NEW TESTAMENT WINDOW #2
CHRIST'S DEATH AND RESURRECTION:
A RESPONSE IN FAITH.
The corresponding window on the right side of the church pictures the death and resurrection of Christ. In this window there is symbolized the response of Jesus to the will of His Father and His Father's response to His Son which is the Resurrection. It is like the Old Testament window on the action of faith which matures and gives life to hope; however the action is much greater and the reason for hope is much more defined and real. We Christians of the New Testament daily partake of Christ's response in faith by our own response in faith.
The lower half of this window contains symbols of the passion, trial, and death of Jesus. There are the nails and tongs, (Paralleling the knife in the Old Testament window) dice, and a lantern. The lantern calls to mind the scene in the Garden of Gethsemane when the soldiers came in darkness looking for Jesus. A pitcher pouring out water into a bowl refers to Christ before Pilot. The crown of thorns parallels the crown in the Old Testament window but speaks of a different kind of kingship. The cross is central to the whole window. The spear near the top parallels the scepter in the opposite window and is the spear which opened Christ's breast. At the very base of the window is a pomegranate. It is opening up to show the seeds inside. This is an ancient symbol of the Resurrection. It symbolizes the power of the Lord who rose from the tomb on Easter to a new life of glory.
The sun rising over the mountain refers to Christ the rising light as well as pointing to the early morning occurrence of the Resurrection. The sun also shares in the symbolism of the Abraham window. At the top of the window is a peacock. It was a very popular symbol of the resurrection in the early church and is found in many of the catacombs. The early Christians believed that the peacock's flesh was incorruptible and that it shed its brilliant feathers yearly, after which it got new feathers finer and more brilliant than before. It was seen then as a strong symbol of Christ being raised up and glorified on the third day.
