Bearden United Methodist Church

 The Annunciation:
  The angel, Gabriel, was sent from God to visit Mary to announce that she was chosen by God to bear a son whom she shall call Jesus.  "In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.  And he came to her and said, 'Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you!' But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.'" Luke 1:26-31
  After John the Baptist was born, Joseph had a dream in which the angel of the Lord stood beside him to tell of the coming birth. Mary would have a son, sent by the Lord God. "...Behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, 'Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is concevied in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people for their sin.'" Matthew 1:20-21

The Nativity:
  "And while they were there, the time came for her to be delievered. And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn." Luke 2:6-7   The babe lying in a manger suggests the simplicity surrounding the birth of Jesus, and indeed typifies his entire life.  But the bright star- the star of wonder, star of night- shone that the wise men might follow the way so that they might worship Him. "When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy; and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshipped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold, frankincense, and myrrh." Matthew 2:10-11

Scroll and Temple:
  From the scriptures we glean very little about Jesus as a child.  We can only imagine what his life must have been as he grew up with brothers and sisters, his carpenter father Joseph, and Mary, his mother, in Nazareth.  Perhaps the child Jesus learned to read at the village school with its sessions at the synagogue, and He went with Josephe to worship in the synagogue, to hear the Old Testament to read and explained. Jewish boys of Jesus' time were taught to know almost the entire Old Testament by heart.
  From the scriptures, read Luke 2:41-52, for the rare opportunity to read about the boy Jesus-- Jesus as a boy of twelve and according to custom was taken up to Jerusalem to the feast of the Passover. His parents did not know that Jesus had stayed in Jerusalem; supposing Jesus to be with relatives or friends they began their journey home. It was probably as a twelve year old boy at the synagogue that Jesus began to feel that he was the Son of God, in his Father's house.  "After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions; and all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers...And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart." Luke 2:46,47,51

 Descending Dove:
  "In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens opened and the Spirit descending upon him like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, 'Thou art my beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased.'" Mark 1:9-11  John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness and baptizing many, was prompted to question his baptizing Jesus, the young carpenter from Nazareth. John instinctively felt the need to be baptized by Jesus, rather than baptize Jesus. "But Jesus answered him, 'Let it be so now; for this is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.' Then he consented.  Matthew 3:15
  The descending dove, expressing innocence and purity, signifies the Holy Spirit and God's presence coming down from heaven and entering into Jesus at his baptism. "And when Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting him;" Matthew 3:16

Jesus Calling the Disciples:
  Jesus beckons...who will answer? Jesus calls us- each of us- to a life in Him. He has extended the invitation and He holds out His hand. Even as He called the Apostles, He calls us to be His disciples. Notice that the scripture suggests the immediacy with which the fishermen, brothers Peter and Andrew, responded. "As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And he said to them, 'Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.' Immediately they left their nets and followed him." Matthew 4:18-20
  Brothers Simon and Andrew together with John and his brother James all fished upon the Sea of Galilee, and were among the first disciples of Jesus.

The Light of the World
  "Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, 'I am the light fo the world, he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'" John 8:12  The candlelight reminds us that Jesus came into the world to eradicate the darkness; He came into the world as the light fo the world.
  The first three letters of the Greek spelling of "Jesus" are IHS- iota, eta, sigma.
  Jesus compels us to accept responsibility.  What a challenge! "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16
  This medallion urges us to reflect on Jesus' teaching which have come to be called The Sermon on the Mount.  "Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: 'Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for the righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you.'" Matthew 5:1-12
 

Sheep & Shepherd's Staff:
  In one of Jesus' teachings, the parable of the lost sheep, He offers to each of us the hope of repentance and rejoicing. And so the sheep in this medallion may remind us of the joy in heaven when one sinner repents. "So he told them this parable: 'What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he lost one of them,  does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends, and his neighbors, saying to them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost. Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.'" Luke 15:3-7
  Christians have long been moved by the poignant reminder of Jesus as the good shepherd; the Scriptures say: "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." John 10:11
  Recall the promise offered in John 1:29, "The next day he (refers to John the Baptist) saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, 'Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!'" REJOICE! 

Jesus & the Children:
  This picture of a loving, compassionate teacher suggest the story of Jesus and the children found in Mark 10:13-16, in Matthew 19:13-15, and from Luke 18:15-17: "Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them; and when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to him, saying, 'Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the Kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it."
  Thus we are reminded both of the love of Jesus showed the truly young children, and also that our faith needs to be manifest as that of the smallest, trusting child.  "....Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like a child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:3-4

 Loaves & Fish:
  Needing rest from their journeying, and a respite from their activities, Jesus and the disciples had sought refuge from the crowds and they went to a city called Bethsaida. But the crowds had learned of Jesus' good works and they had followed Him. Jesus welcomed the crowd, spoke of God's kingdom, and healed those in need of His ministry. It was nearly the time for the Passover, a feast of Jews, and some of the disciples, including Philip and Andrew, concerned themselves with the need for enough food. The two fish and five loaves in the stained-glass medallion remind us fo the miracle of Jesus feeding the five thousand. "Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a multitude was coming to him, Jesus said to Philip, 'How are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?' This he said to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him. 'Two hundred denarii' would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.' One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, 'There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what are they among so many?' Jesus said, 'Make the people sit down.' Now there was much grass in the place; so the men sat down, in number about five thousand. Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted." John 6:5-11 

 Birds of the air & Lilies of the Field:
  The worshiper who views this medallion perhaps is mindful of the human tendency to become anxious and concerned as life seems to bring its problems needing resolution, worries causing concern. Uncertainties abide and people search for assurance; questions arise and answers are sought. Jesus' response to anxiety as recorded in Matthew 6:25-28: "Therefore, I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; ..."
  Matthew 6:33 "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things shall be yours as well."

Raising of Lazarus:
  The artist has captured humankind in awe at the wonder of Jesus' work. Here Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead; note the look on the face of one of the sisters, Mary or Martha, who watches as the miracle unfolds.
  In John's account we read of Jesus' friendship with Lazarus and his sisters, Mary and Martha. "Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus." John 11:5   In John 11:21-22 is the account of Martha's faith in her Lord, "Martha said to Jesus, 'Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. And even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.'"
  Satisfied with the answers to his several questions, pertaining to their faith, Jesus spoke: "'Lazarus, come out!'  The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with bandages, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, 'Unbind him, and let him go.'" John 11:43b-44
  We are reminded that this miracle at Bethany proved to increase the disfavor which the Jewish rulers felt for Jesus.

Water Jug & Well:
  Remember the story of Jesus and the woman at the well, and read John's account, John 4:7-30,39-42. Each of us may ask what our testimony "tells". Following the incident at the well, many Samaritans believed in Jesus because of the woman's testimony. Those with whom she spoke and many others as well came to know Jesus, to proclaim their belief in Him as the Saviour of the world.
  Selected verses from the story as recounted in John's gospel: John 4:7  "There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, 'Give me a drink.'" John 4:13-15  "Jesus said to her, ' Every one who drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst; the water that I shall give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.' The woman said to him, 'Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.'"
  John 4:28-30  "So the woman left her water jar, and went away into the city, and said to the people, 'Come, see a man who told me all the I ever did. Can this be the Christ?' They went out of the city and were coming to him."
  John 4:39-42  "Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman's testimony, 'He told me all that I ever did.'  So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, 'It is no longer because of your words that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.'"

 Palm Branch:
  "And the crowds that went before him and that followed him shouted, 'Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!'" Matthew 21:9   Palm branches were carried by the Jewish people as a sign of triumphant rejoicing. 
  Joyful persons, a crowd of gleeful men, women, and children going before Him and following after Him, waved their victory palms and sang their messianic psalms as they gathered to greet Jesus who rode upon a donkey into Jerusalem.  The mood was exciting, the activity bustling, energetic, and the crowds expectant. The multitude believed that Jesus would rule as an earthly king, His Kingship to allow conquest and victory. The crowd was noisy, the throng was jubilant; only Jesus the Christ was solemn. He had long ago acknowledged His willingness to make the necessary and ultimate sacrifice so that the love and truth of God could be manifest in the world. As the crowd of Jerusalem shouted "Hosanna," so do we sing praises to His name. He IS King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Son of the Father whose holy name we do bless. Please read Matthew 21:6-11, and Mark 11:1-11.

Jesus at Prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane:
  The scriptures contain references suggesting the importance of prayer in the life of Jesus. Jesus instructs concerning praying, and concludes with the 'model' prayer-- The Lord's Prayer.  You may wish to read Matthew 6:5-15. And in Luke 11:1-4: "He was praying in a certain place, and when he ceased, one of his disciples said to him, 'Lord, teach us to pray as John taught his disciples.' And he said to them, 'When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread; and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive every one who is indebted to us; and lead us not into temptation.'"
  At the foot fo the Mount of Olives there was an orchard of olive trees called the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus and his disciples often rested or communed in the quietness and the shade of the area. It was to this orchard that Jesus retreated. Knowing what He was about to suffer, Jesus was sorrow-ridden as He and a few Gethsemane where He prayed.
 Matthew 26:36,39,40,46 "Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to HIs disciples, 'Sit here, while I go yonder and pray'...And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, 'My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.' And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, 'So, could you not watch with me one hour?...Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.'" Jesus was ready for the fate that was soon to be, "that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled." Matthew 26:56b

INRI and Crown of Thorns:
 Humiliation and suffering were imposed upon Jesus during his trial before Pilate. Surely, we are mindful of this grievous behaviour when we see the crown of thorns.  INRI are the initial letters for the Latin superscription on the cross: Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum, Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews. The crown of thorns with its inscription suggests the crucifixion of our Lord.
 "And they clothed him in a purple cloak, and plaiting a crown of thorns they put it on him. And they began to salute him, 'Hail King of the Jews!'" Mark 15:17-18
 "And the inscription of the charge against him read, 'The King of the Jews.'"  Mark 15:26
 "And over his head, they put the charge against him, which read, 'This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.'"  Matthew 27:37

 The Easter Cross:
 The cross adorned with lilies, empty, symbolizing the risen Lord, is often called "The Easter Cross." This cross symbolizes the kind of cross upon which our Saviour was crucified, and the lilies represent immortality - though the bulb decays in the ground, yet from it new life is released. The empty cross wrapped in lilies reminds us of hte resurrection of our Lord.
 "Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. Lo, I have told you."  Matthew 28:7
 The risen Lord, the hope of our salvation! Praise be to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Hallelujah, Amen.

The Ascension:
 After rising from the dead, Jesus showed himself to his disciples and others; those who saw him came to believe, and told others, but some, like Thomas, doubted. Thomas believed only after Jesus' appearance before him. Jesus spoke to Thomas, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe." John 20:29
 Following his resurrection Jesus was seen ten times by his disciples and followers. Jesus spoke to the eleven disciples, (excluding Judas who had betrayed him) and a crowd gathered together on a mountain called Olivet near Jerusalem
 "Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close fo the age.'"  Matthew 28:16-20
 "While he blessed them, he parted from them, and was carried up into heaven."  Luke 24:51

Crown of Glory:
 "When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left. Then the King will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger  and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison, and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee? And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least fo these my brethren, you did it to me.'"  Matthew 25:31-40
 "Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on the that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing." II Timothy 4:8
 "And when the chief Shepherd is manifested you will obtain the unfading crown of glory." I Peter 5:4