Good Morning Friends,
Today we have a devotional that weaves the sermon scripture at the Moorings with the Eastertide lectionary text highlighting the Emmaus story, Acts 2 and 1 Peter. The devotional also honors our sanctuary’s east wall window’s depiction of Jesus preaching to the multitudes from a boat as presented in Mark 3:7-12 and places the experience of it within the global history of stained glass as a theological teacher. Hopefully all this helps us to see Jesus through both scripture and the stained glass. This of course prompts questions when we begin to see our own lives as a window of the soul. So, What does scripture, our lives and stained glass say about Jesus?
Scripture Summaries as a Window that together form a single truth: Jesus is alive, Jesus is Lord, and Jesus is the One who interprets our lives. This is the Gospel.
Mark 3:7–12 — The Crowds Come, but Jesus Defines Himself
People from every direction rush toward Jesus because they have heard of His power. The sick reach for Him. Demons fall before Him. Yet Jesus refuses to let anyone—especially the demons—define His identity. He is Lord, not a miracle‑dispensing machine.
Luke 24:13–35 — The Emmaus Road and the Burning Heart
Two disciples walk in confusion until Jesus opens the Scriptures and breaks bread. Only then do they recognize Him. Revelation comes through relationships.
Acts 2:14, 22–33 — Peter Declares the Truth
Peter proclaims that Jesus’ death was God’s plan, His resurrection God’s victory, and His exaltation God’s confirmation. The Spirit now bears witness to the risen Lord.
1 Peter 1:17–21 — Redeemed by the Lamb
We are called to live reverently because we were ransomed not with silver or gold but with Christ’s own blood. Our hope rests on His resurrection and glory.
Message: Our sanctuary’s east and west wall windows are part of a global tradition. Across centuries and continents, churches have depicted moments in Christ’s life: Chartres Cathedral (France) emphasizes Christ’s eternal authority. St. Martin‑in‑the‑Fields (London) shows Jesus calming human chaos. St. Patrick’s Cathedral (New York) highlights the compassion that meets human need. A chapel in Capernaum (Israel) roots our scene of Christ preaching to the multitudes in the real geography of the Gospel. Different cultures, different eras, different artistic languages—yet one Christ, one story, one hope. When you stand before the stained glass at Moorings Presbyterian Church, you are not just looking at art—you are looking through a window into the Gospel. Stained glass has always served this purpose. Long before most Christians could read, the Church used colored glass to teach the story of Jesus. Light passing through truth. Glory refracted into daily life. Our second window depicts Mark 3:7–12: Jesus at the shoreline, crowds pressing in, hands reaching, unclean spirits crying out, “You are the Son of God.” It is a scene of desperation and authority, human need and divine power converging in one Person. And the window slows us down long enough to see what the crowds themselves missed: Jesus is not someone we use—He is Someone we follow. And today’s other scriptures widen the lens. They show us that the Jesus who healed by the sea is the same Jesus who rose from the dead, appeared to the women, walked with the Emmaus travelers, and now reigns at the right hand of God. The question beneath all this is not, “What did the crowds think of Jesus?” or “What did the soldiers say?” or “What rumors circulated in Jerusalem?” The real question is: What does your life say about Him? And today’s stained glass of Jesus in a boat teaches us three related truths:We come to Jesus because we are desperate. The faces in the glass mirror our own needs. Jesus is more than a healer—He is Lord. He defines Himself; we do not define Him. Grace draws us, but Lordship transforms us. The window shows both welcome and authority. It proclaims that our lives are windows too.
And So, the Emmaus story shows us hearts burning, eyes opening, lives turning back toward purpose. Like the Emmaus disciples, we can let Him walk on or we can invite Him in. Like the crowds, we can reach for His power, or we can surrender to His lordship. Like Peter, we can stand and testify that God has raised Him up. Like the stained glass, we can let His light shine through us. The truth that matters most is not the conspiracy theories or the unanswered questions—it is how Jesus has changed us. Your life is a window. What story does it tell?
Pray Lord Jesus, that we realize that You are the One who draws the world to Yourself. Pray we confess that we often come to You for what You can do for us rather than for who You are. Pray Jesus teaches us to follow in surrender, not just in need. Pray as light shines through the stained glass of our sanctuary, we let divine grace shine through our lives— so that others may see not us, but Jesus as Lord. Pray God make our hearts burn as the Holy Spirit opens the Scriptures, and make our lives a witness to the resurrection.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 