I am the door

"I am the door; if any one enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture."

    Jesus, who gave His life for the sins of the world, is symbolized by the scapegoat of the Old Testament, which is seen at the upper left.  On the Day of Atonement, the Jews symbolically placed their sins on a goat, which was led out of the city to die in the wilderness and considered to be bearing the transgressions of the people.  At the top of the right lancet,  the fountain of water topped with a chi rho represents the ritual washing away of sins of the old dispensation superseded by the new dispensation of Christ.

    The large medallion, which is near the bottom in this window, illustrates the parable of the sheep and the goats: These are the good and evil souls standing before Christ on His throne at the last judgment.  Those on His right bear the word of blessing, "Come inherit the kingdom," while those on His left hear the word of judgment, "Depart from me."

    The small medallions continue the theme of Jesus, Friend of Sinners.  In the left lancet, Zaccheus of Jericho is called down from the tree by the Master,  who goes home with the little tax collector and blesses his life.  The woman taken in adultery is next below;  Jesus writes on the ground while the accusing citizens point to the woman with bitter scorn.  At the bottom,  the woman who anointed Jesus's feet with precious ointment lavishly pours out her treasure to show her great devotion to the Lord of her life.

    In the center lancet, top, the thief on the cross cries for mercy and hears the blessed word of salvation.  Below, Judas salutes Jesus in Gethsemane with the kiss of betrayal.  In the right lancet, at the top, appears a representation of the parable of the prodigal son.  His father gladly receives the wanderer, but the older brother in the background refuses to show any mercy.  Next is a symbol of the parable of the wheat and the tares.  At the bottom the picture stands for the resurrection appearance of our Lord by the sea when He asks Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?"  And receiving an affirmative answer, commands Peter, "Feed my sheep."  The sheep appear in the background.

Use your back arrow to return to the home page.