Journey of Redemption
by Marjorie Blake
(Stained glass, 2006, 20' x 11')
Grace Episcopal Church - St. Francisville, LA
Blakehappyland@aol.com
 

 
I was inspired by the hymn, "Come ye faithful, raise the strain", [#199 in the Episcopal Hymnbook], when singing in the choir at my church on an Easter morning. The hymn tells of the journey of redemption, comparing and contrasting events in the Old and New Testament. The hymn described the journey of the Israelites as Moses led them out of bondage in Egypt across the Red Sea. There the Lord parted the water for a safe passage and led them into joy from sadness. The hymn continues and compares this experience with one from the New Testament, the joy of Christ's Resurrection when He came out of the prison of death, "as a sun has risen".

For the large window of the chapel, the top of the window portrays a dove of the Holy Spirit at Christ's baptism. Bright red and gold bands represent the joy of the sun and the redemption of man through baptism as a gift of God. The water flows down from the font and becomes the water of the Red Sea that the Lord parted for the Israelites as they joyously crossed into the wilderness on the other side. There are columns of colored glass portrayed between the parted waters that represent the staffs carried by the twelve tribes of Israel.

The symbolic water then flows into the next set of 3 windows that portray a scene from the old testament of the same journey of redemption. The Israelites were ready to cross the Jordan River into the promised land of milk and honey, and carried the Ark of the Covenant. God again parted the waters for them to cross, and they carried the Ark across safely to their promised land. There are symbols of the Promised Land in the top of the windows: sheaves of wheat and streams of milk and honey that symbolize the abundance of lush growth in the land. Cherubim are on top of the Ark, guarding it, and on the side of the Ark, in a prominent place, is a Star of David, representing the Jewish people.

The third set of windows also has a significant body of water, the River of the Water of Life. This scene is described in the New Testament and can be found in Revelation 22.1-6. The journey of redemption continues as the Christian crosses the water into the city of the New Jerusalem, our Promised Land. Represented are symbols of an angel blowing a trumpet to announce the coming of Christ, symbols of Christ as the Sacrificial Lamb, with the River of the Water of Life flowing down from His throne, "bright as crystal". On each side of the river is the Tree of Life bearing fruit for every month and leaves for the healing of the nations. The Book of Life and symbols of the streets paved in gold of the Holy City complete the scene. "There will be no more night: they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and He will reign forever and ever." Revelation 22.5.