I Have So Many Questions About This Painting
Sooo I saw the following painting on Facebook when Sam (@blunted215) reposted it, after seeing it on someone’s page with the caption “I almost cried seeing this.”
I have so many questions about this painting.
* Why is Jesus behind ol’ boy looking like He has to go to the bathroom really badly? Is Jesus tryna stop dude’s high? Or is he tryna give him a massage and his shoulders are too tense? I am confused.
* How many vices and bad things could there be in one picture? It’s like an After School special gone wrong. We got liquor, cigarettes, a gun, cards (which I guess signify gambling), cocaine, heroin and a random skull. And homie’s hair is greasy. 7 Deadly Sins and then some. Maybe that’s why Jesus looks like He has a tummy ache.
* Whose handprint is on that door, and why is it there?
* Where’s Jesus’ left arm? I’m asking. For reasons.
* Did Tyrese paint this? I’d think so but he’da included MLK or Malcolm X somewhere in this pic. And they’d be looking onto the scene disapprovingly.
* The people who wanted to cry when they saw this pic. Was it because of how wack it is? It surely couldn’t be because this touched them. SURELY COULD NOT BE.
Sam thought this painting looked like the cover to a Hardy Boys mystery. He’s not wrong. This painting begs for a book about a misunderstood middle schooler. I don’t even understand what its’ tryna accomplish.
I just… do y’all have any answers for me?
It is time to write that book. Come into The Book Academy and learn how to go from IDEA to INK.
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43 Comments
The dude’s left arm is actually Jesus’ left arm, signifying (I guess) that Jesus’ is pained (hence the expression) for the things he is taking in our place.
…it’s still wack though
It is clear that Jesus it taking the addiction from this man. Any addiction any sin is covered by the blood of Jesus, those of you who say its Jesus getting high, SHAME ON YOU. Jesus died for all of us so that we wouldnt have to have the pain and suffering that he took when he died on the cross for our sins no matter what they may be….In my eyes he is saving this man….
I’m a recovering addict that used for over 40 years, all the things that went with that life. I saw this when in my first year, I now have 8.5 years free of it all! Thank you JESUS! This painting made everything that I never could understand or get over so clear. I used to think I was so lucky, such a strong heart as I could do amounts that were killing others, crime, prison, gang violence running the streets, cut my own throat literally, hung myself, nothing worked, it was JESUS all the time keeping me alive long enough to get to the point of surrender. My life is 180 degrees opposite, I serve both at my church(non denomination), and in the community wherever I go. I’m now an honor student, ordained minister, and life though not 100% perfect it is a blast. JESUS by taking what would have surely killed me and did others I am helping to help others get free.
That is so obvious,I cant believe someone didnt get it right away,Whats to be confused about?
The painting is showing that people who do heroine\meth are not only hurting\themselves there also hurting jesus.
I think the painting is meant to signify that Jesus is taking on our suffering. If you look closely you see that jesus and the dude’s arm are one. The painting is supposed to be deep and profound I guess, but it just left me scratching my head.
the things in the picture is showing us the things that the devil has put in our path. the painting is meant to signify that no matter what we have done wrong, no matter what sin we have commited jesus died on the cross for our sins, he took the judgement for us.
cosign them two^^
I also co-sign the first two…that’s the only explanation that makes a lick of sense…I mean I get the concept but it’s a little…over the top, maybe? 0_0
I agree with Tes that the dude’s left arm is Jesus’ left arm. Maybe it’s supposed to symbolize the pain we cause Jesus when we deliberately hurt ourselves (hence the ‘I gotta go really bad’ expression). As far as all of the vices that are crammed into this one pic, I agree, a bit too much. Maybe the hand print on the door was left when dude used that same left hand while trying to obtain some privacy in order to do his bizness, but Jesus, who is also owner of said hand, was resisting, so the pressure left the hand print. Maybe the people who wanted to cry had their minds so boggled trying to figure this out, it brought tears to their eyes. Because, in agreement with you, SURELY it could not have been that they were touched by this. As far as Tyrese painting this, I don’t EVEN wanna go there… Lastly, surely Malcolm, Martin and maybe even Jesus himself are looking at this and are thinking the same thing that we are, “Dude, this is just too much”. *shrugs* Hey, after all of this analyzing, I too now have tears in my eyes. And a headache. *reaching for Aleve*
Jesus’ arm and the guy’s arm are one, like to say when you hurt yourself, you’re also hurting God. My thing is..if your painting needs a whole paragraph to explain what’s going on for me to understand, then your symbol has failed. That random skull though… I just don’t get it.
Maybe the skull symbolizes death. This is just too much. I’m done.
Since my other thoughts have already been stated, I’ll just ask: are those nunchucks on the door? If so, for why?
this is the equivalent of these horrible chain letters your newly re-saved aunt sends. Just awful. Who gets teary at something as trite as this? It’s like weeping over Footprints.
I get the idea they’re trying to express. The execution of it is WTF?!
Yeah? How about this?
http://www.inquisitr.com/wp-content/santa-vs-jesus-detail.jpg
No wurrds!!!!!
When I FIRST glanced at this pic, I seriously thought that was a hand choking Jesus and not his neck. LAWD.
first off MJones, yes those are nunchucks and I have the same question why? maybe it signifies evil ninja syndorome…I donno. I think Jesus looks pained cause He is thinking why are you putting me in in this scenario, knowing good and well that I do not condone the vices portrayed here. I think the artist is under the impression cause people wore the “Jesus is my homie” shirt that means he gets in on all the junk people do.
I, too, am crying but only cause I know not what I see… ::
I agree with the first two commenters
It looks like drug dude and Jesus share a tattoo…LOL
Why is there a glass of orange juice on the table?
My bad…it’s a candle.
So…this dude with all these vices had the presence of mind to pour his drank all neat and ish. Okay.
Umm…Team Jesus? */* Yay?
The messy walls aside, this has to be the neatest drug/drink/gambling den I have ever see. Maybe he straightened up for Jesus.
LMAO!!! You know what?! Im going home…..I guess I need to straighten my room up…you know, just in case Jesus comes through…. #TeamJesus
A bit too heavy-handed for my taste. He’s also the angriest junkie I’ve ever seen…not that I’ve seen that many..ya know what, it’s too early.
First things first, I thought Jesus left hand was in his you know what masturbating, and that look on his face is….oh I need to go to church ya’ll. Forgive me ya’ll!
Ummmm . . .okay, I’ll play. First, why is the guy trying to tie off a vein at the shoulder? Secondly, on that map of the world in what I assume is the guy’s boyhood bedroom, why does North America have this weird growth of extra land coming out of the east coast? Also, I guess he cut the coke lines with the playing cards, but he had the presence of mind to leave his driver’s on the table; I guess so they could identify him if he overdosed. I know that Jesus was the propitiation of our sins, and He finished it all on the cross, so why the pained expression? A simple touch is all that’s needed. iCried . . . tears of laughter.
Do you not realize that sin is painful to the Lord and every time sin is committed Christ is crucified all over again? Yet Jesus loves humanity and absorbs the bad things that is done. When He was crucified he took it all for the world and offered it hope. Whatever holds people in bondage Christ took it, because only he holds the power to destroy it; that we might be at liberty to live for him.
Is it just me, or does it look like Jesus is standing behind dude but the dude is putting the needle in Jesus’ arm??? #TheDevilIsALie
Its really not hard to analyze at all. It definitely didn’t take all this effort to see the meaning. It was an instant understanding. Maybe the fact that I’ve had close relatives suffer from addiction and have seen some continue on the road of destruction and the other few put it in gods hands and overcome the addiction. This isn’t about God getting high. He put his arm out for his son. He’s feeling the pain and it symbolizes that no matter what type of lives we live, he wants to save us. This is a powerful painting. I’d hang it in my home.
Is no one ever going to address the strange circle in the middle of the image with the two lines coming out the corners of dude’s mouth? Looks like some weird protractor or something? No? Not even 2 years later? Oh, ok.
Jesus is in us! He feels everything that we feel; physically, mentally, etc. He is feeling everything the junkie is feeling in this picture… Do you really want to put Jesus in any more pain??? Put Jesus first in your life! Don’t let him suffer anymore for your sins. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whosoever believes in him shall have ever lasting life! John 3:16
The hand print is the addicts. Jesus was knocking and sin had such a hold on him he wouldn’t let him in. Jesus takes away all our pain and sorrows. Great picture! I love it. That addict used to be myself.
How do you know that’s Jesus?
I am hollering at some of these defensive comments… folks be mad as hell when you say somethin’ bout Jesus…man Jesus is probably laughin at foolery
Jesus? I thought it was Billy Ray Cyrus in his achy breaky heart days.
At least the guy had a scented candle in the room. That’s a plus! Was that there to take away the stench of sin? I don’t know. This drawing has me confused and God is not the author of confusion so…
Nothing about this painting is theologically or doctrinally correct.
U all got ur own opinions n fair enough, but listen to others aswell, this pic is some peoples reality no matter how over the top or crude u think it is and JESUS loves us all not just the straight nerdy opinionized geeks that do nothin but judge ,,,,,,RECONIZE.
JESUS loves ,lives n saves
I find this painting moving, though I saw a pencil drawing a few years ago with the same basic motif that I liked better. It’s moving because there was a time when I was that man. I’m clean and sober over 30 years, but I will never forget what it felt like to be in the grip of addiction. I made it through to recovery, but most don’t. The disease of addiction kills people. (It almost killed me more than once, but that’s not what motivated me to get clean.)
When I saw that first image, some people had commented, “How could he do this to Jesus?” My reaction was, “Jesus helps us bear our pain! Jesus stepped in, he volunteered.” And thank God for that. Surviving addiction takes more strength than I had. People say addicts are weak, but you try bearing that kind of misery every day for something that no matter how hard you try, you can’t put down. (I had to realize that before I could get clean: I can’t get clean, I am powerless. But God has the power. I didn’t even believe in God then, but he helped me anyway, and now I do.)
As for doctrinal correctness, forgive me for saying so, especially as I’m now attending seminary, but I don’t give a rat’s behind about doctrinal correctness. Jesus helps us when we need it most.
As a recovering addict this painting means much to me. Those who say this is whack or over the top I have a question for you. What’s more whack this pain’t in or a dead 16 year old girl getting rolled out into the street after a heroin overdose?
I’m a artist and i get it . The artist is telling more or less a parable. It is hard to look at because it’s meant to stir you . This painting is so powerful that it is getting the response it should,all of your responses prove that. Most responses take this too literal ,not too mention how scipturally acuarite it is. read into the bible more.Christ teaches us it all ,we just need to listen with our hearts.I don’t want to spoon feed you with all the answers , niether did the artist . okay, here is one more subtle hint. Doesn’t the rough paint job, look a bit like a rough rendering of the map of the world? It doesn’t matter how many items are on the table or exactly what they all mean. Each is symbolizing a vice, maybe your vice is different . Death looks on at them[ie. vices] and laughs at the control it has on him.Christ is suffering,he has taken on his sin, it grieves Jesus that we bring harm to our bodies.Jason C. gets it, God bless you in your recovery.There is so much more in this painting. People!, take a art interpretation course ,it could help you out a lot. The bible has loads of symbolizm in it .As an artist i’ll use them all the time. So look out peeps! As artists, we’ll keep you on your toes.It is not always as strait forward as you think ,in fact we want you to think . Otherwise we would just take a photo, and that wouldn’t be any fun. What the artist had in mind and what you will see , will be different and that is okay too. Maybe in a few years from now you will look at this and see something new.Lastly , look at the face of the cards , that might give you peeps another clue. Great job on the painting Stephen keep it up.
I Love this painting.My son is a recovering addicted and God has been there through everything and that’s what this painting is in the middle of our sin Jesus is with us and takes on our sin if we let go and let God