Jesus Knocking at the Door, Revelation 3:20 Wall Art

What is painted

The door is heavy, dark planks set in a stone wall, with an iron ring handle, and a climbing vine has spread across the stonework around its frame. Jesus stands at the threshold in a cream robe with a brown mantle over one shoulder, seen from the side and slightly behind. His right hand is raised to the wood, knocking; in his left, held low, a small lantern throws a warm glow over the step, the robe and an earthenware jar by the wall.

The painting has the soft, rich look of an oil study, in golden browns, olive greens and candlelight amber, and its edges fade into the paper. Below, in flowing script: “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock”, with Revelation 3:20.

The letter to Laodicea

The verse comes from the last of seven short letters in Revelation 2 and 3, each addressed to a church in the Roman province of Asia. Laodicea was a wealthy city, and the letter to its church is the sharpest of the seven: its people are neither cold nor hot but lukewarm (Revelation 3:16), and they say they are rich and need nothing without seeing their own poverty.

Then, after the rebuke, comes this invitation. The whole verse reads: “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Christ does not break the door down. He knocks, he speaks, and he offers to share a meal, the most ordinary sign of friendship.

The image of Jesus with a lantern at an overgrown door is best known from The Light of the World by the English painter William Holman Hunt. The painting here follows that long tradition in its own warm palette.

By the front door, or for a new home

Because it is literally about a door, many people hang this piece in an entryway or a hallway, where it greets everyone who comes in. It is a natural housewarming gift for a Christian family and a meaningful present for a pastor, an evangelist or anyone who has just come to faith. As a Christian poster it works in both Protestant and Catholic homes.

This Christian wall art is printed to order in the US on heavy archival matte stock, shipped free and unframed, with a clean paper border. Choose anything from 5x7 to 24x36, or a metric or A size; a digital download is also offered.