Window 23

Like its companion on the far front at the south side, the single window at the far back on the north side is visually beautiful.  It illustrates the Gospel at the close of the church year, the Parable of the Ten Virgins in Matthew 25:1-13.  At the top, a lamb with banner of victory is seated on a book with seven seals.  A cross dominates the entire upper part of the window.  The letters on its crosspiece are the alpha and omega, first and last letters in the Greek alphabet, equivalent to our A and Z.  In the middle of the window, two deer gaze upward to the lamb.  At the base of the window is a lamp.  Above its left side are five zeros or ciphers.  On the right side are five stars.

Jesus is described in the book of Revelation as a lamb with marks of the crucifixion, who stands on a scroll sealed with seven seals.  He calls himself the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, who is and who was and who is to come.  In the parable, Jesus urges his followers to be watchful, like the deer with eyes fixed on the lamb whose death on the cross won the victory over sin, devil, death, and hell.  At the window’s base, the lamp with its flame signifies the watchfulness which Jesus urges on his followers.  The five foolish virgins whose lamps went out because they not furnish themselves with enough oil are represented by the five ciphers.  They were too late to enter the door to the marriage feast of the Lamb.  The five wise virgins who bought enough oil to keep their lamps burning and who entered the door to the Lord’s marriage are represented by the five stars.  They shall shine like the stars in the sky (Daniel 12:3).