One of the joys I had when preaching at St Cross was the view. The congregation have their backs to the West Window; I was facing it. Really the West Window is a sermon in itself. Its stained glass art alone makes a visit to the St Cross chapel worthwhile.

The artist’s aim is to inspire us to a deeper faith. The images emphasise the message of this season of the year, as we celebrate all the saints who have gone before us in faith. This is Saint Paul’s message in his letter to the Hebrews. Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us.

Paul’s list of inspiring witnesses goes back all the way to Abel.  By faith he was able to make an offering out of what he had which was acceptable to God. Then there is Enoch, who by faith was able to live a life pleasing to God. And Noah, who by faith was able to hear God’s word and find safety from the flood.

These three are depicted at the bottom of the West Window. Paul goes on to include Abraham and David, who are depicted at the top right.

All these forerunners of ours faced many challenges. By faith, Paul says, they won strength out of weakness. So they are commended. But there was still something more, which they did not receive. God’s promises were not wholly fulfilled in their time.

The window artist knows this. That is why the central panels of the West Window tell an additional story. At the bottom are the striking figures of Adam and Eve. They are naked, but with modesty just about preserved by the fruit of the tree of knowledge. Above them is the serpent, coiled in the tree, luridly coloured in red and yellow. This represents human fallenness. We know how we are imperfect. We recognise that we are unable to live the perfect life for which God created us.

Above that panel is another, but with many lurid serpents. This is the scene in the Book of Numbers. The serpents represent the curse of sin and rebellion against God. They have the people in agony. One serpent image, however, has been lifted up by Moses: a bronze image high on a cross pole.

The final panel shows Jesus giving his life on the cross. For just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

God has promised life in all its fullness to us who live in faith. And he has fulfilled this promise in the life, teaching, death and resurrection of Jesus. It is to him that we are to look, as the pioneer and perfecter of the fullness of faith.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish, but have eternal life.

 

Rev Philip Krinks