St. Augustine observed: “The New Testament lies hidden in the Old and the Old Testament is unveiled in the New.” The theme of the seven windows on the northwest side of the nave reflects this truth. The windows intend to unveil and bring into full light some of the events and signs of the Old Testament which foreshadowed and pointed to God’s plan of redemption which he accomplished in his Son, Jesus Christ and will bring to fulfillment on the Last Day.
The windows are intended to be read not only chronologically from the back of the nave to the front, but also in pairs that correspond to one another with Christ crucified at the center and the linchpin of God’s plan of salvation.
1. Paradise Lost: The Fall (Genesis 3:21, 24)
2. God Delivers Israel: The Passover (Exodus 12)
3. Priestly Intercession: The Day of Atonement
(Leviticus 16)
4. Christ Crucified for Us (John 19)
5. Priestly Intercession: Jesus Prays for Us (Hebrews 7)
6. God Delivers Us: Holy Baptism (Titus 3)
7. Paradise Restored (Revelation 21-22)
Hover over any of the images to learn more about the scene depicted.
The "Change Order" button will rearrange the images into one of the two different orders they were meant to be viewed in.
Paradise Lost
The Fall
Genesis 3:21, 24 21The LORD God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them…. 24He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.
Shield in lower window
An apple missing a bite Genesis 3:6
“6So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.”
Paradise Restored
Paradise Restored
Revelation 21:3; 22:1 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.” … 22:1Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb.
Shield in lower window
A Clean White Robe Revelation 22:14 14Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates.
God Delivers Israel: The Passover
The Passover
Exodus 12:7, 13 7“Then they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat [the Passover lamb]…. 13The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.”
Shield in lower window
The LORD bringing his people through the Red Sea on dry ground Exodus 13:21-22
“21And the LORD went before [the people of Israel] by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. 22The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.”
Exodus 14:22
“22The people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.”
God Delivers Us: Holy Baptism
Holy Baptism
Titus 3:5 5[God] saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.
Shield in lower window
The Word of God from Luther’s Small Catechism
What is Baptism? Baptism is not just plain water, but it is the water included in God’s command and combined with God’s word.
How can water do such great things? Certainly not just water, but the word of God in and with the water does these things, along with the faith which trusts this word of God in the water. For without God’s word the water is plain water and no Baptism. But with the word of God it is a Baptism, that is, a life-giving water, rich in grace, and a washing of the new birth in the Holy Spirit, as St. Paul says in Titus, chapter three . . .
Priestly Intercession: The Day of Atonement
The Day of Atonement
Leviticus 16:15-16 15“Then [Aaron] shall kill the goat of the sin offering that is for the people and bring its blood inside the veil … sprinkling it over the mercy seat and in front of the mercy seat. 16Thus he shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleannesses of the people of Israel and because of their transgressions, all their sins.”
Shield in lower window
The Scapegoat Leviticus 16:20-22
“20And when [Aaron] has made an end of atoning for the Holy Place and the tent of meeting and the altar, he shall present the live goat. 21And Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the people of Israel, and all their transgressions, all their sins. And he shall put them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is in readiness. 22The goat shall bear all their iniquities on itself to a remote area, and he shall let the goat go free in the wilderness.”
Priestly Intercession: Jesus Prays for Us
Jesus Intercedes
Hebrews 7:25 25Consequently, [Jesus] is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. Romans 8:33-34 33Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Hebrews 10:21b-22 21bSince we have a great priest over the house of God, 22let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
The pot of incense in Jesus’ left hand represents the prayers of believers.
Psalm 141:2
Let my prayer rise before you as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice! Revelation 5:8b
Golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
John 19:30, 34 30When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit…. 34But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water.
Shield in lower window
The Nails John 20:25
Thomas said: “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails. . . I will never believe.”
The Sacraments
Located at the rear of the nave
Hover over any of the images to learn more about the scene depicted.
Holy Communion
Luke 24:29-31, 35 29[Cleopas and his companion] urged [Jesus] strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. 30When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. . . . 35they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.
Shield in lower window
The grapes for wine and wheat for bread are the raw materials for the elements Jesus uses in his holy Supper.
Holy Baptism
Acts 8:36-38 36And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” 38And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.
Shield in lower window
St. Peter connects Noah’s ark with the sacrament of Holy Baptism 1 Peter 3:20-21 20God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. 21Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”
Holy Communion (Luke 24) – to the left of the door