Let the Angels Worship Him

Hebrews 1:6

In the Bible, Christmas is dominated by scenes of worship. We find more explicit references to worship surrounding the birth of Jesus than anywhere else in the Bible, outside the book of Revelation. Mary and Joseph worshiped; the shepherds worshiped; the kings from the east worshiped; even wicked king Herod, in mocking contempt, said he wanted to find the child that he “might worship Him also.” The first Christmas was dominated by scenes of worship.

However, the biggest worship service that ever took place that first Christmas was unseen and largely unnoticed by the citizens of planet earth. It was the scene when all the angels of heaven worshiped Jesus Christ, who had recently come to earth in human form.

What happened at the incarnation stunned the heavenly host. Perhaps it was because the angels knew more about the Second Person of the Trinity than any other created beings. Or perhaps it was because they saw the omnipotent, invisible God become a visible baby in a human body and yet His deity was undiminished. Could they understand His plan for redemption? Could they fathom the infinite price that sin would exact on the Lamb of God at Calvary? It’s doubtful.

Perhaps the words of Charles Wesley come as close as any to picturing this angelic amazement:

‘Tis mystery all, the Immortal dies! Who can explore His strange design?

In vain the first born seraph tries to sound the depths of love divine.

‘Tis mercy all, let earth adore; let angel minds inquire no more.

When it comes to the incarnation, both men and angels must cover their mouths in silent awe. At some point, mystery must give way to adoration. It is too deep to be adequately sounded (or plumbed) and too amazing to be fully explored. When we come to the incarnation of the Son at Christmas, the only appropriate response is worship. Although we could drown ourselves in the depth of this theology, there’s enough revealed for us in God’s Word to be satisfied with some “delicious” facts regarding the one whom heaven and earth adore.

We’re looking at Hebrews chapter one this Advent season. I want you to look with me at Hebrews 1:1-6. This passage defines the supremacy that Jesus maintains over the angels in terms of superiority. I’m going to concentrate on verse six, but I want to read it from verse one. In honor of God and His Word, let’s stand for the reading of these verses.

1In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4 So [Jesus] 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 begotten you]”? Or again, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son”? 6 And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” [NIV]

[Prayer] These verses make plain the fact that Jesus has a relationship with God the Father that is unique and exclusive. Neither men nor angels can know the Father like the Son.

When verse five asks the question: “to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father?” The implied answer is: none. He never said this to any of the angels. But there are some who want to deny this truth. The Mormons like to teach that Jesus was an angel; some of them even say Jesus is synonymous with Michael the Archangel. But this Scripture makes that view impossible. According to Hebrews 1:6, Michael the Archangel bows at the feet of Jesus. Jesus is superior to the most superior angels, even as His name [or title] is superior to theirs.

Another modern cult, the Jehovah’s Witnesses, say that the Bible never teaches that Jesus Christ is to be worshiped. I recently asked a Jehovah’s Witness if she worshiped Jesus Christ. She said, “Oh no, we should only worship Jehovah God.” Then she asked me to site any place in the Bible where the worship of Jesus Christ is commanded. I thought of several, but this one from Hebrews is most explicit… that even the angels of Heaven are commanded to worship the Son. “…When God brings His firstborn into the world, He says, “Let all God’s angels worship Him.”

What is commanded of angels is also required of the citizens of earth. Jesus Christ always received worship throughout His earthly ministry. You may recall that this got Him into trouble with the Pharisees on several occasions.

At the triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the multitudes saw Jesus riding on a colt, the foal of a donkey. There were spontaneous songs of praise when they saw Him. The people removed their cloaks and cut palm branches to lay before Him saying: “Hosanna! Save now!” The children and adults were all praising Jesus for the miracles He had done. And the hearts of the people were opening up to Jesus—the way a rose opens to the first kiss of the morning sun. Then some of the Pharisees yelled out in indignation: “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” And Jesus said, “If these should keep silent, even the rocks would cry out.” Worship!! His presence compelled it.

There was something about the Majesty of King Jesus that made believing hearts say, “I must worship Him!” And if I don’t worship Him, there is something sinfully wrong about my silence; so wrong that even the inanimate rocks on the ground would yearn to rebuke the silence! Worship!

That’s what made the Pharisees indignant about the dynamic between Jesus and the people. They were watching Him receive worship. And for Jesus to receive worship He had to be God. They wouldn’t permit the thought to even enter their minds… much less cross their lips. And here we see what happens to those who refuse to worship Jesus Christ. There is no neutrality. They wanted to kill Him. The same is true today. Those who hear the truth about Jesus, and see Him accurately presented in the Word, and yet refuse to give Him praise are in silent collusion with those who hate Him to the death.

There were many places where Jesus received worship. When Mary broke the alabaster vase of nard and poured it at the feet of Jesus, she was worshiping Him, and Jesus blessed her. When the leper who had been healed returned to give thanks, he fell at Jesus’ feet, prostrate on the ground, and he worshiped the Savior; and Jesus blessed him. After the resurrection, when Thomas finally saw the risen Lord standing before him with nail-pierced hands and feet, he said in new found worship, “My Lord and my God!” And Jesus received His worship with a blessing.

Jesus always received and accepted worship with great blessings for those who worshiped.

Notice in verse six that the incarnation is orchestrated by the Father and carried out by the Son: “When God brings his firstborn into the world…”

The key word in this verse is the word “firstborn”. What does that mean? On the surface, it sounds like the Son was created at some point in time and God had a son the way normal parents have a baby. It’s important that we clear this up and understand what this verse is teaching.

First, understand what this verse is not teaching. The Mormons teach that this means Jesus was created by God. But that’s not what the word “firstborn” means here. This is the word PROTOTOKON. We get our word “prototype” from this origin. Jesus Christ did not come into being when He was born in the manger. The Son was begotten, not created. Jesus is the firstborn in terms of His rank as the Son. He is the pre-eminent one. Jesus is the prototype, the template of all creation.

There are other examples of how this word is used to refer to rank rather than birth order. In Psalm 89:26-27, God says to the Davidic heir:

26 He will call out to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, the Rock my Savior.’

27 I will also appoint him my firstborn [prototokos], the most exalted of the kings of the earth.

What was appointed here was rank and position, not birth order. In the LXX, David’s son Solomon was referred to as the “prototokos” of the sons of David. But Solomon was obviously not the firstborn son of David. He was one of David’s youngest sons born to Bathsheba, the widow of Uriah. So, in what sense was Solomon David’s prototokos? It means that Solomon was the first ranking son in terms of his authority, prestige, and position. But even Solomon came into being at a point in time when he was conceived by David and Bathsheba. Not so with Jesus.

When “prototokos” is used of Jesus, it refers to His rank and position as the Son of God, and has nothing to do with His conception or being created in any way. So when the early church fathers drew up the creedal confessions, (especially the Chalcedonian Creed) they referred to Jesus as “eternally begotten” of the Father, specifying that Jesus was begotten, not created. Interestingly, many of the words from the hymn, O Come All Ye Faithful were taken directly from the Chalce-donian Creed: “True God of true God, Light from Light eternal… Word of the Father, begotten not created.” John Wade masterfully weaves good theology with good hymnology in these words.

In the prologue of the Gospel of John, we read of the eternal existence of the Son:

IN the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. [NASB]

In Colossians 1:15-18, it says:

15 And [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the first-born [prototokos] of all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created by Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the first-born [prototokos] from the dead; so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything. [NASB]

Jesus Christ is before all things. He created all things. And everything exists for His glory. He is to be worshiped by every creature under heaven. Therefore, God the Father says: “Let all the angels of God worship Him.”

Christmas comes once a year, whether we’re ready for it or not. But correct worship is far more rare. Many people go through their entire lives and never really worship God. Worship is more rare than Sunday morning services; it’s more rare than quiet time devotionals; it’s more rare than praise songs and choruses… and these are often mistaken for worship. But these aren’t worship.

Worship is giving praise to God for who He is as displayed in His Word, His work, and His Character. Will you see Him as He is this morning… and will you worship Him?

He is the One to whom every knee shall bow and every tongue confess to the glory of God the Father that He is Lord.

He is the One seated on the throne, incessantly adored by the angels and the elders in heaven with the unending chorus: “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive honor and glory and blessing.”

Worship then is the only appropriate response to seeing Jesus as He is. If we are not worshipping Him, it could be that we aren’t really seeing Him as He is. If so, then we need to instantly and radically remove every obstacle that would prevent us from seeing and savoring Jesus as Lord.

Anything that prevents you from worshipping Jesus Christ is an enemy to your best interests. Furthermore, whoever sees the works or hears the words of Jesus and refuses to worship Him is in concert with those hate the Lord Jesus. The requirement for us this morning is this:

Worship demands that we choose between hating our sin or self or silver… or hating our Savior. True worship is an exacting sacrifice and its worth can only be measured in the scales of eternity.

December 21, 2003