For centuries churches and cathedrals throughout the world have pictured the
message of God in stained glass. The worship center of First Baptist Church
is enriched by thirteen beautiful stained glass windows featuring
personalities and themes from the Bible.
The Building Committee envisioned Old Testament themes on
the east side of the building and New Testament themes on the west side. The
baptistry window pictures the resurrection and ascension of Jesus.
The side windows are five feet wide and twenty-five feet
high. The baptistry window is six feet wide and eighteen feet high. They are
made of one inch thick faceted glass and netted together with a gray epoxy
compound.
Mr. Ron Estep, an outstanding artist of Waco, Texas, took
the Old and New Testament themes and designed the windows with the
assistance of Mr. Berle Smith, Interior Designer of Jackson, Mississippi.
The artists' designs were effectively translated into glass and installed by
L. L. Sams & Sons Stained Glass Studio, Waco, Texas.
This Web Page has been prepared in the hope that those
viewing the windows will not only have a greater appreciation of their
beauty, but also a better understanding of the Biblical truths symbolized.
Baptistry Window
The Resurrected Christ
THE CREATION
window 1 (east side)
The colorful scene represents the creation of the
world by God. "In the beginning God created the
heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form,
and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep.
And the spirit of God moved upon the face of the
waters." (Genesis 1:1-2)
There were six "days" in the creation
process: (Genesis 1:3-31)
Day One: Light was created and divided from
darkness.
Day Two: The firmament or atmosphere surrounding
the earth was made.
Day Three: Water and land were separated and the
earth was covered with vegetation.
Day Four: The sun, moon, and stars were made to
give light upon the earth.
Day Five: Marine life and winged fowl were created.
Day Six: Land animals and man were created.
Top Symbol: The hand of God in creation.
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ABRAHAM AND
ISAAC
window 2 (east side)
Abraham is regarded as the founder and father of
the Hebrew people. In calling Abraham to be the head
of a new race, God had a specific purpose. They were
to receive special revelations from God and pass them
on to others. "Now the Lord had said unto Abram,
Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred,
and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will
shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation,
and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and
thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that
bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in
thee shall all families of the earth be blessed."
(Genesis 12:1-3)
The scene pictured in the window shows the
sacrifice of Isaac, the son of Abraham, and the angel
holding back Abraham's hand Nowhere is there to be
found a more touching story than the account of the
aged father's struggle between obedience to God and
love for his son. The great man of God proved his
faith, his beloved son was spared and God renewed his
covenant promises to him. (Genesis 22:1-19)
Top Symbol: A small stack of wood for the burnt
offering and the things
necessary for building a fire.
(Genesis 22:3)
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MOSES
window 3 (east side)
Moses was the great Hebrew statesman, lawgiver,
and leader who led the Israelites from the bondage of
slavery in Egypt. He was the son of Amram and
Jochebed, of the tribe of Levi. He had an older
sister named Miriam and an older brother named Aaron.
Moses' career falls into three periods of 40 years
each. The first was the years of training and
preparation in Egypt. The second period was spent in
the land of Midian, and was a time of preparation.
The third was the period of actual accomplishment of
his task.
In the third month after the Exodus, while the
Israelites were camped in the Sinai Wilderness, Moses
went up to a high peak of the mountain and was met by
God. There Moses received two tablets of stone on
which were written the Ten Commandments, the basis of
all moral law. (Exodus 20:1-17)
Most scholars agree that Moses was the greatest
man in Hebrew history. More than any other man, he
deserves the credit for molding and leading the
Hebrew people into a nation.
Top Symbol: The burning bush which was not
consumed, was associated with God's call of Moses. (Exodus
3: 1-10)
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RUTH AND NAOMI
window 4 (east side)
Elimelech and his wife Naomi and their two sons
lived in the vicinity of Bethlehem. During a famine,
they moved to Moab where the two sons married Moabite
girls. Ruth and Orpah.
Elimelech and the two sons died in Moab, leaving
Naomi and her daughters-in-law in Moab. Naomi decided
to return to her old home and Ruth expressed her
desire to accompany her mother-in-law. "Entreat
me not to leave thee, or to return from following
after thee; for whither thou goest, I will go; and
where thou lodgest, I will lodge; thy people shall be
my people, and thy God my God. Where thou diest, will
I die and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to
me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and
me." (Ruth 1:16ff)
Arriving at the old home, Ruth found work gleaning
in the fields of Boaz. Later Ruth and Boaz were
married. They had a baby boy named Obed, who became
the father to Jesse who was father to David the king
of Israel. Since Jesus was of the line of David, Ruth
was an ancestress of Jesus Christ.
Top Symbol: The wheat or barley represents the
fact that Ruth gleaned wheat from the fields of Boaz
near Bethlehem. (Ruth 2:3)
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DAVID
window 5 (east side)
David was born in Bethlehem, the son of Jesse, a
descendant of Ruth and Boaz. David was a shepherd boy
who was devout, courageous, and gifted. He came to
Saul's court as a musician. The killing of Goliath,
the Philestine giant, by David made him a national
hero. He became highly respected and loved by the
people.
After the death of King Saul, David was proclaimed
King and reigned from 1000 - 969 B.C. He made
Jerusalem his capital which was called Zion, City of
David, the Holy City. As king, David was without
equal in the history of Israel. He is also one of the
best known and loved poets of any race or time,
having written many of the Psalms.
In spite of David's imperfections, Samuel's
summary of David as a "man after God's own heart"
has become the verdict of history. (I Samuel 13:14).
He occupies a place of greatness next to Moses in the
Old Testament.
Top Symbol: The crown represents the kingship of
David during the "Golden Age of Israel."
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DANIEL
window 6 (east side)
Daniel was one of four major prophets in the Old
Testament. He was among those first taken captive to
Babylon in 607 - 06 B.C. The story of his steadfast
loyalty to God and his determination to maintain his
ideal of personal chastity is familiar to Bible
students.
Daniel spent his whole career in captivity and was
a man of remarkable influence. The King elevated him
to the position of head of all his wise men.
Of great significance is his deliverance from the
den of lions. Because Daniel prayed openly to God, he
was cast into the lions' den. The following day when
the King came to check on him, Daniel said, "My
God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths, and
they have not hurt me, because I was found blameless
before him; and also before you. O King, I have done
no wrong." (Daniel 6:22)
Top Symbol: The scales of justice are mentioned in
Daniel 5:27 where King Belshazzer was weighed in the
balances and found wanting.
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THE ANNUNCIATION
window 7 (west side)
In the fullness of time the angel Gabriel appeared
to Mary, a young woman of Nazareth and announced to
her that she would bear a son, Jesus, who would be
great and would be called the Son of the Most High;
and he would reign over the house of Jacob forever;
and of his Kingdom there would be no end. And Mary
said to the angel, "How can this be, since I
have no husband?" And the angel said to her,
"The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the
power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore
the child to be born will be called Holy, the Son of
God." Mary replied, "Behold I am the
handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to
your word. (Luke 1:26-38)
Top Symbol: Three white lilies represent the
beauty, purity, and innocence of Mary.
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THE NATIVITY
window 8 (west side)
Luke tells us "that there went out a decree
from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be
enrolled. And all went to be enrolled, each to his
own city." (Luke 2:1-3). It was this order which
forced Joseph and Mary to go to Bethlehem. When they
arrived, there was no room for them in the inn and
the baby Jesus was born in a stable, wrapped in
swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger. (Luke 1:4-7)
And in that region there were shepherds out in the
field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And
the angel of the Lord appeared unto them; saying,
"Be not afraid, for behold I bring you good news
of great joy which will come to all people; for unto
you is born this day in the city of David a Savior,
who is Christ the Lord." (Luke 1:8-11)
Top Symbol: A bright star guided the Wise Men to
the Christ child that they might worship him and
bring him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. (Matthew
2:9-12)
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THE
BAPTISM OF JESUS
window 9 (west side)
Jesus was thirty years of age when he began his
public ministry. He came from Galilee to the Jordon
to be baptized by John. John hesitated and even
insisted that he was not worthy to baptize him. Jesus
insisted that John must baptize him for "it is
fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness."
"And when Jesus was baptized he went up
immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens
were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending
like a dove, and alighting on him; and lo, a voice
from heaven, saying, 'This is my beloved Son with
whom I am well pleased."
Top Symbol: The dove represents the manner in
which the Spirit of God descended upon Jesus at his
baptism. (Matthew 3:16)
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JESUS
AND THE CHILDREN
window 10 (west side)
As the popularity of Jesus spread, mothers brought
their children to Him that He might touch them and
bless them. The disciples rebuked the mothers because
they did not think Jesus had time for such matters. (Mark
10:13) But when Jesus saw it he was indignant, and
said to them, "Let the children come to me, do
not hinder them; for to such belongs the Kingdom of
God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive
the Kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it."
And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying
his hands upon them. (Mark 10:14-16)
Top Symbol: Barley loaves and two fish were
brought to Jesus by a little boy, and Jesus performed
a miracle, feeding five thousand people. The entire
story is found in John 6:1-14.
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THE GARDEN
OF GETHSEMANE
window 11 (west side)
When the time of the crucifixion drew near, Jesus
went into the garden of Gethsemane to pray.
Gethsemane, a garden of olive trees, was one of
Jesus' favorite retreats. Jesus left eight of his
eleven disciples to watch. He then took Peter, James,
and John and went further into the garden. "And
he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and
knelt down and prayed, 'Father, if thou art willipg,
remove this cup from me; nevertheless not my will,
but thine, be done.' And there appeared to him an
angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in
agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became
like great drops of blood falling down upon the
ground. And when he rose from prayer, he came to the
disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, and he
said to them, 'Why do you sleep? Rise and pray that
you may not enter into temptation.'" (Luke 22:41-46)
Top Symbol: The cup represents the cup of
suffering (crucifixion) Jesus asked the Father to
remove, but prayed nevertheless not my will, but
thine be done. (Luke 22:42) The cup is also
representative of the cup in the Lord's Supper. (Matthew
26:27)
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THE CRUCIFIXION
window 12 (west side)
"And when they came to a place called
Golgotha (which means the place of a skull) they
offered him wine to drink, mingled with gall; but
when he tasted it, he would not drink it. And when
they had crucified him, they divided his garments
among them by casting lots; then they sat down and
kept watch over him there. And over his head they put
the charge against him, which read, 'This is Jesus
the King of the Jews.' Then two robbers were
crucified with him, one on the right and one on the
left."
"Now from the sixth hour there was darkness
over the land until the ninth hour. And about the
ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, 'My God, My
God, why hast thou forsaken me?' And some of the by
standers hearing it said, 'This man is calling Elijah.'
And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled
it with vinegar, and put it on a reed and gave it to
him to drink. But the others said, 'Wait, let us see
whether Elijah will come to save him.' And Jesus
cried again with a loud voice and yielded up his
spirit." (Matthew 27:33-50)
Top Symbol: A crown of thorns was placed on the
head of Jesus as the soldiers mocked him. (Matthew 27:29)
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THE
RESURRECTED CHRIST
Baptistry Window
"Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of
the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the
other Mary went, to see the sepulchre. And behold,
there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the
Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back
the stone, and sat upon it. His appearance was like
lightning, and his raiment white as snow. And for
fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead
men. But the angel said to the women, 'Do not be
afraid; for I know that you seek Jesus who was
crucified. He is not here; for he has risen, as he
said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go
quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from
the dead, and behold, he is going before you to
Galilee; there you will see him. Lo, I have told you.'"
(Matthew 28:1-7)
In a period of forty days, Jesus made at least ten
resurrection appearances. Then Jesus led his
disciples out to Mount Olive, spoke briefly and as he
gave them his blessing, "he was taken up; and a
cloud received him out of their sight. And while they
were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men
stood by them in white robes, and said, 'men of
Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This
same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven,
will come in the same way as you saw him go into
heaven.'" (Acts 1:9-10)
"Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour
your Lord doth come ... Therefore, be ye also ready:
for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man
cometh." (Matthew 24:42-44)
"Then shall they see the Son of man coming in
a cloud with power and great glory. And when these
things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift
up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh."
(Luke 21:27-28)
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Text by: Odean W. Puckett
September 9, 1984
