Preparing for Easter: Week 8

Stained Glass Reflections on the Life of Christ

Recommended Reading: Acts 1:1-11, Rev. 3:14-22, Rev. 19

Wait a second…Easter is over. Why are we doing another post?

It’s no mistake! We still have three pieces left in our journey around the ten stained-glass pieces in Altizer Hall. I appreciate that the artist included these scenes post-resurrection, for they remind us of our future hope and what our lives should be about in this post-Easter age.

These scenes remind us that the life of Christ does not end with His resurrection. In fact, because of the resurrection, His life NEVER ends, and neither will ours! Because He lives, our joy in the resurrection shouldn’t end as we move past the exciting season of Easter.

With these truths in mind, take a look at the last three paintings and ask yourself: “Why these scenes? What’s the significance?”

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Week 8: Jesus Ascended, Asking, and Appearing!

#1: WHAT GOES UP MUST COME DOWN: Notice the similarities between the first and the third, between the ascension and the return of Christ. This is biblical, for as the angels tell the dumbfounded disciples at the ascension, “This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11). Notice what’s behind Him in each scene – He left in a ring of clouds, and He returns surrounded by clouds. When you see the sun peak through heavy clouds after a storm, think of THE Son breaking through the clouds to bring light forevermore.

But notice another similarity between these two images: Jesus’ hands. In both, they still appear to be scarred from the nails that pierced them. This is an encouraging reality! Our risen Savior still bears on His body the marks of His sacrifice – yes, even in heaven! The hand that will wipe away all tears from our eyes is a scarred hand. He will heal all our scars, and yet still bear His. As a modern song puts it, “The only scars in Heaven are on the hands that hold you now.”

Or as an older hymn says,

“Crown him the Lord of love;
behold his hands and side,
rich wounds, yet visible above,
in beauty glorified.”

If you doubt His love for you, remember He will forever bear those marks of just how far He went to prove that love! If you wonder whether He really does still forgive you after all you’ve done, think of Him up there in heaven with hands still clearly saying, “It is finished!” As Charles Wesley contemplated, picture those wounds “strongly pleading” for you before God: “Forgive Him, O forgive,” they cry, “Nor let that ransomed sinner die!”

And if you wonder if He will ever forget who you are, think about how your name “is written on His hands” in those deep scars. Indeed, when He returns, He will still bear those scars, even as that scarred hand holds the “rod of iron” that will rule all nations. See the royal crown on His head. Indeed, Revelation 19:12 says, “On his head are many diadems.” He will be crowned with MANY crowns – in fact, all crowns and all power belong to Him. But those crowns rest on a head that once was scarred by a very different crown – a crown of thorns.

Jesus will return as King to reign and bring judgment. But those scars remind us that He is a kind King, a sacrificial Sovereign who gave His life to rescue His people.

#2: WHAT NOW, IN THE MEANWHILE? Think back to those disciples seeing Jesus ascend in the clouds 40 days after Easter. I love this funny depiction of them staring up dumbfounded. Sometimes, that’s us! We rehearse how Jesus was born, died, resurrected, and went back to heaven, but we act as if it’s just historical fact with no bearing on our lives. It’s as if we’re still staring up into heaven, twiddling our thumbs and looking silly waiting for that final scene to take place.

But, friends, we have things to do until He returns! That’s where the next scene – the one in between Jesus’ ascension and His return – comes in. Here we see Jesus knocking on a door. What is happening here? It’s inspired by the letter Jesus had John send to the church of Laodicea in Revelation 3. He rebukes this lethargic church and tells them, ^“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with Me” (vs. 20).

In the context, this seems addressed to those who claim Christ and yet don’t live like it’s true. But it’s also historically been considered a call to all who don’t know Christ. Jesus is knocking at the door of their hearts. He pursues those who wander or are lost, and He bangs on their door, offering to give them a feast of the Living Bread.

See here in this depiction how tender He appears, leaning in close to the door as if to hear any cry, no matter how faint. He holds a staff, it’s true, not to beat down the door, but rather to gently lead His straying sheep home. Indeed, He has left the 99 to pursue this one that’s lost. That’s the type of Savior He is – One who pursues!

But how does He do this, since in the last scene we saw Him ascend to heaven? He is not literally on earth going door-to-door. So, by what means does Christ knock on the doors of hearts today? We know He works by His Spirit overall, but He also works through the preaching of people. As Paul remarked, “How will they hear without a preacher?” (Rom. 10:14).

The most ordinary way the Spirit moves someone’s heart to open is through a Christian preaching the good news. And this doesn’t just happen in a church service – we are all called to proclaim this news. That’s what the disciples got busy with after a little encouragement from the angel. “Stop staring up! Go back to the city, get the Spirit, and then GO!” That was Jesus’ final commission for His disciples: go and make disciples (Matt. 28:19-20).

So what do we do between Jesus’ ascension and His return? We join with Him in knocking on the doors of people’s hearts, because there is coming a day when He will return to reign and to punish those who do not believe.

What a contrast between the first stained-glass piece of His birth and the last of His return! He came as a small baby, but He will return to reign as king. Do you know this Jesus? I trust this series has helped you reflect on His life and that in the year until the next Easter, you will not neglect to meditate on who He is and what He’s done.

One day the trumpet will sound for His coming
One day the skies with His glories will shine
Wonderful day, my Beloved One bringing
My Savior Jesus is mine

Living, He loved me
Dying, He saved me
Buried, He carried my sins far away
Rising, He justified freely forever
One day He’s coming
Oh glorious day!