Spotlights on Symbols--# 1, The Chancel Window

May 14, 2006

 Following after the pattern of our focus on the elements of worship, I want to introduce you to some of the symbols in our sanctuary that you might be assisted in your worship.  While the Bible very strongly forbids worshiping God by means of images, it does not forbid the use of symbols in worship in order to teach or remind of spiritual truth.  To say it another way—icons are prohibited but iconoclasm is not proscribed.[1]  Neither did Calvin condemn all use of art.  Art and symbols which depict historical events were to him permissible for teaching purposes.[2]  In the Old Testament God prescribed the crafting of symbols to teach or remind his people of spiritual truths.  From the twelve stones on the priest’s breastplate to the outstretched wings of the angels on the ark of the covenant to the bronze serpent, everything visually reinforced a lesson spoken in Scripture.  However, if any of these symbols became an idol they were to be rejected.  Additionally, there were some details in the temple furnishings and of the priestly garments which seem to be prescribed merely because God delights in beauty (Ex. 31-39).

 In the Middle Ages symbols were introduced into some sanctuaries as a means of teaching the illiterate the story of redemptive history; however, Calvin said this would have been unnecessary if ministers had been clearly preaching the Word of God.[3]  Therefore, Calvin and especially the next two generations after him preached with vivid illustration in order to present Christ clearly and obviate the need for images that would distract or become objects of worship.   

 Over the next few months, I want to introduce you to the few symbols we have in our sanctuary.  I say “few” as a compliment because a sanctuary should be largely non-representational so as not to distract from the primary focus of the Scripture and the premier symbols of the sacraments.  This morning I want to begin with the window above the chancel.  We can talk about this one window for several weeks. 

The central image in this window is Jesus’ appearance to Mary Magdalene on the resurrection morning.  John records the story in his Gospel (20:11ff) and says that when Mary saw the empty tomb, she inferred that someone had stolen the Lord’s body.  So when Jesus appeared to her, she did not recognize him through her tears and supposed him to be the gardener.  It was not until Jesus spoke her name and she heard the inflection of his voice she had come to know so well that she knew he was the Lord.  Our window records her one word response, “Rabboni,” which means “Teacher.”  There are a number of interesting artistic messages in this window which I will comment on eventually, but I want to mention only one today.  In the upper left portion of the window is a city on a hill and from it flows a river whose streams run under Jesus’ and Mary’s feet.  I think that is the river which the psalmist said makes glad the city of God (Ps. 46:4) and which John says flows from God’s throne to heal the nations (Re. 22:1,2).  Of course that river is the grace of God ministered through Jesus Christ which heals, refreshes, and restores people broken by sin.  Mary needed that grace as much as anyone and Jesus had brought it to her.  Remember, she was one who had been possessed by seven demons (Luke 8:1,2).  Jesus freed her from those which tormented her soul and wracked her body.  And his teaching had been a source of new life to her.  Throughout the centuries, many have thought that she was also a prostitute, specifically the sinful woman of Luke 7, but that is unlikely.     

 I cannot think of a better work of art to be the first thing people see when they walk into this sanctuary.  In addition to Jesus, the first person someone sees depicted in this window is not the elder brother or a Pharisee or the rich young ruler but rather a woman who had been possessed by demons and thought for centuries to be a prostitute.  What a great message to someone new who walks in this church!  Mary was a woman—a denigrated sub-group in the Near East.  By the way, on this Mother’s Day, this image should be especially comforting to those women who are in pain this day because you are not a mother, hurt for a lost child, or whose conscience pains you for aborting your child.  Jesus’ grace is especially tender toward hurting women.  She was possessed by demons—repulsively broken by evil.  And she has been thought to be a prostitute—though not true historically she still represents for many that the morally reprehensible are not beyond the reach of grace.  Brothers and sisters, I urge you to use this window as a way to welcome your unbelieving and broken friends to this church.  When someone says, “I can’t go to your church; the people are too put together and perfect,” respond with, “Do you know that at the front of our sanctuary is the picture of a woman who was possessed by seven demons and accused of being a prostitute.  She is there because she represents us—a group of former messed-up prostitutes, murderers, addicts, and God-haters whom Jesus is healing like he did Mary.”

 In the sanctuary where I previously preached, John 3:16 was painted behind the pulpit and I regularly pointed people to it for their hope.  Likewise, you and I can point to this window and say, “God so loved people like Mary that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever should believe in him should not perish but have everlasting life.”