Original Artwork

The Forerunner

Artist: Ron DiCianni

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SYNOPSIS:

John the Baptist is called the forerunner of Christ. In most of our minds he is exceptionally important. In Scripture, he is compared to Elijah. Jesus said, “Among those born of women there is not risen anyone greater...” (Matthew 11:11, NIV). Certainly his role as the forerunner of the Messiah is the greatest title one could hold. Ron DiCianni brilliantly depicts the life of John The Baptist in The Forerunner. John came as a baby with God’s hand on his life. He was described in Scripture as wild and tenacious but more than who he was is what he came for. He was born to tell of the coming Savior, Jesus Christ.

ARTIST NOTE:

I tried to portray John’s beginning as a baby like all of us, showing his future in the distance. The lightning symbolizes the tumultuous life he would experience. The hand intersecting the baby would, at first, be thought of as the tender hand of old Zechariah about to gently alight on his boy. I made it larger and more “heavenly” to make a bigger statement, though. The hand of God was on John from the beginning. John was set apart for service to God from conception. Guess what? We are too. Psalm 4:3 says, “The Lord has set apart the Godly for Himself.” Talk about feeling special! Our part is to surrender to Him. If God has a job for our children, will we entrust them to God? I represented Elizabeth and Zechariah in the folds of the arm as though they are looking on. It seems Zechariah wasn’t that faithless after all!

Other products containing this artwork:

Were You There?

by Ron DiCianni & Neil Wilson