Celebrating the Past, Serving the Future | The Stained Glass Window
Celebrating the Past, Serving the Future: (Part III)
THE STAINED GLASS WINDOW
Colossians 1:15-17
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”
John 17:22-26
“The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
What comes to your mind when you think of Jesus Christ?
What does he look like to you?
The truth is we all have our own perception of what Jesus looks like. People from different parts of the world see Jesus with different pairs of eyes.
For most of us who grew up exposed to Christianity, we saw images of Jesus Christ in certain likeness. Even if you grew up in Sunday School, you have seen pictures, graphic arts, or illustrations of Jesus. I'm pretty sure you have seen amazing arts, like the stained glass windows in cathedrals, monasteries, and churches.
The beginning of the stained glass art-form started long before the history of America. Historians traced it back to 1000 AD in Europe (meaning, 700 years before the USA was born). During the Gothic era and Renaissance period, stained glass was one of the prominent art-forms or paintings.
Stained glass was recognized as a Christian art-form since most of these arts were religious in nature and mostly seen in churches. The oldest of these is St. Paul’s Monastery, founded in 686 AD at Jarrow, England. Since then, Christian churches of various denominations have used the art of stained glass windows.
Perhaps, you are already asking in your mind why are we talking about stained glass windows?
Today, I’m going to help you gain a deeper appreciation about the spiritual significance of stained glass windows as a reflection of Jesus Christ and the church, both globally and locally.
This message revolves around the theme: The church sees Jesus Christ as the stained glass mosaic of God, but the world sees us as the stained glass mosaic window of Jesus Christ.
Here are two action items we can do in the light of the principle we have just mentioned.
I. LEARN MORE OF JESUS AS THE IMAGE OF GOD (v.15)
Obviously, every house needs windows (not unless you live in a bunker). Windows are a necessary part of a building because it allows the natural light to come inside the house. It is the cheapest, most natural, and convenient way to illuminate the house. However, some windows are artistic, custom-made, and, therefore, expensive. A stained-glass window is one example.
Have you ever thought why stained glass windows are important for many churches?
Traditionally, stained glass windows symbolize the light of God, creation, purity, and spirituality coming in naturally in beauty.
It symbolizes a glimpse of something majestic and sacred.
It teaches people about the Christian message and history. If a picture speaks a thousand words, then a stained glass window is a great teaching tool.
In the same manner, Jesus came into this world for us to have a glimpse of who God is and know him more through his teachings.
A. SEEING THE INVISIBLE GOD
The Bible says, “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). As such, our eyes cannot see him, in the same manner, we cannot see the wind, electricity, or gravity. However, even though we cannot see them, it does not mean they do not exist--likewise with God.
Thankfully, even though we cannot see God with our eyes, there is a way of knowing him. John the Apostle said, “No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known” (John 1:18). Who is this Jesus? In this Gospel, Jesus is not just a man. He sees God because he is at his side. But it also says, he is “the only God.”
If you follow this theology, it consistently teaches that only God can perfectly show who God is. It means Jesus allows us to see the invisible God.
He is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn of all creation. (Col. 1:15)
The word image is “eikon.” It’s where we took our English word “icon,” defined as “a person or thing regarded as a representative symbol of something.” In a way, Jesus is the image or likeness of God. He is the form of God (Phil. 2:6).
God, who is spirit, materialized in Jesus Christ. He is the image of something immaterial or the exact representation of God. This resemblance is best stated in the New Living Translation: "Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.”
Due to my limited time, I'm concerned that I will not be able to cover the “First Creation Controversy” in this verse. As the “the firstborn of all creation” Some people misinterpreted it that Jesus was a created being and is not eternal or not equal with God the Father. But “firstborn” here only speaks of Jesus’ priority and supremacy, not his divinity. NLT translated it best: “He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation"
As the image of God, Jesus is the greatest of all creation. Why is this so? “For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell” (Col 1:19). Through Jesus, we have a glimpse of who God is and what he is doing.
B. SEARCHING THE INCONCEIVABLE GOD
As humans, we struggle with our limited imaginations. Just think about it. How could our 2-pound brain grasp the whole of the universe? Let us expand the question. Could this tiny brain totally comprehend the inconceivable God?
How about this truth that God created everything through Jesus Christ? Paul the Apostle said, “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.” (Col 1:16)
If there is one thing in common between the word icon creation, it is the idea of form. To create is to form something. However, the beauty of this act of creation is that God created the world through the Son. God’s Son is the agent or channel of creation. This revelation is consistent with John the Apostle’s theology.
“All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:3). Sadly, “He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him” (v.10)
Indeed, everything exists through the Son. This truth shows us that God is a creative God, reflecting his sovereign governance over all the world. And that includes human authorities. The bottom line is this: Even though God is beyond our imagination, we can know him through Jesus Christ.
C. SEEKING THE INFINITE GOD
Long before Jesus was born, he already existed eternally. Our text says, “And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Col 1:17). But how can you see someone who is eternal and someone who sustains the world in his hands?
In John 8, the story will help us see. The Jews, who were curious, asked Jesus. “Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?”
Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God. ’ But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.”
So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?”
Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple” (John 8:53-59)
What a tragedy. They have seen God in the flesh. But they refused to accept him. They knew that they could not see God in his glorious light and expect to live. But even though Jesus is like the stained glass that filters the great light of God, they refused to see God’s fullness in him.
The word of God is true. “In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4).
II. LIVE FOR JESUS FOR THE WORLD TO SEE
Who among you had ever stared at the sun directly? How was it? Early dawn and sunset are mesmerizing and amazing. But broad daylight is dangerous and damaging.
Kids, don't do this thing. Staring at the sun in broad daylight will damage your eyes. The ultraviolet light will flood your retina and burn the exposed tissue. It will cause blindness, depending on the damage it does. In less than 2 minutes, the damage could be permanent blindness. That’s why people use dark or shaded (level 14) glass to filter the blinding light, especially during solar eclipses.
In a similar manner, we cannot fully see the glorious light of God’s glory. However, the glorious God made himself known to humankind through Jesus Christ and somehow filtered his divine glory. Jesus said, “The glory that you have given me I have given to them” (John 17:22a). The question, then, is: Have you received the glory of God in your life?
As a follower of Jesus, we must respond to these wonderful truths and revelations about God’s glory in Christ. How?
As you may know, one of the main reasons why churches have stained glass windows is to share important messages, like the stories in the Bible and its teachings. Here are practical ways how we reflect the light and glory of Christ.
A. MAINTAIN UNITY IN THE MIDST OF DIVERSITY
Jesus said, “The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one” (John 17:22-23a).
Notice how Jesus repeatedly stated the idea of being one. It’s five times (5X). Without a doubt, the purpose of Jesus in giving us his glory is not to glorify ourselves but to honor God through our unity. In other words, we must mirror the unity of the Father and the Son.
Chaos is not God’s purpose. But the devil’s strategy is to divide and conquer. Steal their birthright or riches in Christ. Destroy the family and the church of Christ Jesus. Kill the innocent and the opponents (John 10:10). If ever Satan wants unity, it should be unity based on lies, not on Christ.
However, like the stained glass windows composed of various colors, we all have differences but we are creating a picture of God’s mosaic in Christ. As stained glass windows were made of various colors purposely by the designer, we must also appreciate the beauty of our colors, be it black, white, brown, yellow, etc. The universal church of Jesus is composed of various races, tribes, cultures, and nationalities, but we must remember that we are one in Christ Jesus.
The foundation of that unity is Jesus Christ. It is not big government, social philosophies, demonic agendas, godless policies, etc. The devil wants you to believe in the lies of uniformity so that you will not recognize the truth of unity in diversity. That's not Christian unity. Can you think of other divisive issues right now that are tearing Christian families apart? I trust that you have enough wisdom to discern and do something good. We must be united in Christ.
B. MANIFEST THE LOVE OF GOD FOR ALL
Jesus’ purpose in showing us his glory is for the world to see and know God and his love. He said, “...so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. (John 17:23b-24)
God loves you and me, just as God loves the Son. This love is not mere feelings, but faith and a kind of affection that seeks the highest good of the one being loved.
The problem is the world has twisted this concept of divine love. Because of the sinful nature of humans, love is wrapped around of so many lies that people are hurt. Love was changed with lust, sex outside marriage, even addiction. Because of the emptiness and failure of this worldly love, people are longing for an authentic, compassionate, and sacrificial kind of love that overflows from the heart of God.
John the Beloved said, “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us” (1 John 4:11-12).
Church, we all have different personalities, upbringings, ethnic backgrounds, tastes, preferences, etc. We don’t think, choose, or do things the same way, but in Christ we have unity. You may have a different politics, but if your politics go above your faith and family, that’s idolatry. Christ is our unity; it’s in him we put our loyalty.
Are you willing or obedient to Jesus Christ to love those who love differently? Pray differently? Live differently?
As you seek an honest an honest answer, please remember. An ancient King and politician once said,
“Hatred stirs up strife,
but love covers all offenses” (Proverbs 10:12)
The Apostle Peter also agreed: “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8).
C. MAKE JESUS KNOWN TO THE WORLD.
Like a stained glass window, the picture that Jesus wants us to show is to proclaim him to all the world. He said,
O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.
Church, the love of Christ will reveal the real color we have. His light in us will brighten our lives for the world to see. However, his light will also reveal whether our knowledge of God is shallow or superficial. The light of God will expose our real color, good or bad.
A stained glass window is composed of small pieces of glass. When you look at each glass, it has different colors, hues, and shapes. Some are dark, some are bright. There are green, red, yellow, white, and blue, some are like colored rainbows. If you take a closer look, you will see their specks or rough edges, and perhaps sharp imperfections. Each glass contains a unique beauty, different from the next one beside or above it. It is safe to say that each glass has its own story, but not as big as God’s story. What you need to do is to move back. See the tiny glass in the light of the bigger frame. Then, you will see that those tiny glasses are not just faces, but the face of Christ for the world to see. And those are the faces of you and me.
-Dr. Glenn Plastina