Fragonard's manger scene, not unlike thousands of others such scenes, is a most common acquaintance during the Christmas season.
Are we not perhaps selfish to consider this scene from only our perspective?
What were the angels thinking as they gazed upon this most sacred manger scene?
Certainly these heavenly beings watched, with bitter weeping, as Messiah stripped himself of his glory to become Immanuel. The agony they must have felt as they had Gethsemane, and Calvary in view.
Armed with this frame of mind, their cries of "Glory to God in the Highest" presents significantly greater meaning.
Yes, this is the Babe that we love to sing about during Christmas. But let us not forget why this Messiah is present. He came to bear his Father's wrath. He came to be rejected by his own. He came to die.
Messiah is greatly worthy of our praise. But, in order to understand all that is going on, we must only gaze upon heaven's angels. There we will find great sorrow as their beloved Jesus comes to do his Father's will.
There is great, and sacred mystery here. Work diligently to see, and understand all that Scriptures teach of this scene.
Forget not the angels most bitter tears.
It is only with angels tears upon our faces that we can truly sing Joy to the World.
