We know so little about Christ’s physical attributes. Was He tall? What was the actual shade of His skin? His Hair? Did He part His hair in the center? Was it long, short, or curly? These questions are distractions, and even divisive. But none of that matters because none of that is what saves us. It is Christ’s atonement that matters. It is His atonement that saves us. That’s why we don’t see his face.

The focus here is on His arms wide open to receive, embrace and heal us - no matter who we are. We can see His atoning scars for the sinner in need of healing cleansing. Yet they are strong for the pure looking for growth, strength, and rest. He will lift us up in our lifetime of stumbles and hard falls, trials and triumphs, in all the good and hard of our mortality. This simple composition was designed to lead the viewer to contemplate the sacrifice and victory of His atonement.