As the artist explains, “There is a long period in Jesus’ life—after he taught in the temple at age twelve and before he declared his ministry—that remains unknown.

We can assume that as a Jew, Jesus would have taken part in the centuries-old Passover ritual. At twelve he would have been considered a member of the community and expected to make the Passover pilgrimage from Nazareth to Jerusalem.

I have portrayed the young Jesus with a sacrificial (paschal) lamb—symbolic of Christ himself, first-born and unblemished—to represent Christ’s sinless sacrifice.” Published from the artist’s original oil painting.