The Netherlands or Holland is
a small country in Northwestern
00:00:26.59\00:00:30.46
Europe about half the
size of Tasmania and Australia
00:00:30.49\00:00:34.73
or about the size
of Maryland in the USA.
00:00:34.76\00:00:37.77
But it's packed
with world famous icons,
00:00:37.80\00:00:41.50
world-renowned Dutch highlights
include tulips, windmills,
00:00:41.54\00:00:46.74
cheese markets, wooden
shoes, millions of bicycles,
00:00:46.78\00:00:51.25
and picturesque city canals.
00:00:51.28\00:00:54.02
But the most famous Dutch
export and gift to the world
00:00:54.05\00:00:57.89
has been its
people and their talents.
00:00:57.92\00:01:00.56
From this small country
with the population of only
00:01:00.59\00:01:04.03
seventeen million people
have come world-famous athletes,
00:01:04.06\00:01:08.06
explorers,
inventors, scientists, writers,
00:01:08.10\00:01:12.03
and artists.
00:01:12.07\00:01:13.50
Today, we're going to follow
the footsteps of one of the
00:01:13.54\00:01:17.34
Netherland's most loved and
famous citizens whose talents
00:01:17.37\00:01:21.68
and masterpieces have touched
the hearts and lives of people
00:01:21.71\00:01:25.51
around the world for centuries.
00:01:25.55\00:01:27.88
And the life and works of this
gifted Dutchman will perhaps
00:01:27.92\00:01:31.75
highlight the typical
Dutch character, creativity,
00:01:31.79\00:01:34.79
innovation, and inherent
capabilities for which they are
00:01:34.82\00:01:38.86
famous. But more importantly,
his masterpieces will also
00:01:38.89\00:01:43.26
highlight how we could all find
true happiness and inner peace.
00:01:43.30\00:01:47.74
So stay with us
because Rembrandt's discovery,
00:01:47.77\00:01:52.07
use and understanding of
light, "the light" will change
00:01:52.11\00:01:56.31
your life forever.
00:01:56.34\00:01:58.21
About twenty million people
visit the Netherlands each year.
00:02:13.86\00:02:17.37
They are attracted here
because although it's only a
00:02:17.40\00:02:20.74
small country, it's packed full
of interesting things to see
00:02:20.77\00:02:24.81
and do. Many come here to
admire the beauty of Holland's
00:02:24.84\00:02:28.84
flowers and in
particular the tulips.
00:02:28.88\00:02:31.68
From mid-March to the end
of May the tulips transform
00:02:31.71\00:02:36.38
big parts of the Netherlands
into a colorful patchwork quilt.
00:02:36.42\00:02:40.36
The fields are filled
with gorgeous color everywhere.
00:02:40.39\00:02:44.23
It seems like the countryside
is transformed into a vast
00:02:44.26\00:02:49.10
sea of flowers.
00:02:49.13\00:02:50.50
But it's not just the
flowers that attract people,
00:02:55.24\00:02:58.01
the Netherlands has some of
the largest and most picturesque
00:02:58.04\00:03:01.81
windmills is all the world.
There are over 1,000 windmills
00:03:01.84\00:03:06.25
scattered across the country.
00:03:06.28\00:03:08.35
The five biggest windmills
in the world are located in the
00:03:08.38\00:03:12.95
center of Schiedam,
the windmills here are over
00:03:12.99\00:03:16.83
40 meters or 130 ' high.
00:03:16.86\00:03:19.66
But when it comes to
beauty the 19 polder draining
00:03:19.69\00:03:24.43
windmills of The
Kinderdijk win first prize.
00:03:24.47\00:03:28.14
They were built around
1740 and are a masterpiece of
00:03:28.17\00:03:32.97
water management is a
typical Dutch landscape.
00:03:33.01\00:03:36.95
At Zaanse Schans you get
an idea of life in Holland
00:03:36.98\00:03:42.02
in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Back then there were more than
00:03:42.05\00:03:46.22
600 windmills in the area
creating the first industrial
00:03:46.25\00:03:50.83
zone, a number of these
windmills can still be visited
00:03:50.86\00:03:54.96
today.
00:03:55.00\00:03:57.00
Now, what's more
Dutch than a cheese market?
00:03:59.80\00:04:02.90
The Netherlands history of
Cheese-making goes way back
00:04:02.94\00:04:06.57
to the time of Julius Cesar,
in fact, sometimes it seems as
00:04:06.61\00:04:11.05
the number of dairy cows in
Holland may rival the number of
00:04:11.08\00:04:15.32
tulip bulbs in the fields. The
Dutch produce about 650 million
00:04:15.35\00:04:21.32
kilos of cheese each
year, two-thirds are exported
00:04:21.36\00:04:25.76
which makes Holland the largest
cheese exporter in the world.
00:04:25.79\00:04:29.86
No wonder Holland has a world-
wide reputation of being at
00:04:29.90\00:04:34.44
cheese country. A lot of the
Netherland's cheese is sold at
00:04:34.47\00:04:38.74
cheese markets, thousands
visitors from all over the world
00:04:38.77\00:04:42.58
come here to watch the
cheese traders at work.
00:04:42.61\00:04:45.81
The Netherlands is a country
where bicycles are used a lot
00:04:45.85\00:04:52.99
thanks to its flat landscape,
mild climate, short distances,
00:04:53.02\00:04:57.83
and wonderful infrastructure.
00:04:57.86\00:04:59.49
In fact, almost 30% of all
travel in Holland is done by
00:04:59.53\00:05:04.63
bicycle and there are over
37,000 kilometers of dedicated
00:05:04.67\00:05:09.90
cycle paths. Another popular
means of travel is on the canals
00:05:09.94\00:05:15.41
and a visit to the Netherlands
isn't complete without enjoying
00:05:15.44\00:05:19.31
the canals, many Dutch
cities were built around canals.
00:05:19.35\00:05:23.25
Amsterdam, the capital
has the best-known canals.
00:05:23.28\00:05:28.62
But after Amsterdam, Leiden
is the city with the greatest
00:05:30.36\00:05:35.16
number of bridges, canals,
and motes, the city has 28 km.
00:05:35.20\00:05:39.97
of waterways and 88 bridges.
00:05:40.00\00:05:42.50
Leiden's canals run through
the city and are lined with
00:05:42.54\00:05:46.84
docks on which trees
have grown to anchor boats.
00:05:46.88\00:05:50.65
These canals can take you all
the way back to the Golden Age
00:05:50.68\00:05:56.18
of the old Dutch Masters.
00:05:56.22\00:05:58.02
Now the Dutch Golden age
was a period in Dutch history
00:05:58.05\00:06:03.56
roughly spanning the
17th century when Amsterdam
00:06:03.59\00:06:07.40
had a huge and unprecedented
increase in wealth and
00:06:07.43\00:06:11.37
culture flourished. In
particular Dutch art thrived
00:06:11.40\00:06:15.84
during this period. This Golden
Age of Dutch art produced famous
00:06:15.87\00:06:20.81
painters such as Vermeer,
Hals, Steen, and de Hooch
00:06:20.84\00:06:25.51
but the greatest master of the
Golden Age of art and one of the
00:06:25.55\00:06:29.75
greatest artists of all
times was Rembrandt van Rijn
00:06:29.78\00:06:35.56
who was born in 1606 in a house
beside the beautiful? Canal
00:06:35.59\00:06:41.60
here in Leiden.
00:06:41.63\00:06:43.06
Today, a plaque commemorates
where his birth house stood
00:06:43.10\00:06:47.27
Rembrandt was the 9th child
of a rich miller who planned
00:06:47.30\00:06:51.64
big things for his son and sent
him to the local Latin school.
00:06:51.67\00:06:55.91
But he displayed a special
talent for art and when his
00:06:55.94\00:06:59.95
parents saw that's where his
heart was, they placed him under
00:06:59.98\00:07:03.62
the Tutelage of Jacob Van
Swanenburgh who became his
00:07:03.65\00:07:09.29
mentor teaching him how to
draw, paint, and make etchings.
00:07:09.32\00:07:12.89
At the age of 18
Rembrandt moved to Amsterdam
00:07:12.93\00:07:17.27
to work for Pieter Lastman
a popular artist and painter.
00:07:17.30\00:07:21.87
Six months later
Rembrandt returned to Leiden
00:07:21.90\00:07:25.87
to open his own workshop.
00:07:25.91\00:07:27.54
Back in his hometown, he
accepted his first pupils and
00:07:27.58\00:07:32.58
his popularity grew rapidly.
00:07:32.61\00:07:35.05
In 1632 Rembrandt decided to
return to the prosperous city
00:07:35.08\00:07:40.42
of Amsterdam and he
soon established a reputation
00:07:40.46\00:07:43.76
as one of Amsterdam's leading
artists. He created astonishing
00:07:43.79\00:07:48.86
life-like portraits of
the city's wealthy merchants,
00:07:48.90\00:07:52.67
shipbuilders and
politicians and their families.
00:07:52.70\00:07:56.94
Rembrandt could have
lived a comfortable life
00:07:56.97\00:08:01.28
probably progressing probably
progressing on to work for
00:08:01.31\00:08:03.85
wealthy
aristocrats and even Monarchs.
00:08:03.88\00:08:06.85
But something changed his
life and the focus of his art
00:08:06.88\00:08:10.89
his father had been
influenced by the teachings and
00:08:10.92\00:08:14.96
Bible beliefs by Martin Luther
and the Protestant Reformers.
00:08:14.99\00:08:19.89
He attended the local Protestant
church and embraced the new
00:08:19.93\00:08:23.93
ideas of faith, forgiveness,
a personal relationship
00:08:23.97\00:08:28.00
with Jesus Christ and the
powerful stories of the Bible.
00:08:28.04\00:08:31.61
So Rembrandt grew up in a
Bible believing home and the
00:08:31.64\00:08:36.81
Bible became everything to him,
it was the backbone of his life,
00:08:36.85\00:08:41.52
and it was the stories
and message of the Bible
00:08:41.55\00:08:45.02
that inspired him and
became the single major focus
00:08:45.05\00:08:48.99
of his art. In fact over
one third of all his paintings
00:08:49.02\00:08:53.46
and sketches are of
Bible subjects and stories.
00:08:53.50\00:08:57.20
By his early 20's Rembrandt
had one fame and acclaim
00:08:57.23\00:09:03.47
for the way, he used
light and shadows to foreground
00:09:03.51\00:09:07.31
in events and figures in
his paintings which gave them
00:09:07.34\00:09:10.65
a dramatic and dynamic effect.
00:09:10.68\00:09:12.81
He became known as
the painter of light,
00:09:12.85\00:09:16.95
he brings the Bible stories
to life and as you look at these
00:09:16.99\00:09:21.49
paintings by his brilliant
use of light and shadow
00:09:21.52\00:09:24.86
he draws you and he
immerses you in the story
00:09:24.89\00:09:28.63
you can literally feel
the emotion, the tension,
00:09:28.66\00:09:32.33
the passion.
00:09:32.37\00:09:33.70
This was clearly seen in
one of Rembrandts early famous
00:09:33.74\00:09:39.94
paintings that he produced
in 1633 when he was only 26,
00:09:40.58\00:09:45.15
it's called The Storm
on the Sea of Galilee.
00:09:45.18\00:09:49.12
The painting depicts the Bible
Story of Jesus calming the storm
00:09:49.15\00:09:54.22
on the Sea of Galilee that's
described in Mark's Gospel
00:09:54.26\00:09:58.13
it's Rembrandt's
first and only seascape.
00:09:58.16\00:10:01.70
The Disciples are out on
a boat in Galilee with Jesus
00:10:01.73\00:10:07.27
who is sleeping in the
stern, suddenly a storm came,
00:10:07.30\00:10:11.37
panic-stricken disciples
struggle against this violent
00:10:11.41\00:10:16.04
storm as a huge wave crashes
over the bow the wind and waves
00:10:16.08\00:10:21.22
have forced the boat
upwards so that the whole vessel
00:10:21.25\00:10:25.09
is on a dangerous tilt.
00:10:25.12\00:10:26.92
The sails are torn
and the lines are broken
00:10:26.96\00:10:30.09
water is flooding
into their vessel.
00:10:30.13\00:10:33.06
By remarkable use of
lighting and angles Rembrandt
00:10:33.09\00:10:37.70
instantly draws our eyes to the
light at the front of the boat
00:10:37.73\00:10:41.87
where the disciples are
desperately trying to keep it
00:10:41.90\00:10:45.24
afloat. We can see their
panic, desperation and despair
00:10:45.27\00:10:49.78
one is seasick and vomiting
over the side of the boat.
00:10:49.81\00:10:53.45
But then, we
experience Rembrandt's genius
00:10:53.48\00:10:57.49
as he guides our attention to
the contrast from left to right.
00:10:57.52\00:11:02.32
After we have seen the
panic and desperation going on
00:11:02.36\00:11:06.59
in the left of the scene,
there's a shift to the peace
00:11:06.63\00:11:10.50
and calm on the right of the
painting where Jesus is sitting.
00:11:10.53\00:11:15.00
In contrast to those who
struggle with the sails on the
00:11:15.04\00:11:19.34
left, others are found
lower down in the right
00:11:19.37\00:11:23.11
in a haven of relative
calm which is centered on Christ
00:11:23.14\00:11:26.92
lights around His face
as He offers Peace and Hope
00:11:26.95\00:11:31.05
in the middle of the storm.
00:11:31.09\00:11:32.72
The face of Jesus is lit
not by the sun hitting it
00:11:32.75\00:11:36.96
but from the inner light
of God, the light that came
00:11:36.99\00:11:40.90
to bring peace and hope.
00:11:40.93\00:11:42.40
In the Bible, it
says in John 1: 4, 5...
00:11:42.43\00:11:46.67
Rembrandt, the painter of
light uses light in his painting
00:11:56.95\00:12:02.28
to focus our attention
on the true light Jesus,
00:12:02.32\00:12:06.12
the Light of the world
who brings peace and hope.
00:12:06.15\00:12:09.76
But perhaps the most
moving and evocative part of
00:12:09.79\00:12:13.29
this painting is
Rembrandt himself.
00:12:13.33\00:12:15.90
If you look closely at this
painting you'll see 14 figures,
00:12:15.93\00:12:20.17
there are 12 disciples
and Jesus that makes 13,
00:12:20.20\00:12:24.47
so, who is the 14th person?
00:12:24.51\00:12:27.61
Well, at the front of the
boat and along the center line
00:12:27.64\00:12:31.51
of the canvas, there is a
figure dressed in bright blue
00:12:31.55\00:12:35.45
he stares out at us,
this is Rembrandt himself.
00:12:35.48\00:12:39.82
Now it wasn't unusual for
an artist to paint himself as
00:12:39.85\00:12:44.33
an onlooker at some event but
here Rembrandt is a participant
00:12:44.36\00:12:49.33
in the drama, he
too is in the boat.
00:12:49.36\00:12:52.97
He's staring out of
the painting at you and me
00:12:53.00\00:12:56.47
and looking at us is such
a way as to invite us into
00:12:56.50\00:13:00.34
the scene as well.
It's as if he's asking us to
00:13:00.38\00:13:03.88
take a look at the disciples and
their reactions to the storm.
00:13:03.91\00:13:07.92
And then he asks us
directly which of the disciples
00:13:07.95\00:13:12.35
are you like when you
face the storms of life?
00:13:12.39\00:13:15.59
Where do you run to?
00:13:15.62\00:13:17.63
Are we like the disciples
fighting with the sails
00:13:17.66\00:13:21.40
in rigging, trying to
fix everything ourselves?
00:13:21.43\00:13:24.87
Or are we like the one hanging
over the edge of the boat
00:13:24.90\00:13:28.07
sick and anxious with worry?
00:13:28.10\00:13:30.34
You know, as I look at
this painting, in a sense,
00:13:30.37\00:13:34.84
I find myself in each of
the sailors, I often try to
00:13:34.88\00:13:39.01
fix things myself and
solve my own problems.
00:13:39.05\00:13:41.88
Other times I feel overwhelmed
with stress and anxious
00:13:41.92\00:13:46.15
thoughts, other times
I am reminded of my need
00:13:46.69\00:13:50.23
to hurry to Jesus.
00:13:50.26\00:13:52.03
Rembrandt is looking
directly at us and saying
00:13:52.06\00:13:55.93
when the waves
come and the winds blow,
00:13:55.96\00:13:58.60
then run to Jesus.
00:13:58.63\00:14:00.64
That's where you will
find peace and safety.
00:14:00.67\00:14:03.61
He's reminding us to trust
God in the middle of our storms.
00:14:03.64\00:14:08.04
Rembrandt is speaking
to us from experience.
00:14:08.08\00:14:13.95
he faced many storms
and challenges in life,
00:14:13.98\00:14:17.25
about the time of this painting
he married the love of his life
00:14:17.29\00:14:21.79
Saskia van Uylenburgh,
Rembrandt's career took off
00:14:21.82\00:14:26.43
and they were prosperous and
happy, they had four children
00:14:26.46\00:14:30.10
but then tragedy struck.
00:14:30.13\00:14:32.20
Sadly, three of the
children died young,
00:14:32.23\00:14:36.04
then his dear Saskia
passed away in her early 30's
00:14:36.07\00:14:41.21
and Rembrandt's many debts
forced him to sell his house
00:14:41.24\00:14:45.31
and his possessions.
00:14:45.35\00:14:46.68
A few years later he lost
his close friend and companion
00:14:46.72\00:14:50.62
Hendrickje Stoffel's and
his remaining son Titus as well.
00:14:50.65\00:14:55.72
And then to add to his sorrows
and burdens, he was bankrupt
00:14:55.76\00:15:00.53
and lost everything he
owned and ended up penniless.
00:15:00.56\00:15:04.33
But after all the
tragedies and challenges
00:15:04.37\00:15:08.24
his legacy is one of someone
who in the middle of the storm
00:15:08.27\00:15:12.64
after losing everything
and all those close to him
00:15:12.67\00:15:16.48
he points us to Jesus.
00:15:16.51\00:15:18.68
He reminds us that when
we are going through a storm
00:15:18.71\00:15:22.82
God is not distant apathetic or
uninvolved, no, He's right there
00:15:22.85\00:15:29.22
with you and He'll
get you through the storm.
00:15:29.26\00:15:31.79
Stressful situations often feel
like they are out of control
00:15:31.83\00:15:36.90
but they are not
out of God's control.
00:15:36.93\00:15:39.87
When we're battered by a
storm we don't need to tell God
00:15:39.90\00:15:44.47
how big the storm is, rather,
we need to tell the storm
00:15:44.51\00:15:48.88
and ourselves how big God is.
00:15:48.91\00:15:52.11
We need to let our faith
set the sails of our lives
00:15:52.15\00:15:57.49
when our world
feels out of control,
00:15:57.52\00:16:00.02
you can't control the wind but
you can control the direction
00:16:00.06\00:16:05.29
you set your sail. Set
your sail by choosing to focus
00:16:05.33\00:16:09.56
on Jesus in the
middle of the storm.
00:16:09.60\00:16:12.23
I love the fact that
Jesus didn't stand on the shore
00:16:12.27\00:16:16.57
and shout out the
instructions to the disciples.
00:16:16.60\00:16:19.61
When you are in the
storm, you don't need advice
00:16:19.64\00:16:22.88
you need a miracle, you need
somebody right there with you
00:16:22.91\00:16:27.38
and that's exactly where
Jesus is, He's right there with
00:16:27.42\00:16:31.82
the disciples in the storm.
00:16:31.85\00:16:34.12
This is the
Gospel, the Good News,
00:16:34.16\00:16:37.99
God doesn't stand on the shore-
line telling you what to do,
00:16:38.03\00:16:42.10
instead, He's right there
with you in your own storm,
00:16:42.13\00:16:45.87
in your pain, in your
fear, in your depression,
00:16:45.90\00:16:49.64
and discouragement.
He's right there with you.
00:16:49.67\00:16:52.81
You may feel abandoned
right now but you're not,
00:16:52.84\00:16:57.05
the Bible say in John 14: 18...
00:16:57.08\00:17:00.32
Jesus is right there with
you and that's what Rembrandt
00:17:07.76\00:17:12.59
is telling us in
this masterpiece.
00:17:12.63\00:17:15.06
In the same year that Rembrandt
painted this masterpiece
00:17:15.10\00:17:19.70
about the storm on
the Sea of Galilee,
00:17:19.73\00:17:21.80
he completed another famous
painting that focused on the
00:17:21.84\00:17:25.84
Crucifixion of Christ, a
familiar theme in Rembrandt's
00:17:25.87\00:17:29.44
artwork. In 1633 he painted
The Raising of the Cross.
00:17:29.48\00:17:35.45
In this painting the Roman
soldiers are lifting the cross
00:17:35.48\00:17:40.06
to stand it upright,
Christ is front and center
00:17:40.09\00:17:44.03
nailed to the cross.
00:17:44.06\00:17:45.59
Many hands are
pushing and pulling the cross
00:17:45.63\00:17:48.66
into its place, a ray of light
coming from the top of the image
00:17:48.70\00:17:53.97
illuminates Jesus whose face
is contorted in suffering...
00:17:54.00\00:17:58.44
Crucifixion is probably
the most brutal and tortuous
00:17:58.47\00:18:02.54
death penalty
ever devised by man.
00:18:02.58\00:18:05.35
It was specifically designed
to cause excruciating pain
00:18:05.38\00:18:10.15
and this ray of light
captures this cruel reality.
00:18:10.19\00:18:14.42
The same ray of light
continues on and shines on a man
00:18:14.46\00:18:19.59
in the blue beret
who's standing at Jesus' feet
00:18:19.63\00:18:22.90
helping to lift the cross.
00:18:22.93\00:18:24.43
Obviously, this man is
not from the first century
00:18:24.47\00:18:28.50
and yet, there he
stands playing a major role
00:18:28.54\00:18:32.67
in lifting the cross
with the others, so who is it?
00:18:32.71\00:18:37.25
Well indeed its Rembrandt
himself, again he's included
00:18:37.28\00:18:43.28
himself in his painting.
00:18:43.32\00:18:45.19
Now, why would Rembrandt place
himself at the feet of Jesus?
00:18:45.22\00:18:50.79
As He's being
hoisted up and crucified?
00:18:50.83\00:18:53.40
Well for no other reason than to
tell the world about Rembrandt
00:18:53.43\00:18:58.17
had made serious mistakes
and had done wrong things
00:18:58.20\00:19:01.80
in his life. You see Rembrandt
was tremendously influenced
00:19:01.84\00:19:06.78
by the Bible and the Protestant
faith, he understood the gospel
00:19:06.81\00:19:11.18
of the Bible and the
Reformers that were all sinners
00:19:11.21\00:19:15.28
who found forgiveness,
grace, mercy and righteousness
00:19:15.32\00:19:18.99
at the cross of Christ.
00:19:19.02\00:19:20.76
He understood the weight of his
sin and the power of the cross,
00:19:20.79\00:19:24.99
God's compassion and
mercy profoundly affected him.
00:19:25.03\00:19:29.86
by placing himself here in
the painting is Rembrandt's way
00:19:29.90\00:19:33.80
of saying "I'm a
sinner, I was there too."
00:19:33.84\00:19:37.81
I'm guilty, I helped crucify
Christ, my sins and mistakes
00:19:37.84\00:19:43.08
crucified Him.
00:19:43.11\00:19:44.65
Now, what's also interesting
is the fact that Rembrandt
00:19:44.68\00:19:48.72
not only painted himself
as the one raising the cross
00:19:48.75\00:19:52.82
into its place but he's
also the commander on the horse
00:19:52.85\00:19:56.69
behind in charge of over-
seeing the death of Christ.
00:19:56.73\00:20:00.86
And what's striking is the
Commander isn't looking at those
00:20:00.90\00:20:05.20
carrying out the punishment,
rather, he's staring out
00:20:05.23\00:20:08.94
from the canvas straight
at you and me pulling us
00:20:08.97\00:20:12.57
into the scene. It's as
if he's saying don't forget
00:20:12.61\00:20:16.91
you were there too,
none of us are innocent.
00:20:16.95\00:20:20.18
Rembrandt's reminding
me that I'm guilty too
00:20:20.22\00:20:24.65
I was also there,
my sin crucified Christ
00:20:24.69\00:20:28.62
by human mistakes, my
pride, my greed, my sins caused
00:20:28.66\00:20:34.36
Jesus to suffer and die.
00:20:34.40\00:20:36.10
So, what does all this mean?
00:20:36.13\00:20:38.77
Well simply this, we've
all sinned and made mistakes
00:20:38.80\00:20:43.67
and deserve punishment
but Jesus took our place
00:20:43.71\00:20:47.41
and paid the penalty for us.
00:20:47.44\00:20:49.58
When Jesus died on the
cross, He paid for all your sins
00:20:49.61\00:20:54.08
the ones in your
past, present, and future.
00:20:54.12\00:20:57.52
Through the cross, everything
that you've done wrong
00:20:57.55\00:21:01.49
was wiped out,
forgiven, cleansed, purified,
00:21:01.52\00:21:05.19
eliminated and forgotten.
00:21:05.23\00:21:07.76
That's what Rembrandt's telling
us and that's the best news
00:21:07.80\00:21:12.13
ever. Rembrandt had flaws
in his life, he made mistakes
00:21:12.17\00:21:17.51
but he experienced
the freedom of forgiveness
00:21:17.54\00:21:20.74
and the inner peace of a
close relationship with God
00:21:20.78\00:21:24.15
and this is the message that
permeated much of Rembrandt's
00:21:24.18\00:21:28.68
artwork right up to the end.
00:21:28.72\00:21:30.99
In fact, it's most clearly seen
in his very last major painting
00:21:31.02\00:21:35.99
shortly before his death
in 1669, Rembrandt completed
00:21:36.02\00:21:41.70
what many believe to be the
greatest picture ever painted
00:21:41.73\00:21:45.40
he painted a life-size depiction
of Jesus timeless parable
00:21:45.43\00:21:50.81
of the return of the prodigal
son also known as the lost son.
00:21:50.84\00:21:55.81
It's a famous story Jesus
told to the Pharisee's about
00:21:55.84\00:22:00.48
a rich man and his two sons.
00:22:00.52\00:22:02.62
The story describes how
one day the youngest son
00:22:02.65\00:22:06.49
comes to his father
and says Dad, I am leaving,
00:22:06.52\00:22:10.56
I want my half of the
family inheritance right now
00:22:10.59\00:22:14.56
so I can leave immediately.
So he takes half of the family
00:22:14.60\00:22:18.90
inheritance and
moves to a foreign country,
00:22:18.93\00:22:21.94
he then wastes his life
and fortune on wild living.
00:22:21.97\00:22:26.74
After some time he
squandered everything he has
00:22:26.78\00:22:30.65
his inheritance is
gone all wasted and misused
00:22:30.68\00:22:35.02
there's nothing left
and he experiences hardship
00:22:35.05\00:22:38.62
and falls on difficult
times, he ends up on a farm
00:22:38.65\00:22:42.89
feeding pigs. One day
when he's flat on his back
00:22:42.92\00:22:47.13
he comes to his
senses and asks himself
00:22:47.16\00:22:50.60
what am I doing
here? I know I blew it
00:22:50.63\00:22:54.04
I've really messed up
and its all my own fault
00:22:54.30\00:22:57.01
but the people back home who
work for my father as servants
00:22:57.04\00:23:01.24
live better than this.
So he decides to return home
00:23:01.28\00:23:06.18
and tell his father,
Dad! I know I've messed up
00:23:06.21\00:23:09.78
and made a huge mistake,
I've wasted half the family
00:23:09.82\00:23:13.69
inheritance, I don't deserve
to be called your son anymore
00:23:13.72\00:23:18.46
but just hire me as a
servant and I'll work for you
00:23:18.49\00:23:22.40
for the rest of my life because
your servants live better
00:23:22.43\00:23:26.50
then I'm living now.
00:23:26.53\00:23:28.24
So, he got up and went home
yet the father was both loving
00:23:28.27\00:23:33.98
and gracious to him. He
saw his son when he was still
00:23:34.01\00:23:37.11
a long way off and
rushed out to meet him,
00:23:37.15\00:23:40.12
he threw his arms
around him and embraced him.
00:23:40.15\00:23:43.28
The father was so happy
and overjoyed to have his son
00:23:43.32\00:23:47.32
back home that he
threw a huge party for him.
00:23:47.36\00:23:50.66
The older son,
however, is not so happy,
00:23:50.69\00:23:54.46
while his younger
brother was squandering the
00:23:54.50\00:23:57.33
family inheritance he
has continued to work hard
00:23:57.37\00:24:00.90
for the father's business
and has never gotten such a
00:24:00.94\00:24:04.17
big party, the father
tells the oldest son that
00:24:04.21\00:24:07.74
everything he has is his
but on this day he celebrates
00:24:07.78\00:24:12.75
the return of his younger son.
00:24:12.78\00:24:15.12
The story of the Prodigal
Son is a picture of God's love
00:24:15.15\00:24:19.99
for his children. God's
love doesn't depend on our
00:24:20.02\00:24:24.16
faithfulness, it's unconditional
He loved us while we were
00:24:24.19\00:24:28.50
still rebellious and disobedient
though we are demanding
00:24:28.53\00:24:32.33
and do not remain
faithful God still loves us
00:24:32.37\00:24:36.44
and wants to be with us,
He is still our faithful and
00:24:36.47\00:24:40.54
loving Father.
00:24:40.58\00:24:42.18
Rembrandt could relate
to this profound concept
00:24:42.21\00:24:46.11
he had personally experienced
00:24:46.15\00:24:48.32
this heavenly
love and forgiveness
00:24:48.35\00:24:50.59
that brought him peace
and he wanted to share it.
00:24:50.62\00:24:54.19
He depicts this story as
though this is his spiritual
00:24:54.22\00:24:57.93
testament to the world as
if it's his final statement.
00:24:57.96\00:25:01.83
All of his experience,
wisdom, genius and talent are
00:25:01.86\00:25:07.00
encapsulated and summed up
in this one final masterpiece.
00:25:07.04\00:25:11.17
It's a depiction of overwhelming
love and forgiveness
00:25:11.21\00:25:15.51
by a brilliant use of
light and darkness, Rembrandt
00:25:15.54\00:25:20.18
helps us feel the impact of
the event and brings the story
00:25:20.22\00:25:24.12
to life from a
deliberately dark background the
00:25:24.15\00:25:28.12
three spotlighted
men immediately attract
00:25:28.16\00:25:30.99
our attention. An arch of
light runs from the feet of the
00:25:31.03\00:25:35.23
prodigal son up
through his ragged clothes,
00:25:35.26\00:25:38.20
and unshaven downcast head
into the arms of the father
00:25:38.23\00:25:42.27
the light swells to the sense
to the father's illuminated face
00:25:42.30\00:25:47.28
across his brow and then
shoots like an arrow across
00:25:47.31\00:25:51.18
the picture to the other son,
the older brother who remained
00:25:51.21\00:25:55.58
at home. But the brighter
section at the arch of light
00:25:55.62\00:25:59.52
focuses on the
father's tender embrace of his
00:25:59.55\00:26:03.39
returned son. The son leans
into the father and then finds
00:26:03.43\00:26:08.20
mercy, acceptance,
forgiveness, and love.
00:26:08.23\00:26:11.97
The prodigal's father is
like your heavenly Father
00:26:12.00\00:26:16.67
no matter what you've
done when you come home to God
00:26:16.71\00:26:20.51
He wraps you in His love,
He gives you His best and says
00:26:20.54\00:26:24.61
all is forgiven, go get
the robe, go get the shoes,
00:26:24.65\00:26:29.58
let's have a feast, My
child has returned to Me.
00:26:29.62\00:26:34.42
If you're tired of living away
from God and want to get back
00:26:34.46\00:26:39.83
to Him and experience
His unconditional love,
00:26:39.86\00:26:43.16
and the inner peace
and happiness it brings,
00:26:43.20\00:26:45.47
then I'd like to
recommend the free gift we have
00:26:45.50\00:26:48.47
for all our Incredible
Journey viewers today.
00:26:48.50\00:26:51.97
It's the popular
booklet Amazing Grace,
00:26:52.01\00:26:55.51
this booklet is our gift
to you and is absolutely free,
00:26:55.54\00:27:00.22
I guarantee there are no
costs or obligations whatsoever,
00:27:00.25\00:27:04.29
so make the most of
this wonderful opportunity
00:27:04.32\00:27:08.09
to receive the gift
we have for you today.
00:27:08.12\00:27:11.03
Phone of text 0436.333.555
in Australia or 020.422.2042
00:27:11.06\00:27:21.74
in New Zealand or 770.800.0266
in the United States,
00:27:21.77\00:27:28.48
or visit our website tij.tv
or simply scan the QR Code
00:27:28.51\00:27:34.68
on your screen and we'll
send you today's free offer
00:27:34.72\00:27:37.99
totally free of charge
and with no obligations.
00:27:38.02\00:27:41.29
You can also write to us at
the address's on your screen
00:27:41.32\00:27:44.69
or email us at info@tij.tv,
don't delay call or text us now.
00:27:44.73\00:27:52.40
Heavenly Father, We
know that we haven't
00:27:52.43\00:27:56.54
always been living
the way You want us to
00:27:56.57\00:27:59.54
even though we know
the right thing to do.
00:27:59.57\00:28:02.54
We've turned away from
Yyou and chosen the things that
00:28:02.58\00:28:06.18
have hurt Your heart.
Thank You that You've never
00:28:06.21\00:28:10.19
turned away from us,
You've never left us or changed
00:28:10.22\00:28:13.92
how You feel about us.
Thank You for loving us still
00:28:13.96\00:28:17.76
we pray in Jesus' name. Amen!
00:28:17.79\00:28:21.73