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TY Denise for creating this with AI
In Phil Wickham’s song, The Manger Throne (official music video below) I heard God’s whispers to me.
“And this will be a sign for you:
you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths
and lying in a manger.”
Luke 2:12
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us …”
John 1:14
Every December our prized nativity scenes come out of storage and welcome the Christmas season. The baby lying in the manger is the focal point. Birthdays are always times of celebration.
“Glory be to you alone
King who reigns from a manger throne
My life, my praise everything I own,
To Jesus, the King on a manger throne.”
Christmas points us to the manger. Jesus was born in a stable. Jesus was a human baby. “The Word became flesh.” These words from John’s gospel, God becoming man, help me understand.
From Kathy Lorimor’s nativity collection.
Jesus was born into a family committed to God. His earthly father was a carpenter. His growing up years allowed him to “… increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.” Luke 2:52
Jesus spent three years ministering deeply to all kinds of people. God was glorified through his life.
“From heaven to the cradle
From the cradle to the cross”
“Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said,
Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”
And having said this he breathed his last.”
Luke 23:46
“You will die for our redemption
And you’ll rise so we can live.”
“He is not here, but has risen.
Remember how he told you,
while he was still in Galilee.”
Luke 24:6
And then the throne. The throne was always the destination. The manger a stop along the way. Gabriel’s words to Mary.
“And behold you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall call his name Jesus.
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.
And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,”
Luke 1:31, 32 (italics mine)
The book of Revelation gives a more complete picture of the throne of God and of the Lamb (Jesus). Revelation 22:1
“No longer will there be anything accursed,
but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it,
and his servants will worship him.”
Revelation 22:3
Revelation 22 also offers a description of the city of God. There is water flowing through it from the throne of God and of the Lamb (verse 1). The tree of life is on either side of that water way (verse 2). “No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him.” (verse 3). His servants will see his face, his name will be on their foreheads, and God will be their light. (verse 4).
John’s response is to fall down and worship the angel.
“but he (the angel) said to me (John),
‘You must not do that!
I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets,
and with those who keep the words of this book.
Worship God.‘”
Revelation 22:9 (italics, parentheses, and underlines mine)
I’m drawn to the manger. And I’m seeing a throne. I’m learning a new depth of worship.
The gospel of Luke shares the whole story. In 24 chapters, Luke walks us from prophesy, to birth, to the cross, to resurrection, to the throne. An appropriate read for Advent.
Jesus is the King, the one who was placed in a manger, now reigns from a throne.
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Copyright: Sue Tell, December 2024