Stained Glass Window Art: The Flight to Egypt

The Flight to Egypt in Beautiful Stained Glass

Long before Jesus was sentenced to die on the cross, His life was threatened by Herod the Great. The ruler felt jealousy and unease when he learned of the newborn child, and tried to have the young Messiah killed. Through both divine and earthly efforts, however, the untimely murder of Jesus was avoided. Jesus stained glass showing this event that occurred not long after the joyous Nativity often features Jesus and Mary riding a donkey while Joseph walks protectively alongside or in front of the beast of burden. The heavenly angels who warned Joseph of the impending danger are sometimes also part of these ecclesiastic stained glass windows.

The Holy Family’s flight to Egypt

The Story of the Flight to Egypt

The story of the Savior’s Flight to Egypt when he was still an infant and the events that led up to it are recounted in Matthew 2: 1–8 and Matthew 2: 13–23. When Jesus was born and the Three Wise Men were on their way to honor Him, they met King Herod. When they asked the monarch where they could find the “king of the Jews,” the king grew troubled. He worried Jesus might usurp his position of power. Sending the Wise Men forth, the king asked them to bring him news of Jesus and His location, saying he would go to the baby and worship Him too. Of course, King Herod, determined to hold onto his power, had other plans.

The Magi avoided Herod by taking another route home, and an angel appeared to Joseph while he was dreaming to warn him that his newborn son was in danger. The angel told Joseph to take his wife and child and flee into Egypt. Faithful and trusting Joseph obliged. Their subsequent journey has been captured and brought to life by numerous stained glass artists. Soon after the Holy Family’s escape Herod killed all the male children in Bethlehem who had not yet reached the age of two. But this horrific “Massacre of the Innocents” was in vain, for Jesus and His parents were no longer in the village. After Herod’s death, an angel spoke to Joseph again, telling him that the family should now go into Israel.

Rose window of the Flight to Egypt

Benefits of Religious Stained Glass Windows by Stained Glass Inc.:

• Capture eternal truths in timeless and gorgeous stained glass
• Create virtual stained glass windows anywhere with our back lighting options
• Produced by stained glass artists committed to creating heirloom quality pieces
• Our adaptable materials can be used to craft pulpits, illuminated water walls, and other elements
• We offer a number of framing options to showcase your faceted glass windows

View our full selection of Flight to Egypt stained glass to find a piece for your church or get inspiration for custom stained glass art!