The “Son” Light

Written by Pastor Eric Everhart

While in Washington DC this past weekend, I got the opportunity to spend some time walking through old Georgetown. It was an “off season” time of the year so the crowds were small and the weather was pretty nice. Walking along the old cobblestone back roads, I took notice of an old Catholic Church. Although the age of the church stood out to me, it was the beautiful stained glass windows that grabbed my attention. The windows were made up of hundreds of pieces of glass, so many different colors and shapes. Each piece in an exact spot, pieced together to create a beautiful design, woven together with precision and purpose.    

I was so intrigued with the stained glass that I did some research on the internet on just how these gorgeous windows were made. I found that the craftsman starts with big “perfect” pieces of colored glass which are first broken up into hundreds of small parts. 

As we look at the human condition and the state of the world we live in today, humans have taken God’s perfect creation and have broken it with the sin of the world (Genesis 3). He created this world and all that is in it, different types of people, different shapes, different sizes, and perfect (Genesis 1). We do not have to look far to see how God’s beautiful creation has been broken. 

The window maker, with a vision in mind, begins to take the broken pieces of glass and puts them together. Each broken piece is used in a specific place for a specific purpose, bringing the vision to life. The craftsman slowly uses the broken glass to create the masterpiece. 

God, through his son Jesus Christ, takes our brokenness, our pain, our sin, and he redeems us, breathing life into our shattered lives (Eph 1:7). God takes the broken pieces of this world, places it into its exact place and uses it for good, revealing who he is and his plan for the world (Rom 5:8, Rom 1:19-20, Psalm 34:19-22, Deut. 30:3-13).

As I read more on the process of creating these windows, I realized one important thing. The work of the craftsman really doesn’t come to life until a source of light shines through the glass. It isn’t until the window is taken off the work bench, hung in the window frame, and the sun shines through the glass that its full beauty is revealed. As I stood in front of the old church, the sun burst through the many different-colored shaped pieces of glass and revealed the vision of the master craftsman. The brilliant colors shone through the dark interior, bringing me peace and joy. 

God pieces the brokenness of this world together, putting each piece in its place, using our pain and shortcomings for his good and purpose, weaving together a masterpiece. As he places his creation into the “window frame” of the world it is ready to be revealed. But, just like the glass window, it needs a light source to bring out the brilliance of the creator. Jesus Christ is that light, the light of the world (John 8:12) and as he shines through the broken parts of our lives, God becomes the hope, the peace, and the joy that this world so badly needs! 

Brothers and sisters, as we stand on the cobblestone streets of life looking up at the master’s  beautiful work, may we experience the joy and peace that pours out of the broken pieces of our lives through the brilliant light of the Son!  

“​​May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

Recent Updates