• The Child Jesus in the Temple

The Child Jesus in the Temple

Window Description:

The window with Christ teaching in the temple, located in the middle of the west wall, depicts a young Christ standing among a group of six doctors. His upraised hand, a traditional sign of oration, indicates that he speaks. Perhaps he poses a question or answers one, as mentioned in the quote in the banderole-unfurled roll-above, "They found him in the temple sitting in the midst of the doctors, hearing them and asking them questions." (Luke 2: 46). The attitudes of the audience shows that they listen attentively: all focus their eyes on the speaker and the two in blue lean toward him as if to hear him better. The same two men hold texts-one in the form of a scroll and the other, a book-probably of sacred scripture. The man with the book seems to be comparing Christ's teaching with that found in his source. This gesture reflects the quote below, "An all that heard him were astonished at his wisdom and his answers." (Luke 2: 47)

The depiction here of a book is anachronistic, as the scroll alone was used in the West at this time for sacred writing. The book only became the conveyor of sacred scripture when the first Christians chose it as a way to physically distinguish their religious writings from those of other groups and to make movement between the various sections, mainly the four Gospels, easier. The inclusion of the books here might be a way to relate the scene to contemporary practices.

The scene of Christ teaching in the temple takes place in a lavishly decorated room that owes more to artistic license then to historical accuracy. The white and gold arch enclosed by a curtain probably represents the Holy of Holies. Christian art tends to depict this area of the temple as a curtained tabernacle. The placement of Christ's face in the middle of the tabernacle is meaningful; it echoes visually his presence in the tabernacle on the high altar. The theme of teaching is particularly apt for a college chapel, especially one that offers courses on theology and church history.

--Paula Carns, M.S., Ph.D.