Window 25

Lancet windows above the western portal of the church

Through many centuries in the past, churches were normally oriented so that the altar would be at the east end, the place of the rising sun, and the main entrance at the west end, the place of the setting sun  and close of the day.  Thus, quite appropriately, the message in sculpture and/or stained glass at the west normally dealt with the end of the world and the second return of Christ in glory to judge the living and the dead.  At his feet to his left, cowering figures of the lost might be shown.  To his right would be the joyful figures of the saved.

Our three windows above the western entrance of the church carry messages in the life of the church during these grey and latter days approaching world’s end.  The figures were planned to be viewed from the inside, as worshipers were leaving the church.  From this perspective, the colors in the windows were exceptionally beautiful.  Because of the organ pipes, the windows can now be viewed only from the exterior.  The artificial lighting is less successful than natural light from the outside.

Window 25

The window at the south side of the group above the main portal of the church celebrates the great battle  to preserve the truth of the Gospel.  It is the battle of the Reformation in the 1500s.  At window’s center, the angel of Revelation 14:6 flies in midair to proclaim the eternal Gospel to those living on earth.  It is the Gospel purified from the errors which became attached to it through many previous centuries.  In a sermon preached at Luther’s funeral on February 22, 1546, his university colleague identified Luther with that angel foretold in Revelation 14:6.

The other two signs in the window deal with both the man and the message of the Reformation.  Under the angel is the mighty fortress of Luther’s hymn and, inscribed on its front side, the monogram of Christ the Valiant One whom God himself elected to fight in our behalf.  Above the angel is Luther’s personal seal.

In his own words, the black cross at seal’s center is to remind us that faith in Christ crucified saves us.  Behind it the living red heart signifies that it was made alive by faith.  The white rose around the heart is a sign of joy, the fruit of faith.  The rose is set into a blue field to show that faith is the beginning of heavenly joy.  Around the blue field, the golden ring pictures the eternal blessedness of heaven.  Luther’s seal is also a proclamation that the everlasting Gospel is preached and taught at our St. John’s Church.