Just a couple weeks ago Rebecca and I went to visit our son Elliot and his wife Mallory in Arizona. While we were there we went to the Grand Canyon which is a marvelous place to experience creation [there is another topic completely] but on the way we made a stop because I had been inspired by a daily bread devotional you can read by clicking HERE
The devotional talked about an amazing piece of art I had
never even heard of. There is a Chapel in the beautiful town of Sedona with a
crucifix like none I’ve ever seen before. Let me describe my experience to you.
You walk into the Chapel and you see this massive 33 foot
high bronze sculpture. Christ is so much larger than life but the bronze makes
him seem so warm and you want to approach him. Then you realize the cross he is hanging
on is actually a tree and is indeed the tree of life! It's even bearing fruit!
This is wonderful blending of the biblical trees I
highlighted in our sermon [Dec. 8, 2024] and really ties together visually what
happened in the garden of Eden, the hill of Golgotha and will happen in the
glory of heaven!
But what is most surprising and beautiful is what happens
when you approach the cross and see the eyes of Jesus. No photos or videos can
really capture this. You have to be there standing at the foot of the cross.
As you are there you notice a heavy plate of brass on the floor with two footprints in it. If you stand with your feet in those prints and look up, the eyes of Jesus are locked on you. It’s like he is alive-then we remember HE IS ALIVE!
It’s hard to describe what this feels like except to say
that it is a very holy moment. As we sat there in the Chapel we watched people
step onto that plate look up at Jesus. Some begin to weep. Others would
stand and stare for a long time, still others would be there only for a moment
and have to look away. Some would not even go up.
This was an amazing testimony to the power of God inspired
art. It can so beautifully reflect the love and power of Jesus. I left that
Chapel feeling as though I had had such a and rich worship experience.
Even though I never sang a song, music was running through my
mind constantly. Even though I never opened my Bible, the scriptures flooded my
thoughts. And even though I never knelt to pray my heart was prayerfully bowed
the entire time I was in that Chapel.
With all that said I would invite you to go to this LINK and watch the video and read the background of this fabulous place nestled in the red rocks of the Arizona desert and filled with the spirit of the living God! Here are a few more photos to enjoy :)
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