2022
Meadows Baptist Academy Online Silent Auction Fundraiser
The Sign of Jonah
Acrylic on Canvas
14″ x 11″
2022
This painting was completed in support of Meadows Baptist Academy and will be sold on an online auction on November 25, 2022. All proceeds go to supporting the school, you can bid for this painting here: https://www.32auctions.com/mbafall2022
This painting was inspired by the Old Testament prophet Jonah as well as Jesus’ prophetic assertion in Matthew 12:38-45 that He would give the religious leaders the “Sign of Jonah.” I made this sweet little painting to share the wonder of God’s forgiveness, power and prophesies that always come true. God told Jonah to go to the evil city of Nineveh and warn the people of God’s coming judgment, they needed to repent of their wickedness! Jonah initially refused to follow the Lord’s instruction but the Lord had a plan and Jonah obeyed God. Through Jonah’s incredible journey God created a foreshadowing of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ that would occur hundreds of years in the future.
The Old Testament book of Jonah parallels Jesus’ life, death and resurrection in some significant ways. Jonah’s mission was to obey the Lord’s instruction, warn Nineveh of judgement and call the people to repent and believe in the God of Israel. At one point Jonah was thrown into the sea and swallowed by a great fish, a fish the Lord had prepared for this moment, and Jonah remained in the fish for three days. Jonah is described as though he were dead while inside the great fish. Seaweed was wrapped around his face and body like a death shroud as the fish swam to the depths of the sea. I’ve painted the seaweed around Jonah’s head to resemble a crown of thorns and the mast of the ship to resemble the cross and open arms of Jesus in his crucifixion because the story of Jonah is a foreshadowing of the coming Messiah who would save people from the penalty of sin (which is death). The sea is often used as a both a symbol for and a real location of tribulation in the bible so I’ve painted the waters surrounding Jonah with great movement and tumult.
Jesus, responded to the unbelieving religious leaders of his day that He would give them the sign of Jonah. Immediately after Jesus saved a man’s life, casting an evil spirit out of the man, the unbelieving religious leaders were incensed and demanded a sign from Jesus. The miracles Jesus was doing before their very eyes, healing the sick, def and blind, delivering people from evil spirits and even raising the dead were not enough for the religious people to believe Jesus was God’s promised messiah.
“He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now something greater than Jonah is here. The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, and now something greater than Solomon is here.” Matthew 12: 39-42
Just like Jonah spent three days inside a fish, Jesus died and spent three days in the heart of the earth. And, on the third day Jesus arose from the dead. Jesus was indeed greater than Jonah, for He was fully God and fully man and offered His own body and blood as payment for the sin of all people. God sent Himself, the incarnation of Jesus His son, to offer a perfect and sinless sacrifice for the sin of all mankind. God is perfect in His justice, sin carries the penalty of death and eternal separation from God. God is also loving, patient and full of grace, unmerited forgiveness, He’s payed the penalty for your sin with His own perfect and sinless blood. If you repent from your sin and believe in Jesus Christ you can receive His forgiveness! This means that you personally, whoever reading this, Jesus died for your sins, every secret thing you’ve ever done, Jesus suffered God’s just wrath for your personal sin. God loves you so much He died for you in your place. The bible says that “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” but the good news is that “God demonstrated His own love for us in this, while we were still sinners Christ died for us.” (Romans 3:23, Romans 5:8) To receive this incredible gift of eternal life and forgiveness of sin you simply need to repent, turn away from your life of sin, and believe Jesus is the son of God. Receive forgiveness today, today is the day of salvation, don’t wait!
Throughout time God has been calling people to repent and believe, it is my hope that when you look at this painting you ponder the deep things of God. God loved you so much that He sent His only son to die for you so that you could have eternal life (John 3:16). You don’t have the power to change your past but Jesus has the power to change your future.
If you have any questions about this painting or my artist statement above feel free to email me at info@tiffanylebenhagen.com
2021
Meadows Baptist Academy Silent Online Auction Fundraiser
Hope Rests Inside the Covenant
Acrylic on Canvas
10″ x 10″
2021
This painting was completed in support of Meadows Baptist Academy and will be sold on an online auction on November 19, 2021. All proceeds go to supporting the school, you can bid for this painting here: Meadows Baptist Academy Auction | 32auction
Inspired by Genesis 6-9 and Hebrews 11, this little gem of a painting was created to share the wonder of God’s incredible grace. The rainbow strikes a near circle in the sky and the circle is completed in the rainbow’s reflection on the waters. The ark is resting inside the circle of the rainbow just as we now rest inside the forever covenant God gave us in Genesis 9. He will never again use waters to destroy all flesh, we are living evidence that God has kept His covenant and every day allotted to us is an opportunity to turn to Him and believe.
Revelation 4:3 describes the throne room of God the Father, He sits within an emerald rainbow encircling the entire throne. The rainbow He established in the sky after the flood catastrophe is a reminder of His covenant here on earth. The rainbow, painted as a circle, speaks to God the Father’s love, promise, presence, eternal life and majesty as described in Revelation 4.
It is my hope and prayer that whoever spends time viewing this painting would ponder the deep things of God. Noah isn’t just a nursery story, he was a real man who lived in an evil culture but was found righteous in his time. Noah endured many troubles and looked to the Lord for salvation. The Lord held the hope of all life inside that wooden ark and kept it safe during the flood.
Water is such a significant symbol in scripture and it often speaks of tribulation, judgment and cleansing. I look forward to the day where we see the Lord, face to face, and there will be no more sea as spoken of in Revelation 21. One day all pain, tribulation and the struggle of sin will be finished. Our current troubles are only temporary for those who put their faith in Jesus Christ, look to Him and be saved! Just as God kept His covenant with Noah, He is sure to honor all of His promises in scripture. Jesus will return and make all things new just as it is written in the Bible, let us rest in His promises and share the hope of Christ until He returns!
If you want to know more about to be reconciled to God and forgiven of your sins then here is a good link, also feel free to message me with your questions about faith matters or the bible. I’m delighted to help, listen and pray with you.
2020 Refugee Bridge Fundraiser
Shine Like Stars
Hope Breaks the Darkness
Acrylic on Canvas
36″ x 24″ (3 panel triptych, each panel is 12″ x 24″)
2020
This painting was completed live on November 20th and 21st at Terwillegar Community Church in support of sponsoring a refugee family coming to Canada. It is was sold through an online auction, all proceeds from this auction went towards sponsoring a refugee family fleeing very real persecution.
