Stained Glass Windows
of
St. John’s Lutheran Church
Mequon, Wisconsin
Entrance Window
The perfect righteousness of Christ which he demonstrated on the cross by suffering and dying in our place covers our sins and enables us to receive the crown of heaven. St. Paul wrote, “Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing”
(2 Timothy 4:8).
Stained Glass Windows
Although hard substances that diffuse light appear naturally, ancient craftsmen produced synthetic glass by melting and then cooling a mixture of silicon and sand. As the glass cooled it could be shaped into jewelry or rolled into sheets. The sheets could be cut in various forms and bonded together with strips of lead. These bonded pieces of cut glass eventually became windows.
Soon after they invented glass, craftsmen in Egypt and Rome invented colored glass or stained glass by mixing metallic oxides with the molten glass. Mixing copper produced green glass; cadmium produced yellow glass. Red glass was produced by gold additives and was the most expensive glass to make.
Christians found it natural to install stained glass windows in their churches. The combination of light and beauty stirred believers to good deeds and visions of heaven. At first the windows were small and the glass designs were primitive, but stained-glass windows became an important art form in the great churches of Europe after the 11th century. Artists also developed the skill of painting images on stained glass and could depict the important persons, events, and symbols of the Christian religion on the colored glass. Stained glass windows became the Bible story books for illiterate Christians of the Middle Ages.
After the Reformation Lutheran churches retained their love for the church’s artistic heritage and splendor. Lutherans in America continued to adorn their churches with stained glass windows. The best craftsmen were in Germany and windows in many WELS churches were made by German firms. Soon companies were founded in America and churches installed stained glass windows that were perhaps a little less splendid but also less expensive.
The stained-glass windows in our church were made by cutting simple designs from sheets of colored glass and then bonding them together with strips of lead. In the center of the window a circle of cut glass and lead strips was created and an image was painted on the glass in the circle. Six of our nave windows and the window over the church entrance are of this type. Two windows in the nave consist of uniquely-cut glass pieces and more involved painting. Windows in the narthex, tower, and balcony contain stained glass but without symbols.
From what we know, the windows were purchased and installed when the church was built in 1925-26. It is likely that the designs were chosen from a company’s catalogue. The nave windows seem to have been chosen as pairs with similar concepts facing each other from each side of the nave.
North Nave Windows
These windows contain symbols of the two chief teachings of the Scriptures, the law and the gospel. God’s moral law, his unchanging will for us, shows us our sins and condemns us. It is depicted by the tables of stone which God gave to Moses on Mt. Sinai and includes the numbers in Latin of the Ten Commandments. (Sadly, we are not able to see this symbol since it is covered for the sake of clear vision on the screen.) The gospel is symbolized by an open Bible. From beginning to end, God’s inspired Word proclaims that he forgives our sins through the suffering, death, and resurrection of Christ.
North Central Nave Windows
Both windows contain symbols of the Church, the body of believers. The sheaf of wheat symbolizes that true Christians are gathered close to Christ but surrounded by weeds: unbelievers and hypocrites (Matthew 24). The grapes hanging from branches depict our relationship to Jesus who said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit” (John 15:5).
South Central Nave Windows
Jesus stands at the door of our hearts and enters through faith (Revelation 3:20). Jesus said “I am the good shepherd and I lay down my life for the sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life”
(John 10:14, 27).
South Nave Windows
Both symbols symbolize hope and certainty. The anchor that is Christ holds us fast during the storms of life. The dove with the olive branch reminded Noah and assures us that the Lord always protects and cares for his people.
Symbols on the Balcony Railing
Face the balcony and match the symbols with the information that follows.
While not of stained glass, the symbols on the facing of the balcony are interesting and remind us of important Bible truths.
Matthew, the man+ Mark, the Lion + Luke, the Ox +John, the eagle
At the center of the balcony rail are the symbols of the four Evangelists
The Four Evangelists
Christian Symbols
Most of these symbols are self-explanatory.
The Symbols of the Twelve Apostles
- St. Thomas - A carpenter’s square and spear
Doubting Thomas is believed to have preached in India where he built many churches (the carpenter’s square). He was martyred after being stoned, shot with arrows, and impaled on a spear.
- St. Jude - A ship
Also know as Thaddaeus, Jude traveled by ship with Simon the Zealot on missionary journeys.
- St. Simon - A fish resting on a book
Jude’s traveling companion, he was a “fisher of people” through the power of the gospel.
- James the Less - A verticle saw
Not the James of Jesus’ inner circle, James the son of Alphaeus was probably a cousin of Jesus. After a horrible martyrdom in Jerusalem, his dead body was sawn in half—thus the symbol of the saw.
- Judas Iscariot - A money bag and noose
Judas, the betrayer of Jesus, is not often symbolized in churches; occasionally a shield with no symbol attests to him. Our symbol displayes the bag of silver coins he received to betray Jesus as well as the noose with which he hanged himself.
- St. Peter - Two crossed keys
The crossed keys remind us of Jesus’ words following Peter’s confession, “I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 16:19). Jesus’ gift of the keys is given to all those who have Peter’s faith.
- St. James - Three shells -
Since scallop shells are found on beaches all over the world, the shell is often a symbol for traveling and pilgrimage. James’ pilgrimage on earth was over soon since he was the first of the apostles to die a martyr’s death.
- St. John - A snake rising from cup
John lived longer than all the other apostles. His enemies tried to kill him by mixing poison with water, but the Lord saved him by drawing the poison out of the cup.
- St. Philip - A Tau cross above basket -
Philip was concerned about feeding the 5,000; hence the bread basket in his symbol. The Tau cross, missing its upper arm, is called the cross of prophecy because it points to the fulfillment of God’s promise through the cross of Christ.
- St. Andrew - An X cross
According to tradition, St. Andrew died a martyr’s death in Greece on a cross of this shape. The symbol has been used in military circles and still today forms the historic flag of Scotland.
- St. Bartholomew - Three knives
Also known as Nathanael, his symbol consists of flaying knives that were used to skin him alive before he was crucified.
