Preparing for Easter: Week 1

Stained Glass Reflections on the Life of Christ

As we approach Easter on April 20, we thought we’d take some time each week to post some reflections on an aspect of Jesus’ life. Different Christian traditions have different ways of helping people prepare for Easter, and although some veer into rigid formalism, there is much to be benefited from pausing to reflect more intentionally on Christ’s life and death and resurrection in this season. Much as many folks follow an Advent devotional to lead up to Christmas, so we will post a weekly reflection on some aspect of Christ’s life from the Gospels. And we will do so in a unique way…

One of our favorite spots on the Calvary property is Altizer Hall with the stained-glass pieces that frame both sides of the room. If you’ve never been in that room or paused to reflect on the colored glass, we encourage you to do so. There’s a simple beauty in the colors and scenes the pieces depict – and it’s been that way ever since the building was built in 1990.

So each week, we’ll take one of these pieces and reflect on what we see in it that comes from the Scriptures and how that can prepare our hearts for praise and amazement at Easter.

Week 1: The Birth of Jesus

We’ll start “in the beginning” of Jesus’ life (while acknowledging that He was “in the beginning” and beyond with God, John 1:1). Why start with His birth? Besides the obvious answers, His birth is important because a birth typically ends in death. And this one is no exception. There is no Good Friday without Christmas. No death without His birth. That’s where we’re headed, even from the beginning. But (spoiler alert!) though this birth does lead to death…it doesn’t end there!

Some recommended reading for reflecting on His incarnation would of course be Luke 1-2, Matthew 1-2, and John 1:1-18. Take a look at those passages and at this stained glass piece and see what you notice…

1. EASTER VS. CHRISTMAS: First, an overall comment – in our stained glass journey, you’ll notice that 4-5 of the pieces deal with the events of the week of Easter. But only this one deals with Christmas. Similarly, biblically speaking we have MANY more chapters in each Gospel on the last week of Jesus’ life (Matthew 21-28, Mark 11-16, Luke 19-24, John 12-21) compared to the 4-5 chapters we have on His birth. We rightfully spend a lot of time reflecting on His birth in December – but do we spend equal time reflecting on the wonders of His death and resurrection? We hope this weekly journey of reflections helps each of us do just that.
2. GOD BECOME SMALL: Looking at the stained-glass piece, behold how small baby Jesus looks. In some ways this is obvious – of course a newborn is small! But in other ways, it is astounding – because that little baby is God Himself! He’s the smallest figure in this picture…yet He upholds the universe and created it all by His Word (Col. 1:16-17)! He could’ve marched in like a Roman emperor as a full-grown man, a superhero, trampling down all opposition. But the invasion of God into earth came in the form of a small little child. Tolkien was right when he wrote, “The Incarnation of God is an infinitely greater thing than anything I would dare to write.” Or as JI Packer puts it, “The Almighty appeared on earth as a helpless human baby, needing to be fed and changed and taught to talk like any other child. The babyhood of the Son of God was a reality. Nothing in fiction is so fantastic as the truth of the incarnation.”
3. DARKNESS VS. LIGHT: Also, notice the brightness of the white swaddling clothes around Jesus – it draws the eye toward Him. Everything else seems a little dark, but Jesus shines forth in a dark place – in fact, you can see the star shining in the background. The floor and surroundings contain a lot of brown, a lot of dirt, a lot of squalor. But in the midst of the mess of earth full of sin and sinners, Jesus comes forth perfectly pure and bright. It reminds me of this quote from John 1:9-11: “The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.” Notice the contrast – He’s true light for the world…but the world doesn’t recognize Him! He’s bright and shining in the darkest place – but men love darkness rather than light (John 3:19). This is both convicting and comforting – convicting because, before the holiness of God, we all are utterly stained and hopeless. But it’s comforting because this holy God descended to be found in a place of squalor, amongst the refuse and manure. If He stooped this low, then surely He stoops to see you in your suffering! Remember, there was a moment of time where the presence of God was felt through the unease of pregnancy. There was a time when God Himself was born in the mess of a human birth, combined with the mess of an animal’s trough. So surely His presence is with you in your mess and unease and pain! He is light…but He shines in the darkest place!
4. CREATOR AMONG CREATURES: Lastly, notice that animals (is it a sheep? Cow? Ox?) peeking in from the left. I love that room was made for this creature. Because here we see an amazing truth – the Maker of animals was born among animals! If He wasn’t ashamed to be born amongst such lowly creatures, how much more is He not ashamed to be called our brother (Heb. 2:11), we who sometimes act “beastly” in our sin and selfishness!

What else do you observe in this simple depiction of Jesus’ birth? What stands out to you from the very-familiar account of His birth? Let such thoughts drive you to praise and awe this Easter season. Let’s end with a profound quote from RG Lee on the wonder of His incarnation:

“Christ who in eternity rested motherless upon the Father’s bosom and in time rested fatherless upon a woman’s bosom, clasping the Ancient of Days had become the Infant of Days. What deep descent from the heights of glory to the depths of shame; from the wonders of heaven to the wickedness of earth; from exaltation to humiliation; from the throne to the tree; from dignity to debasement; from worship to wrath; from the halls of heaven to the nails of earth; from the coronation to the curse; from the glory place to the gory place! In Bethlehem, humility and glory in their extremes were joined. Born in a stable! Cradled in a cattle trough! Wrapped in swaddling clothes of poverty! No room for Him who made all rooms! Not place for Him who made and knows all places! Oh, deep humiliation of the Creator – born of the creature, woman! But in His descent was the dawn of mercy. Because we cannot ascend to Him, He descends to us.” -RG Lee