Stained Glass Windows: The Golden Cross and Crown and the Sheaf

The Sheaf

I want to begin this evening with the sheaf. Again I think the artist put these pictures together not in contrasting appearance as he did last time but rather to point toward each other.

The sheaf of wheat casts the mind back to Joseph and his dreams. Genesis 37:5–8 records this first dream. “And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more. And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed: For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf. And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.”

We see the fulfillment of this dream later as Joseph’s brothers bow before him as Joseph stands as a royal in Egypt and they kneel as starving foreigners begging the privilege of buying wheat from Egypt. In this was the direct prophetic dream fulfilled. Yet It is my belief that any imagery of Joseph has something to do with Jesus as well. Joseph was the rescuer of the nation of Israel. Jesus is the rescuer of all mankind. Joseph suffered and was exalted. Jesus suffered and is exalted.

I also noticed in this image there is but one sheaf. In Joseph’s dream there were 12 bowing down and his standing alone. This does fit the image, but I think it also could broaden the meaning a bit to symbolize Jesus as standing along to be worshiped.

The Cross and Crown

The cross and crown are not new symbols for us in this study of the windows. At least the cross we have already seen. We looked at Jesus suffering on the cross already. We looked at the cup of His blood whereby we covenant ourselves with Him in His suffering. We mentioned also the crown of thorns which was mockingly placed on His head, piercing His brow. Yet there is something different about this cross and crown. They are made of gold and not thorns and wood. The symbol of the cross made into gold represents the victorious sacrifice of Jesus. It shows that this time of sacrifice was not in vain. This is not limited to Jesus sacrifice but also to ourselves. Whatever sacrifice this world demands of us (which I must pause and mention the sacrifices of the Christian life are fewer and less severe than the punishments of a sinful life.) whatever the sacrifice may be it is not in vain. Our crosses of wood will be turned one day to crosses of gold!

There is also the golden crown. The symbol of mockery of Jesus is the true symbol of Jesus. Jesus holds the eternal throne of David. He reigns today at the right hand of the Father. Jesus reigns in each Christian life as well. And one day every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord.

The Connection

Yet I see these two symbols as intricately intertwined. Josephs brothers mocked him with the words “Shalt thou indeed reign over us?” The Jewish leaders mocked Jesus also with the same thought “Shall Jesus rule over us?” The Romans too mocked the idea. Pilate thought that He had the life of Jesus in His hands and thought that he ruled over Jesus. The opposite was the truth.

The world today moves in chaos and disorder chiefly with the same reasoning as Josephs brothers. They hear the voice of the saviour calling. They feel the drawing of the Spirit yet when faced with giving their own false sovereignty to another they cry out “Shalt thou indeed reign over us?”

So too does many a Christian who has fled the wrath to come as they begin to see in a more clear light the cross before them, not yet in the golden form it will take, not yet in eternal victory but still in its harsh form of wooden pain and sacrifice. They recoil at such a grotesque symbol. They see only today and not the evermore tomorrow which will come and because of this they shrink from the path and turn again to the false independence that they once suffered in.

Yet that question “Shalt thou indeed reign over us?” while answered many ways has but one answer. Josephs brothers mocked. They persecuted, they sold him as a slave. The Jewish leaders crucified Jesus, the Romans stood by as though powerless to stop it. Yet Joseph stood before his bowing brothers and ruled over them! Jesus too reigns in Heaven. And though the world does not yet know, though it scoffs at the idea kneeling before Him there will come a day when every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and ruler over all. And yet though all are worshiping in that moment there will be two classes of worshipers. There will be the beloved Children of the Father, the ones Adopted into Jesus inheritance, those who are the bride of the Lamb who will be welcomed into eternal glory. There will also be those who will be regocnizing their mistake and foolishness those cast into outer darkness and weeping and gnashing of teeth. So the one answer is Yes, Jesus shall indeed reign over us!

The only question remaining is have you taken up that rough cross? Have you today bowed your heart before the Master? The question is not “Shall he reign over me?” But rather “When shall He reign over me?” Will be here and there, or only there? Will we take the cross now that will become a cross of gold, will we be given a crown to cast at the Savior's feet or will we have nothing to show and nothing to give. Will we bow knowing that we have served Him or will we bow, knowing that it is too late?