John had a specific goal for writing his gospel. Everything he included was to encourage the reader to believe that Jesus is the promised Messiah and the Son of God (20:30-31). To help readers place their trust in Jesus, John included seven beautiful descriptions that Jesus gave of himself. Since we are walking through this gospel over the course of a year, and because we desire to know Jesus better as a result of this trek, these self-revelations will be priceless treasure. These are not metaphors John or Paul created in an attempt to describe the uniqueness of Jesus. Jesus himself revealed his nature and identity with these statements. The seven works of stained glass found in the eastern windows of our sanctuary represent these very descriptions, and so they are, in a sense, portraits of Jesus!
The seventh window is perhaps the most enigmatic. When Jesus stated that he was “the Gate” (John 10:9), it was as a continuation of his “Good Shepherd” description. However, another passage from Hebrews comes to mind. In both the Tabernacle and later the Temple, a heavy curtain closed off the Most Holy Place, or the Holy of Holies. In this room rested the Ark of the Covenant, over which hovered the presence of God. Only the high priest could enter that holy space, and only once a year. In order to cover his sins and the sins of the people, the priest had to carry blood when he passed through the curtain. No one was to come through the veil without God’s permission, the utmost caution, obedience, and humility. We were separated from God.
Hebrews 10:19-22 gives good news! “And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus, by a new (Greek – “freshly slaughtered”) and life-giving way through the curtain, that is his body. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him.” The veil or curtain is a symbol of Jesus’ own body, torn and sacrificed for us.
It is only through him that we can come into the presence of God. Jesus is the Gate!
And so the final window represents the Temple curtain that was torn from top to bottom at the moment of Jesus’ death (Matthew 27:51). The rip is lined with red to point to his sacrifice and the way through which we must pass to enter the presence of God.
“Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
