Captivated by Angels

Prayer

Intro: What Impresses You?

C.S. Lewis, author of the Chronicles of Narnia, The Great Divorce, The Screwtape Letters and Mere Christianity among others wrote…

“It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”

Well the author of Hebrews was writing to these second generation jewish believers partly to correct some stinking thinking. See they had too great a view, they were far too impressed by angels.

Why the Concern over Angels?

We might not understand this unhealthy obession and worship of angels because in our society today and in most of our media, angels are portrayed as either being incompetent and bumbling bafoons like Clarance Odbody, the human who died a couple hundred years before the events that take place in It’s A Wonderful Life, who now, after he has died has become an angel second class…and needs to earn his wings.

But that is the problem with getting our theology from media. That is not true in any way shape or form. Humans are humans and angels are angels…and angels, are quiet impressive being.

Angels had an impressive role in the Old Covenant made with Israel

They were glorious heavenly servants of God—people were awed by them!

Angels were said to have a role in the deliverance of the OT law (Acts 7:53)

Audience of Hebrews may have wrongly elevated angels

Some may have thought the Old Covenant was superior due to special role of Angels o Some may have even begun to worship angels as superior to Jesus

Why is Jesus Superior to the Angels?

Note: the author appeals to seven OT passages to prove Jesus’ identity

Thus, he clearly sees the OT as something that speaks of Jesus!

Four Reasons Jesus is Greater than the Angels…

Jesus Has a Better Name than Angels

Hebrews 1:4–5 NIV

4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. 5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father”? Or again, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son”?

No angels are ever called the “Son of God” - Psalm 2:7 and 2 Samuel 7:14 were used often by early Christians to prove Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God

2 Samuel 7:14 NIV

14 I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands.

Psalm 2:7 NIV

7 I will proclaim the Lord’s decree: He said to me, “You are my son; today I have become your father.

But when did Jesus receive the title “Son of God”? - From an eternal perspective, Jesus has always been the Son—he is eternally begotten of the Father - When we look at his earthly ministry, Jesus’s status as Son was declared at various points but especially at his resurrection (Acts 13:32-33 ; Rom 1:4 **In the Roman world, when sons came of age they were formally bestowed with the family name (even though they always had it)

Romans 1:4 NIV

4 and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.

Acts 13:32–33 NIV

32 “We tell you the good news: What God promised our ancestors 33 he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm: “ ‘You are my son; today I have become your father.’

Jesus is Worshipped by the Angels

Hebrews 1:6 NIV

6 And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.”

Throughout Scripture people often try (wrongly) to worship angels and are rebuked. Only the one true God can be worshipped.

But Deut 32:43 indicates that the angels, as great as they are, worship Jesus! (see Is 6:1- 6; John 12:41)

Deuteronomy 32:43 NIV

43 Rejoice, you nations, with his people, for he will avenge the blood of his servants; he will take vengeance on his enemies and make atonement for his land and people.

Isaiah 6:1–6 NIV

1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” 4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. 5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar.

John 12:41 NIV

41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him.

King Jesus Rules over the Angels(v.7-9, 13)

In v. 8-9, author cites Psalm 45:6 and applies to Jesus: “Your throne O God...”

In v.13, author cites Psalm 110:1 to show Jesus sits at the right hand of God—a place of power and glory

**Do you realize the implications of Jesus as KING of the universe? - Where else would you turn for help? You friend is the King of the world! - Do you realize he will conquer all his enemies? Are you on the Lord’s side? - Jesus is both King and Priest at the same time! He is both Lion and Lamb.

Wrestle with the Lamb. Maybe we struggle to worship King Jesus as the Lamb of God, but it is the Lamb alone who is worthy and who is the heir of all things that is able to open the scroll.

Revelation 5 NIV

1 Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” 6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. 8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. 9 And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. 10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” 11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12 In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” 13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” 14 The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

Jesus is the Creator of All Things including the Angels (v.10-12)

Psalm 102:25-27 Citing Psalm 102:25-27, the author shows Jesus was there in the beginning as creator of all things

Psalm 102:25–27 NIV

25 In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. 26 They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded. 27 But you remain the same, and your years will never end.

Notice contrast between creator and creation—Jesus is forever but the creation wears out

Jesus sends Angels to Minister to Us

Hebrews 1:14 NIV

14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

In v. 7, 14, author cites Psalm 104:4 to show that this great King Jesus sends out the angels for our sakes!