The Manger Throne

How does the manger in Bethlehem compare with God’s throne room in heaven?

In Heaven

According to the fourth chapter of Revelation, John glimpsed into heaven’s awesome arena of praise and worship. God Almighty sat on His throne, His appearance like a jasper stone and a sardius. Encircling the throne was a rainbow like an emerald. Around it, twenty-four thrones of elders sat, wearing white garments and golden crowns.

Do you think heaven is a place of hushed quiet with angels floating on clouds, strumming harps? Contrary to what we may imagine, John reveals that it’s full of flashes of lightning and peals of thunder amidst seven burning lamps and a crystal sea.

Wow. A bit intimidating, but it certainly communicates God’s holiness and majesty.

The Four Living Creatures

The most curious sight was the four living creatures– eyes all around and within, each having six wings. Their appearance was like a lion, a calf, the face of a man, and a flying eagle. They never ceased worshiping God, declaring, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come” (Revelation 4:8b NASB).

John describes the climax of this worship when the living creatures praise Him who lives forever. The elders will fall before Him and cast their crowns to Him who sits on the throne as they worship. “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created” (Revelation 4:11 NASB).

Can this worship and praise compare to our Savior’s birth in Bethlehem?

In Bethlehem

Luke 2 tells us that Jesus’s mother, the Virgin Mary, wrapped Him in cloths and laid Him in a manger. She placed her baby in an animal’s feeding trough, packed with clean straw, which became His earthly throne. His entry into the world was to a humble dwelling. His birth announcement came from a heavenly host to poor shepherds rather than to royalty.

Doesn’t it make sense that this perfect Lamb, sent to be the final sin sacrifice, would be born in a cave with animals? His kingdom has never been of this world.

Nearby shepherds, who had been watching their flocks at night, were the first to receive the birth announcement and a personal invitation to come and see the newborn King. An angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone all around, causing them great fear. The angel told them not to fear, but that he was bringing them good news of great joy for all people; “…for today in the city of David, there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11 NASB).

Just as in heaven, a multitude of angels appeared, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased” (Luke 2:14 NASB).

The sign the angel gave the shepherds was their finding a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. They hurried straight to Bethlehem, finding the Holy Family exactly as they had been told. Surrounded by animals, Mary and Joseph listened with amazement to the shepherds’ story about the angels’ rejoicing at His birth. Upon beholding the Child, they fell to their knees and worshiped the newborn King.

But the story doesn’t stop there.

Animals surrounded the manger-throne, the angelic host sang praises and rejoiced at Messiah’s birth, and the shepherds witnessed this miraculous event. All these things preceded the arrival of the three magi. Just as the twenty-four crowned elders surround God’s throne in heaven, so these three kings traveled to worship at the manger-throne in Bethlehem.

The Christmas Star

How did they know about Christ’s miraculous birth? The second chapter of Matthew tells us that they saw His star in the east and followed it until it stood over the place where the Child was.

“When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. After coming into the house they saw the child with Mary His mother, and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him (Matthew 2:10-11a NASB). Just as the elders cast their crowns before the throne of God, so these kings from the east bowed before Jesus. There they lay precious gifts at the foot of the manger: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

What gift can we bring to this newborn King?

A little more than two thousand years ago on this night, Christ was born. Like the shepherds and the Magi, let’s bow before Him with praise and worship. Let’s lay at His feet our most precious possession: our hearts.

Dear Lord Jesus, we worship You with our whole hearts on this night of Your divine birth. Thank you for coming to earth to reestablish our relationship with the Father. We give You all the praise, honor, and glory as the Son of God, for You are worthy of our worship. In Jesus’s Name, Amen.

The Manger Throne by Karen Jurgens Copyright © 2023 and 2015 All Rights Reserved.