs in answer to the dance.
What shadow is this that brings no cool shade
but touches my inmost being?
The warm and heavy scent of
Human skin, and hair, warm earth and life itself,
all so irresistible under the spring sun that
even the Almighty will take it up.
Between two trees the virgin dances and life
blossoms into all its fullness,
And our salvation knit within his mother’s womb
takes up the breathing and rooted cross of his flesh.
Let it be, irresistible life.
Let it be.
“11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”
— Luke 2
A single grain,
So small and seeming dead
In the warm dark earth may make its bed.
Foxes their holes,
Birds have their nests
But the Son has no place
To lay his ‘sweet’ head.
How great you are, O tiny one!
How small you were, O Little Lower than the Angels.
How small we are,
Fallen, and falling…
Yet your plans for us
Our hopes enthralling.
“Least” you became.
“Least of the Least”.
The ‘House of Bread’ brings forth a feast
A table set for those from north and south
From east and west.
Both Jew and Gentile are your guest.
For in this grain contained was,
“By No Means Least’:
Heaven and earth in little space.
When from the earth is lifted up that ear,
All people will flock to hear.
And the cross shall stand
While the earth still turns
And the harvest grow thick
While the angels sing,
And the Star attests
To both Prophet, Priest and King.
For that single grain
Of humble birth
Beneath the cross
Shall feed the earth,
And be called by name:
‘Bread of Life’
Broken to mend our former strife.
Heaven’s harps in human hands
Strike up a tune to sweep us up
And draw us back across the floor
To the bridegroom
Whose faithfulness we knew before.
That we may know
In this humble grain
The love that is remedy to our pain:
Fulcrum that crushes all our sins,
The axis upon which all the universe spins.
O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Full of hopes and dreams,
At the centre of the dance,
You are ‘least’ by no means.
“2 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.”
— Matthew 2
A monarch, hidden in a cattle stall,
Truth of all truth, not hidden from all.
Eyes that watch, hearts that wait. Drawn by a star to the stable gate.
Cross shifting dunes, an ocean broad,
To Bethlehem, where Herod's sword
Threatens to thwart salvations plan
Pitching his fear against God made man.
For the King of Kings, the child God willed Innocent blood would be spilled
Gold, incense, myrhh will prove no armour
For Rachel's cry is heard in Ramah.
“9 And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. 10 And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: 11 And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
— Mark 1
The River’s Womb
Deep eddies of the river’s womb.
Cool crucible, swirling forge of man.
Her time is upon her:
Time for the embrace of the death that lies beneath.
Time for the new life that declares: ‘Here it springs up. Do you not see it?’
Sunk into a death that must surely be,
the Father’s hand caresses the pregnant belly
and owns the one to come forth as his ‘beloved’.
Brooding spirit draws forth the begotten man to the life above and
hails the new creation
as the second Adam draws creations first breath
and takes his first footsteps
in the mud of Jordan’s bank.
“5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.”
— Matthew 4
If
A nursery of smiling coils
gapes wide to receive the newborn
Like a midwifes warm welcoming towel
poised to smother in its warm embrace
one tiny and helpless in cold blooded death:
the condition that he came to save.
In this unpromising Eden each perfidious ‘if’ seeks to snare
the hope of a fallen race
And sugared kisses from vipers lips
whisper honeyed lullabies:
Tales of empty promises and vain glory,
to mask the ancient poison.
Each constricting coil draws out the breath
and probes the victims mettle.
To snuff out hope
and watch life ebb from a long promised salvation with each constricting ‘if’.
“6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. 7 And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. 9 For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken.”
— Luke 5
When The Boat Comes In
Empty nets were galling
All night long we’re trawling
There’s a sight appalling
when the boat comes in.
Hunger wrack and ruin
faced us when we drew in
disaster for a crew-in
when the boat comes in
Then came the preacher
thinking he’d teach us!
Then came a preacher
teach us how to fish!
Then came the preacher
thinking he’d teach us!
Then came a preacher
teach us how to fish!
Rabbi mind your business
You must have some sickness
If you think it’s thickness
keeps us from our catch.
Seasoned fishers are we
Men who slave on the sea
We don’t need a wannabe
teach us how to fish!
Stick to your scriptures
Spare us your lectures
Stick to your scriptures
Leave us to our nets.
Stick to your scriptures
Spare us your lectures
Stick to your scriptures
Leave us to our nets.
Don’t you think we tried
Looking on the other side?
We’ve hunted far and wide
to find a shoal of fish.
Just to shut him up
For treating us as tup
We’ll ‘drop’ the nets and ‘up’ here
on the other side.
Then that’ll teach him
to treat us as dim
Then that’ll teach him
‘Try the other side.’
Then that’ll teach him
to treat us as dim
Then that’ll teach him
‘Try the other side’
Nets are stretched
to braking
All our arms are aching
Haul! Our hearts are quaking
at this catch of fish
Where can they have come from?
Every man is struck dumb!
Who on earth’s this rabbi
Taught us how to fish?
Nets cast aside
we’ll go far and wide
with Jesus abide
When the boat comes in.
Nets cast aside
we’ll go far and wide
with Jesus abide
When the boat comes in.
‘Fish have been your living
but from now on forgiving
following, life-giving
when the boat comes in.
You’ll seek and you will find
you’ll ‘fish’ through all mankind
you’ll heal the lame and blind
When the boat comes in.
Dance for my Father
I’ll call you brother
Dance for my father
when the boat comes in
Dance for my Father
I’ll call you brother
Dance for my father
when the boat comes in.
“5 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”
— Matthew 5
“23 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. 24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. 25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. 26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. 27 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!”
— Matthew 8
‘Be still, and know that I am God’ Psalm 46.10
‘a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD’ 1 Kings 19.11
Death speeds to greet us over the wave
Promising each trawlerman a watery grave.
The hard smack of his backhand that winds,
Snatching the taste that dry fears weave
from lips to which heart and stomach cleave.
He casts it to his pack, who whet their appetite in the spume
And raise their ghost-white, baying maws from Adam’s ale
To welcome Adam’s kin to their reward.
‘…but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake…’
Leviathan, his steed, bucks and billows
Snorting foam -flecked spray.
Ropes lashing, boards are cracking
In men’s hearts hopes are dashing.
Coils from the monstrous girth reach out
And darkness that’s without begins
To eat away at faith within.
‘but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake, a fire…’
Fear leads to anger in each man’s breast.
Does He not care for our distress?
Is the one who made all things well
Content we should die upon the swell
In tortured anguish while the tempest billows
He sleeps calm on the stern’s soft pillows.
Should our anguish and our living hell
Be not one for him as well?
‘but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire a still small voice’
‘Be still’ he said,
And it was so.
Death sinks to bide his time below.
Who is this man who chose to be
so intimately wrapped up with me?
This still small voice for whom wind and wave Must govern how they would behave?
Upon the quiet face of the deep
Is stillness, love, and joy, and peace
And on that water, naught was heard
Except spoken, God’s incarnate Word.
“5 And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. 2 And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, 3 Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: 4 Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him. 5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.”
— Mark 5
“21 And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children. 22 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. 23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.”
— Matthew 14
There is a moment when day is done
When children have been fed and put to bed,
When lover and beloved stop
And see one another for the first time clearly.
The frenzy of life subsides
And in the cool of the evening breeze
they drink deep of the untapped source:
of an eternal changelessness.
They look, the one to the other
And in their weary subject find, beyond all understanding, peace.
Take off your shoes, therefore,
for this ground on which you stand is holy.
And love that was holy from before all began Brings to love all that has been made holy before life's end.
Thus the dance comes full circle
Gathering to itself all things
in the calm sweetness of the evening breeze.
“25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. 27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.”
— Matthew 14
“After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.”
— Matthew 17
What they see in me
Faces that since childhood I have known
Spill their stern countenance upon the floor
And puddles of bright pigments flood
The cool white stone with summer sun.
Swirling, spiralling up each butter-beam
galaxies of fluid dust crowds the empty air;
a busy tangibility which one might slice
And feel oneself caressed by long forgotten ghosts.
‘Shall the dust praise you?’, the psalmist cries
He thinks not, yet each waltzing mote seems to make reply
And draws me with them, exultant,
up from where my dust must be to seek out higher things.
Across the shafts of golden light,
abustle with a hallowed and unbroken nothingness
Sombre, lead framed faces seem to appraise me
and to know, even as I am fully known.
And in that empty busy-ness of dust,
the warm sun casts their faces upon my skin.
To that high and lofty pane I cast my mind to see
and looking down I wonder what it is they see in me.
John 6:35 - And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.”
John 8:12 - Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
John 10:7 - Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
John 10:11 - I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
John 11:25 - Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
John 14:6 - Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John 15:1 - I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
— Gospel of John
“32 Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. 33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled. 34 And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. 35 Jesus wept.”
— John 11
When i can’t make it better
I remember how it felt
holding your tiny, fragile heartbeat in my hands,
that faint glow I’d known, loved, and nurtured into life.
I who knit you together in your mothers womb,
fanned you into flame, into blossom with my love,
knowing how soon it must end and that I must watch,
a bystander, while it did.
Suddenly you seemed so strong, so real to me
for something so ludicrous: A tiny scrap of life in a big empty universe. So incredibly unlikely.
And as your life departed and angry tears coursed down my world weary cheeks I held you up to my Father;
A child with a broken toy.
Because for all my pretences as an adult in this lived long world, all I am is a red faced child
lamenting the brokenness of things
as the illusion snaps, the tears fall, and the blossom drifts softly down like snow.
19 And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2 And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. 4 And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. 6 And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. 8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. 9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
— Luke 19
37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 38 See, your house is left to you desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”
— Matthew 23
12 On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,13 Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.14 And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written,15 Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt.
— John 12
22 While they were eating, he took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” 23 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it.24 He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. 25 Truly I tell you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
— Mark 14
41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.45 And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,46 And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.47 And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him.
— Luke 22
73 After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you are also one of them, for your accent betrays you.” 74 Then he began to curse, and he swore an oath, “I do not know the man!” At that moment the cock crowed. 75 Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said: “Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.
— Matthew 26
3 When Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. 4 He said, ‘I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.’ But they said, ‘What is that to us? See to it yourself.’ 5 Throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed; and he went and hanged himself. 6 But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, ‘It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since they are blood money.’ 7 After conferring together, they used them to buy the potter’s field as a place to bury foreigners. 8 For this reason that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. 9 Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah, ‘And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of the one on whom a price had been set, on whom some of the people of Israel had set a price, 10 and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.’
— Matthew 27
45 From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 46 And about three o’clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’
— Matthew 27
44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45 while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, ‘Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.’ Having said this, he breathed his last. 47 When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, ‘Certainly this man was innocent.
— Luke 23
5 But they will have to give an accounting to him who stands ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this is the reason the gospel was proclaimed even to the dead, so that, though they had been judged in the flesh as everyone is judged, they might live in the spirit as God does.
- 1 Peter 4
40 For just as Jonah was for three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so for three days and three nights the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth.
- Matthew 12
15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’ 16 A second time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Tend my sheep.’ 17 He said to him the third time, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ And he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep.
- John 21
50 Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. 2 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; 53 and they were continually in the temple blessing God.
- Luke 24
2 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.3 Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
- Acts 2
