Window 6b: I am the Light of the World

 In the second panel of Window 6, Christ is represented as "the Light of the World."  In John 8, this saying of Jesus immediately follows the incident of the woman taken in adultery, about whom Jesus said,

 "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.  And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.  And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one....Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying I am the light of the world:  he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life "(John 8:7b-9a, 12).

Window 4b:  "I am the Light of the World" (John 8:12)

In the image medallion, Jesus stands in a blaze of light rays, holding a lighted lamp.  The use of white and yellow glass "rays" against the blue background is particularly striking on a sunny day, when this panel glows brightly with all the light these "rays" let through.

The lighted lamp, also present in the symbol medallion, reminds us that Christ brings light to dark places, helping us to see our sinfulness and clear our hearts and minds in the "light of life." 

Given the context in which this "I am" statement is found (John 8, quoted above), we see how Christ's words convict the men of their own sinfulness, leading to his statement about being the light of the world.  Therefore, this "I am" statement is about much more than Jesus simply showing us the way or lighting our path -- it's also about showing us who we are (enlightening us), so that we can repent and approach Him with a clean heart and renewed spirit.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, our light and our salvation, shine your light into our lives, that we may see every speck of dirt and cobweb and be able to cleanse our hearts and minds, so we can see you more clearly every day.  Amen.

South Aisle, Window 6: 
 I am the good shepherd; I am the light of the world.

Window Dedication:

Given in Loving Memory 
of their Mother and Father, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Boor
 by Mr. and Mrs. Dale Mahlum

Window 6a: I am the Good Shepherd

 Window 6 celebrates two of Jesus' statements about who he is -- two of the seven "I am" statements found in the gospel of John.  Each of these is a metaphorical statement:  Jesus says, I am....

• The bread of life (John 6:35)
• The light of the world (John 8:12) -- depicted in Window 6b
• The door (John 10:7)
• The good shepherd (John 10:14) -- depicted below in Window 6a
• The resurrection and the life (John 11:25)
• The way, the truth and the life (John 14:6)
• The true vine (John 15:1) -- depicted in the window borders throughout

The first panel in Window 6, at the east end of the south aisle, depicts Jesus as the Good Shepherd.  In presenting this statement about himself, Jesus says,

I am the good shepherd:  the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.  But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth:  and the wolf catcheth them and scattereth the sheep.  The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.  I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.  As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father:  and I lay down my life for the sheep  (John 10:11-15)

South Aisle, Window 6a:  
"I am the Good Shepherd" John 10:14

The depiction of Jesus in the image medallion shows us Christ with a shepherd's crook in one hand, cradling a lamb in the other.  Behind him is a fenced area (sheep fold?) with five more sheep.  

This imagery is common to the culture of Jesus' time and earlier -- the responsibilities and challenges of the shepherd were clear to his listeners, although less so today.  The shepherd was a leader, protector, and nurturer of his flock.  In making the direct comparison, Jesus is claiming this for himself; in addition, he is a GOOD shepherd (in contrast to leaders who think about themselves rather than their flock when problems arise).

In the symbol medallion, we see the entwined Greek letters "alpha" and "omega," representing another "I am" statement Jesus makes, this time in Revelation 1:8:  "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending...which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty."

The two letters are the first and last of the Greek alphabet.  Shown together, they represent totality of existence; shown with Christ, they remind us that this Good Shepherd is with us always, caring, leading, and protecting his people even through the "valley of the shadow of death" so that we may "dwell in the house of the Lord forever" (Psalm 23:4a, 6b).

Prayer:

Dear Jesus our Shepherd, thank you for your constant comfort and support as we go about our daily lives.  Be with us in times of joy and sorrow, and guide us finally to our destined home with you.  Amen.

South Aisle, Window 6:
 I am the good shepherd; I am the light of the world.

Window Dedication: 

Given in Loving Memory
of their Mother and Father, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Boor
 by Mr. and Mrs. Dale Mahlum

Window 5b: The Transfiguration

The second panel of Window 5 illustrates the transfiguration, as described in Mark 9:2-4: 

And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into a high mountain apart by themselves:  and he was transfigured before them.  And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.  And there appeared unto them Elijah with Moses:  and they were talking with Jesus.

Window 5b:  "He was transfigured
before them" (Mark 9:2)

 In the image medallion, Christ, larger and higher than the others, appears in white, surrounded by gold rays to signify the shining of his clothing in transfiguration.  

The three disciples, Peter, James, and John, stand on the left, looking up at him.  On the right are Moses and Elijah.  Moses is holding the tablets of the law, while Elijah, who represents the prophets has his hands raised before his breast in prayer.  All five men are of similar height and color, suggesting they are relatively equal in importance.  Note that the Old Testament figures wear slightly different halos (see "A Few Notes about Halos" for more information).

In this way, we are able to visualize Christ as the fulfillment of the Law (Moses) and the Prophets (Elijah), as He himself indicated in Matthew 5:17 (Window 5a).  He is similar to both Moses and Elijah, but greater.

The image in the symbol medallion is the five-pointed star of Epiphany which revealed the infant Christ to the Wise Men, and here provides a similar revelation to the three disciples, for they hear "a voice [coming] out of the cloud saying, This is my beloved son:  hear him" Mark 9:7b.

The disciples, therefore,  have a moment of realization, recognizing who Christ truly is and how he relates to leaders and prophets who preceded him.  It is a moment to sustain them, and us today, at times when our faith stumbles and we feel overwhelmed.

Prayer:

Thank you, Father, for the gift of your Son, and for this revelation to the disciples that helps clarify Christ's position as a fulfillment of Old Testament law and prophecy.  Amen.

 

North Aisle, Window 5:  Sermon on the Mount; Transfiguration

Window Dedication:

Given by Mrs. H. Frostad in 
loving memory of her husband Henry Frosted 

Window 5a: The Sermon on the Mount

 The first panel of the fifth window along the North aisle depicts Jesus teaching.  The focus text comes from the Sermon on the Mount as described in Matthew, chapters 5-7:

And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain:  and when he was set , his disciples came unto him:  and he opened his mouth and taught them, saying (Matt 5: 1-2) .... And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:  For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes (Matt 7:28-29)

Chapter 5 includes the beatitudes and the focus text for this panel, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (5:16); chapter 6 includes the Lord's Prayer; chapter 7 provides guidance regarding rash judgement, false prophets, and prayer.

North Aisle, Window 5a:  "Let your light so shine
 before men" Matt. 5:16

The illustration in the image medallion represents Christ, standing with hands raised in a teaching pose similar to that of Window 2b (Jesus in the Temple).  Seven disciples sit at his feet looking up at him, their hands over their hearts, perhaps suggesting their amazement at his teaching.

The image in the symbol medallion is two tablets with the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20), which represent the Law as established by Moses.  The symbol reminds us of the frequent comparisons between Jesus and Moses (see Window 2a, The Flight into Egypt); of the Old Testament Law, Jesus says, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets;  I am not come to destroy but to fulfill" (Matt 5:17).

It is interesting to note that, in the Sermon on the Mount (contained in Matthew 5-7), Jesus mentions a number of old testament commandments, including 

• Thou shalt not kill
• Thou shalt not commit adultery
• Thou shalt not forswear thyself
• Love thy neighbor

In each case, Jesus explains how the law should be "fulfilled," saying that anger, lust, and swearing (making a vow) should also be avoided, while loving your neighbor should be expanded to include loving your enemy.  The Law provides a baseline, but Jesus says we should move beyond a strict legal interpretation to understanding the righteousness we should strive for before God:

For I say to you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shalt in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven (Matt 5:20)

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, help us each day to look beyond our duty to see how we may go beyond the expectations of the world around us, that we may offer our best work and selves to you.  By doing so, may the light of our work shine before others, that they may also look to you.  Amen. 

North Aisle, Window 5:  Sermon on the Mount; Transfiguration

Window Dedication:

Given by Mrs. H. Frostad in
loving memory of her husband Henry Frostad