Put yourself in John’s shoes.  Your artwork is going well, people are taking notice, everything is growing.  But you know that the purpose of your work is to prepare the people for Jesus.  His coming tests your integrity.  Will you be able to turn your followers over to him?

We are very susceptible to sin after great victories.  It is then that we feel confident, relaxed, and ready to celebrate.  If, in that excitment, we let our defenses down, Satan can attack with all sorts of temptation.

Can we, like John, put our egos and profitable work aside in order to point others to Jesus?  Are we willing to lose some of our status so that everyone will benefit?

This painting has a haunting face and a suggested chasing body in the illusionary shape of a cross.  It is the ego which must be put to death.