Color sketch 1--St Issa (Jesus)preaching in Persia " The Firebrand"

Painting and Sketches/Color sketch 1--St Issa (Jesus)preaching in Persia

Color sketch 1--St Issa (Jesus)preaching in Persia
" The Firebrand"
(click for larger image)
"1 The words of Issa spread among the pagans in the midst of the countries he traversed,
and the inhabitants forsook their idols...
12 Seeing the powerlessness of their priests, the pagans had still greater faith in the sayings of Issa and, fearing the anger of the Divinity, broke their idols to pieces."
Text excerpt from The Unknown Life of Jesus Christ

St Issa traveled rapidly back through India on his way back to Israel. While passing into western adjacent countries he preached to the various peoples and tribes there. Wherever he went he caused a stir, his words a revival of faith and ultimately inciting the destruction of their stone, wood, and metallic idol statues.

At the time, Zoroastrianism was the dominant religion west of India, and monotheistic. Adherents made it a point to pray before cauldrons of fire or some form of light. It was used as symbol and point of focus, similar to the crucifix in Christianity. However, The Zoroastrianism that St Issa apparently dealt with crossed this line when their priests taught others to "worship the sun, the spirit of good and of evil."

This is one of several color sketches drawn to depict this part of Issa’s journey. The idea is drawn to explore composition of the main elements-Jesus/Issa preaching, people destroying their idols, and angry priests.