“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things have been created through him and for him.” (CSB – Read the chapter)

The idea of gods coming to Earth and posing as humans to be able to interact with their people is not one that was invented by Christians. Indeed, if the gods never interacted with their people at all, they would be far more difficult for us to worship. Many religions across human history, then, have included some sort of a story – and in the case of polytheistic religions, many stories – of gods putting on humanity like a disguise in order to be among their people for one reason or another. But Christianity did introduce to the world the idea of a god becoming fully human. Throughout the Advent season we are preparing to celebrate the fact that God became a man. The ruler and creator of the world took on human flesh as a newborn baby. Today’s song of the season celebrates the wonder of this reality in a powerful way. Here is Manger Throne from Phil Wickham.

Phil Wickham is the Chris Tomlin of this generation. He writes modern worship songs better than just about anybody else on the market these days. Listening to his new Christmas album, Hallelujah! It’s Christmas! is not just going to put you in the mood for the season, it will lead you into an experience of worshiping the newborn King in a way only a few Christmas albums at least I’ve listened to do. The album is a blend of new settings of familiar carols and traditional seasonal hits combined with a few new Christmas worship songs that I suspect have and will be played in churches across the country and world this Advent season.

What makes Wickham’s music so endearing is the combination of well-written songs and his unique voice. This is made all the more powerful when you learn that a vocal polyp a few years ago almost sidelined his career permanently. It forced him to have to go through a risky surgery that could have resulted in his no longer being able to sing at all. He had to cancel most of an entire tour and not sing at all for several months. There were no guarantees his vocal chords would heal in a way that allowed him to continue singing. The procedure could have changed his voice entirely. It was certainly going to mean a lengthy recovery process including rebuilding his vocal endurance. Like a professional athlete going through a long rehabilitation process after a surgery, Wickham was going to have to build back up to where he was before. And all of this happened just as his hit worship track, This Is Amazing Grace, was hitting number one on the charts.

The experience brought Wickham to his knees both metaphorically and literally. It sharpened his dependence on his heavenly Father, and resulted in a songwriting process that was deeper, richer, and more spiritual than it was before. The songs he has released since his recovery and return to his work speak for this transformation all by themselves.

Manger Throne, one of the last songs on the album, speaks beautifully of the wonder of Jesus, the second person of the Trinity, who was fully God, choosing to come to earth as a baby in order to bring about the opening of the doors of salvation to all the world. As God, Jesus didn’t have to come in such humble estates. As the first stanza of the song declares, “You could have stepped into creation with fire for all to see/Brought every tribe and nation to their knees/Arriving with the host of heaven in royal robe and crown/The Rulers of the earth all bowing down.”

In his incredible christological hymn to the Colossian church, Paul marvels that Jesus is “the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.” He goes on to describe Him as the one through whom creation came into being and by whom it all holds together. While he was fully human, God was also “pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him.” That is, He was fully God as well.

Instead of coming in the majesty and power and pomp and circumstance He was due, then, “You chose meekness over majesty/Wrapped Your power in humanity.” He could have “Marched in all Your glory into the heart of Rome.” But instead, “You wrote a better story in humble Bethlehem.” The King of creation gave up Heaven and made a manger His throne. This is what we celebrate in this season. This is why we celebrate in this season. As you reflect on the wonder of this incredible truth today, let Wickham’s powerful song of worship lead you into an experience of this gracious King of Kings.