EMANUEL’S WINDOWS…THE STORIES THEY TELL

CHRISTMAS AND EPIPHANY

THE CHRISTMAS ROSE

The Christmas Rose symbolizes the Nativity and the Messianic Prophecy. The white flowers are significant of the purity and strength of the Christ Child, Jesus.

Referring to the Messianic Rose in Isaiah 35:2 "It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the Lord and the excellency of our God."

HOSANNA

"Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!"  Luke 2:14

The angels proclaimed the good news of Christ's birth to the shepherds tending their flocks outside the city of Bethlehem.

Ancient legend reports that holly was the crown of thorns worn by Christ, and that the berries were white but with the flowing of His blood, turned to red. Also the burning bush, from which God spoke to Moses, was thought to be holly.

 
THE SHEPHERDS

 
"When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.’”  Luke 2:15

THE EPIPHANY STAR 

In Matthew 2:2 it is recorded that the Wise Men came from the East and asked, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage."

The five-pointed star is symbolic of the Epiphany, or the manifested nature of God.

 
The Wise Men followed the star to Bethlehem and knew their destination had been reached when they observed it shining directly over the manger where Jesus lay.

THE MANGER

 
The crib or manger suggests the lowliness and poverty surrounding the infant Savior, who for humanity's sake became poor, that through his poverty people might become rich.

"For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich."  2 Corinthians 8:9

THE MAGI (The Three Gifts)

Magi is another name for the Wise Men who followed the star to Bethlehem in search of the new-born King. They were thought to be men of a priestly caste from the East who made a special study of astrology and natural sciences. Tradition tells us that they represented the three great races, European, Asian and African. There were thought to be three because of the three gifts.

"And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary, his mother, and fell down and worshiped Him: and when they opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh."  Matthew 2:11