A
Child Shall Lead Them
By
Don Bennett
The story in the windows of Bluff Park United Methodist
Church
Lesson
#1
Layout forms a cross.
Description of the Shepherd Window
· Top Icon: IHS – the first three Greek letters of Jesus’ name.
· Main Window: Christ is in red surrounded by a human-shaped blue shadow. He is holding a shepherd’s crook and a lamb. His halo has a cross embedded in it. Fig leaves are in the background. Two Sheep are in front of Jesus, one looking at Jesus, the other content or looking away. Jesus is standing in what looks like a garden of flowers.
· Bottom Icon: Ram in thorns relating to Abraham’s almost sacrifice of Isaac.
In loving memory of Ada Cleere Graves
Lesson
#2
Description of the Nativity Window
· Top Icon: The Christmas Star.
· Main Window: Joseph, wearing a yarmulke and purple robe holds a lamp for the family. Mary, sitting in blue, holds the Christ child.
Baby Jesus is in white swaddling clothes. All three have halos. Sheep at Mary’s feet looking at Jesus. Wheat behind Mary’s lap – perhaps the manger. Barn with cross in rafters. Stars in the night sky.
· Bottom Icon: Corner Stone - a sure foundation.
In honor and memory of our grandparents by John, Debi, Jeff and Meredith Whitcomb
Lesson
#3
Description of the Temple Window
· Top Icon: The Temple Menorah [Hebrew for candelabra ] - lights
· Main Window: Boy Jesus wearing red robe with halo. The temple buildings are in the background with Joseph and Mary in the distant doorway. Strange state of listeners: position of hands, some concern, one holding a scroll, another holding a volume, one of the hearers sitting in Moses’ seat.
· Bottom Icon: God’s word, the light unto the world.
In memory of Charles A. and Marion Hurff Buck. Jr by John and Martha McCrary, Robert and Rebecca McCrary Walker, Dan and Mary Beth McCrary
Lesson
#4
Description of the Baptism Window
· Top Icon: Descending Dove representing the Holy Spirit
· Main Window: Jesus in red standing in the Jordan River, John baptizing Jesus by pouring, Jesus the only one in the water, John wears sandals, has hairy girdle, purple cape, cross staff with something that looks like a lunch pack. John is not sporting a halo. People [disciples and Pharisees] looking on. Allegedly in the desert, however, there is greenery and buildings. The buildings in the background is a curiosity.
· Bottom Icon: Sea shell traditionally representing baptism.
In memory of Nancy Ann Smith Walker by E. S. Bill Walker
The Sermon on the Mount
Window
Lesson
#5
· Top Icon: Lilies of the field.
· Main Window: Jesus is in red and has a crossed halo. He is sitting on jagged cliff with his hand in the air perhaps waving at more to come up. Another possibility for his hand is a calming of the stormy clouds. There are 10 faces in the crowd including a woman (4th up)? A sparrow is flying in the air.
· Bottom Icon: Light of the world inside a house built on a rock, a sure foundation.
Roy Gilbert Fellowship Class
Lesson
#6
Description of the Healing Window
· Top Icon: IHS – the first three Greek letters of Jesus’ name – similar to the top icon on the shepherd window.
· Main Window: Jesus is healing blind man in green circle similar to Jesus’ later emerald throne. This could perhaps be the pool of Bethesda (Jn 5:2). The boy in yellow is lame. The woman in blue is the mother or the woman with the issue of blood (Mat 9:20). The woman in purple and white has a sick child. The man in white helping a friend reminiscent of the friends who tore through a roof to get a sick person to Jesus (Mark 2:4).
· Bottom Icon: Cross of four crosses represents the commission to spread the gospel to all the world, i.e. the four corners of the world.
In memory of Verna Simmons Duncan, wife, Carroll Duncan
Lesson
#7
Description of the Children Window
· Top Icon: Descending dove – perhaps symbolic of Pentecost when God poured his spirit out on all flesh including youth (Joel 2:28, Acts 2:17).
· Main Window: Jesus, again in red, is surrounded by various children. Three of the children are holding special ‘childlike’ symbolic items. The child in yellow is holding a lamb. The child in green is holding a doll. The teen in aqua seems to be offering a flower. Interestingly, the two live images of children on the left are Peter Rohlf’s grandchildren. Peter is the president of Rolf Stained and Leaded Glass Studios, which built our windows. On both sides of the window are multitudes of people bringing children to Jesus.
· Bottom Icon: Three lilies – perhaps a reference back to the lilies of the field from the Sermon on the Mount, which take no thought for tomorrow (Mat 6:28).
In loving memory of Jack and Pat Real by Pete and Teresa Real, Bill and Betty Real Chaple, Bill and Wade Real Waggoner and Families
Lesson
#8
Description of the Palm Sunday Window
· Top Icon: Bee hive. Notice the striking detail of this window. The bee hive is a historic icon of Christianity.
· Main Window: Jesus, in red, is riding a donkey into Jerusalem. Men, women and children are holding palm fronds welcoming Jesus. Notice that they all have their mouths open as if singing Hosanna. The building in the background is similar to the old city walls of Jerusalem. Inside the door are perhaps Jewish leaders who are planning ways to put an end to Jesus. Golden Gate.
· Bottom Icon: Cross surrounded by palm fronds.
In memory of Spurgeon Carter Keith. God blessed our marriage of 67 years. Given by Mrs. Spurgeon Carter Keith.
Lesson
#9
Description of the Last Super Window
· Top Icon: The top icon represents the sacramental element bread. What is pictured resembles a communion wafer with rays of sunlight extending away from it.
· Main Window: Jesus, in red, is sitting at the head of a table surrounded by the 12 disciples. It is impressive that the artist could create such a perspective to have all of them at or around the table. On the table, there is an interesting collection of images including a fish on a platter, four knives and a collection of cups and plates. Some of the disciples are obvious such as Judas in the upper left who seems to be slipping out. The others seem to have hints such as Peter perhaps on the middle left with his finger pointing – similar to Michelangelo’s Last Supper. Door posts.
· Bottom Icon: The bottom icon represents the sacramental element wine. A simple goblet is surrounded by grape leaves and a bundle of grapes. The symbol above the goblet also resembles a communion wafer with a distinct red cross on it.
The Opportunity Class
Lesson
#10
Description of the Gethsemane Window
· Top Icon: The detail of this top icon, like that of the Palm Sunday top icon, is lost from a casual view from the sanctuary. The icon consists of the Chi-Ro [first two Greek letters of CristoV/Christos] cross. Wrapped around the cross is a strange serpent made up of a string of pearls perhaps representative of Jesus’ statement about not casting your pearls before swine (Mat 7:6). It is also an obvious reference to the brazen serpent Moses put on the pole in the wilderness (Num 21:8-9). The cross, itself, is resting in a clay pot perhaps representative of God being the ultimate potter (Isa 64:8). Even more hidden is the strange face in the right hand half-moon portion of the icon. To me, these strange mysterious pieces add up to a Satanic conspiracy just waiting to take Jesus out – that is when the potter gives him permission. Additionally, some see the serpent make up of coins and the cross extending out of a money bag.
· Main Window: The main window is just as chock full of symbols as the top icon. Jesus, in red with his eyes closed in prayer, is apparently at the end of his prayer where he says that he’ll drink God’s cup therefore choosing God’s will over his own. In symbolic fashion, an angel is already there with the cup at that moment to deliver God’s answer to Jesus’ prayer. Below Jesus are the three main disciples [Peter, James and John] who are sleeping. Above and in the background are the temple guards who have come to arrest Jesus by night based on Judas’ tip. Notice that the first is carrying a lamp. The surrounding darkness of these guards also surrounds the cup held by the angel.
· Bottom Icon: The bottom icon is certainly familiar as the cock which crowed three times after Peter’s infamous three denials.
Louisa and George Griswold, William A. Thomas, Their Children and Grandchildren
Lesson
#11
Description of the Crucifixion Window
· The Top Icon consists of the familiar crown of thorns framing one of the crucifixion nails displayed as a cross. The other two nails extend upwards at 45° angles. Note the stark greenish color in the background combined with the hazy black behind the crown.
· The Main Window has the typical crucifixion scene with Jesus now stripped, for the first time, of his red robe worn in most of the other windows. What is very different about this window’s depiction of the crucifixion is its dramatic background. Notice how the darkness encroaches with the dimming sun and visible stars and moon. Also, the two others crucified with Jesus are clearly visible in the background. Additionally, the town of Jerusalem is visible showing how the Romans made a public spectacle of capital punishment. Below Jesus are John, Mary and Mary Magdalena including a Roman soldier in the middle left. At the top of the cross is the familiar INRI – Isous Nazareth Rex Idumea – Latin for Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews (Luke 23:38).
· The Bottom Icon consists of a Roman spear, a Roman scourge and three nails displaying the implements of pain and death used against Jesus. Most obvious, perhaps, is the death skull representing that we all die in Adam.
In loving memory of Rex Allen Womack and his parents Viola Spruill Womack, John Sharp Womack
Lesson
#12
Description of the Resurrection Window
· The Top Icon is an ox, symbolic of strength, patience and sacrifice. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light (Mat 11:30).
· Main Window: Jesus, now in white, holds a cross blazoned flag – symbolic of victory - draped over a cross shaped crook. He is definitely no longer beat to a pulp and is even radiant. The Roman guard, asleep, and two disciples, below in the window, behold the risen Christ.
· The Bottom Icon is the third foundation stone of our windows. This image, however, contains the mystical phoenix which bursts into flame into death and arises from its own ashes to new strength and life.
In loving memory of Janie Turner Duncan and Newman Lee Duncan
Lesson
#13
Description of the Ascension Window
· The Top Icon represents God's hand receiving Jesus and/or sending his spirit to the disciples on Pentecost. The three extended fingers are suggestive of the Trinity while the two retracted fingers represent the dual nature of Jesus – both human and divine. Directly under the hand is a descending dove reminding us of Jesus’ statement about him leaving so a comforter could come. In this window, the whole Trinity is represented by the hand of the Father, the Holy Spirit as a dove and Jesus the son.
· Main Window: Jesus, in glorious white (notice the wounds in his hands and feet), ascends into heaven on a cloud while accompanied by two angels who are dressed strangely with leafy wings and interesting watery crowns which extend upward. The disciples, most of whom are gazing upward, are asked by the angel’s ‘why do you stand gazing at the rising Christ – he will come back in a similar fashion’. In other words, get going.
· The Bottom Icon is representative of Elijah’s fiery chariot which took him to heaven in a whirlwind in a similar ascension.
In memory of Betty Lamon Harbor
The Rose Window depicts Isaiah’s glorious vision of the future reign of Messiah. In this future, Messiah sits on a rainbow throne that looks like an emerald. Surrounding this window are three sub-windows which depict the alpha and omega along with the star that ushered in his ministry at his birth.
Surrounding Jesus are a collection of eight major and minor images. Starting clockwise, the wolf and lamb – normally mortal enemies - coexist in peace represent the theme of Messiah’s future reign. The accompanying minor icon is the olive branch, again representing peace.
Next is the lion and calf coexisting. Notice that the lion is still the fierce creature as before, just with a different nature perhaps – as depicted by the accompanying minor icon of the butterfly representing new birth.
Next is the cow which is related to the symmetric image of the bear. These two former enemies are looking at each other symbolic of Isaiah’s vision of them grazing side by side with their young in peace. Standing between these two is the boy Jesus who is the child that shall lead them. Notice that this is a child and not a king, priest, warrior, etc. His followers are not forced, but invited. He is also standing in the mystical garden of Eden with its four rivers. The original plan was for use to live in peace and such will eventually be the case.
Next is the strange idea of children playing with serpents. Kids have always seemingly wanted to do this before they learn to fear them. Apparently in the future, they’ll get the chance with out a stern reprimand from their parents.
Next is the image of the leopard and lamb similar to that of the wolf and lamb. Again, the theme is restated that former enemies can mutually coexist in peace.
Next is an image that is actually Jesus’ halo. As in all of Jesus’ halos, there is a hidden cross. Now it is very prominent. As the cross of the Nativity barn was a shadow that pointed toward the crucifixion, Jesus’ halo is now a shadow pointing backward to that ultimate victory.
