{"id":198,"date":"2009-09-12T10:40:00","date_gmt":"2009-09-12T10:40:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/deaconsbench\/2009\/09\/jesus-in-2009.html"},"modified":"2009-09-12T10:40:00","modified_gmt":"2009-09-12T10:40:00","slug":"jesus-in-2009","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/deaconsbench\/2009\/09\/jesus-in-2009.html","title":{"rendered":"Jesus in 2009?"},"content":{"rendered":"

These pictures<\/a> are provocative in all the right ways. (Check out Jesus with the Nazi!). <\/p>\n

As the article<\/a> explains: <\/p>\n

A veteran fashion photographer who is used to having his works featured in Vogue, GQ and Elle, will release his most \u201crewarding\u201d collection \u2013 \u201cJourneys with the Messiah\u201d \u2013 on Friday, the eighth anniversary of the 9\/11 attacks.<\/p>\n

“I was in New York prepping for a photo shoot a week after 9\/11 and saw many people searching for something,” recalled Michael Belk, who created the Jesus photo collection out of his Christian faith. “Similar to 9\/11, I think many Americans don’t know where to turn in the midst of the current worldwide financial crisis.\u201d<\/p>\n

Belk says he hopes his \u201cJourneys With the Messiah\u201d collection will help people who are anxious and looking for answers to find peace by knowing there is someone to turn to.<\/p>\n

The photos are a retelling of the stories of 1st-century Jesus to a 21st-century audience. Included in the collection are photos of Jesus with Nazis, prostitutes, Ferraris and motorcycles, as well as Wall Street executives and high rollers that creatively address modern-day social problems such as genocide, materialism, addiction, poverty, and hypocrisy.<\/p>\n

In the photo entitled \u201cThe Second Mile,\u201d Jesus is shown walking and talking alongside a Nazi soldier. The messiah is carrying the soldier\u2019s backpack as well as his gun.<\/p>\n

\u201cJesus\u2019 teachings on this subject (forgiveness) were revolutionary: \u2018Love your enemies as yourself. Pray for those who persecute you. Forgive people seventy times seven.\u2019 Jesus reminds us that, just as God forgives us, we are expected to do the same for others,\u201d wrote Belk in the accompanying journal entry for the photo.<\/p>\n

Each of Belk\u2019s images is accompanied by a written journal entry of a 21st-century take on a 1st-century story or parable.<\/p>\n

In another photo, \u201cRest for the Weary,\u201d a man in a suit and tie is shown collapsed on the steps of a building. His head rests on Jesus\u2019 lap while his suitcase is opened with papers scattered about.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am writing this in March of 2009 while the world is in a serious economic upheaval,\u201d Belk\u2019s journal reads. \u201cFortunes have been lost, retirement incomes are gone, and the basic necessities have become a struggle for man.\u201d<\/p>\n

But then he writes, \u201cIn truth, we assign too much importance to issues that, in the end, will be of non consequence. Have you ever heard of a man on his deathbed who asked to see his stock portfolio one more time? Could the time we spend worrying be better spent in quiet, soothing fellowship with the One who created it all and promises more?\u201d<\/p>\n

The Christian photographer reminds the reader Jesus said not to worry but to \u201cseek His Kingdom first\u201d and God will take care of our needs. Also, Jesus invited those who are weary and burdened to find rest in Him.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe we should give it a try,\u201d Belk suggested.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Check ’em out. An extended gallery can be seen at this link<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

These pictures are provocative in all the right ways. (Check out Jesus with the Nazi!). As the article explains: A veteran fashion photographer who is used to having his works featured in Vogue, GQ and Elle, will release his most \u201crewarding\u201d collection \u2013 \u201cJourneys with the Messiah\u201d \u2013 on Friday, the eighth anniversary of the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":365,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19,11,20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-198","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-links-r-us","category-media","category-this-and-that"],"yoast_head":"\nJesus in 2009? - The Deacon's Bench<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/deaconsbench\/2009\/09\/jesus-in-2009.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Jesus in 2009? - The Deacon's Bench\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"These pictures are provocative in all the right ways. 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