Part Three
Lent and Easter
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The Last Supper | Scripture: Luke 22:7-38 Symbols & Images: “IHS,” Chalice Jesus has his Last Supper with his disciples. “IHS” is a variation of “IHC,” the first three letters of the Greek word for Jesus. The chalice represents the cup used by Jesus at the Last Supper at which our sacrament of Holy Communion was initiated. |
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The Betrayal | Scripture: Matthew 26:47-50, 27:3-10 Symbols & Images: Money Bag, Coins Judas betrays Jesus. The thirty coins were the price of Judas’ betrayal of Jesus. |
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The Scourging | Scripture: Matthew 27:26 Symbols & Images: Scourges, Roman pillar Jesus is scourged by the Roman soldiers. A scourge is a whip with knotted cords that was used to beat Jesus before his crucifixion. The Roman pillar symbolizes Pilate’s soldiers who punished Jesus. |
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The Preparation for the Crucifixion | Scripture: John 19:1-3, 20:24-28 Symbols & Images: Crown of Thorns, Nails Jesus is made to wear a crown of thorns. Pilate’s soldiers fashioned a crown of thorns and made Jesus wear it to mock his kingship before nailing him to the cross. |
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The Crucifixion | Scripture: Matthew 27:32-54; Mark 15:26 Symbols & Images: Three Crosses, INRI Jesus is crucified between two criminals. The three crosses on Golgotha include the inscription INRI (the first letters of the Latin words for “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews” which was placed on Jesus’ cross by Pilate.) |
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The Resurrection | Scripture: Matthew 28:1-10; Luke 24:1-11 Symbols & Images: Crown over Palms, the Risen Christ with red cross on white banner on cruciform pole, Bird rising from the fire, Plant Jesus rises from the dead. The Crown over the Palms shows the kingship of Jesus foreshadowed in the shouts of the crowds on Palm Sunday. Jesus is holding a resurrection banner. The white pennant with a cross represents the body of Christ and is attached to a cruciform staff that symbolizes the cross on which Jesus died. The Bird rising out of the flames is reminiscent of the Phoenix and stands for the Resurrection. The Plant is a representation of the new life that we have in Christ. In this photo, the silhouette of the altar cross that sits in front of the window is visible. |
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The Ascension | Scripture: Luke 24:50-51; 2 Kings 2:11 Symbols & Images: Cloud, Fiery Chariot The risen Christ departs. The cloud is a symbol of heaven into which Jesus ascended. The fiery chariot recalls Elijah’s ascension into heaven. |
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The Ascension | Scripture: Luke 24:50-51; 2 Kings 2:11 Symbols & Images: Crown on Cross, Ascending Christ, Clouds, Eagle, Fiery Chariot The risen Christ departs. The crown on the cross represents the now-realized kingship of Jesus. The cloud is a symbol of heaven into which Jesus ascended. The eagle’s outstretched wings symbolize the spread of the Gospel. The fiery chariot recalls Elijah’s ascension into heaven. |