Angels in Awe

“Angels in Awe”

Hebrews 1:4-7

People have always been fascinated with angels. Not only in the Christian religion, but in other religions as well. Sometimes that fascination leads to an unhealthy view of angels. That was the one of the errors that the book of Hebrews addresses. It seems there were people in the church that exalted angels to the position of deity. The first chapter of Hebrews corrects that error. It puts angels into their proper perspective. It does so by comparing the exceeding glory of Jesus Christ to the lesser glory that angels have. The Christmas season is full of references to and images of angels. In fact many people will even place an angel on top of their tree this year. You may watch the classic film “It’s a Wonderful Life” and be reminded of angels trying to earn their wings. As I was meditating on what the Lord wanted me to share this Christmas I was impressed with this question “What is it that puts angels in a state of awe?” I thought about how Jesus amazed the angels. I thought about how His presence on earth caused them to fill up the night sky with the glory of the Lord and the worship of heaven. I want share with you how Christmas astonished the angels.

I. Angels Pronounced the Birth of Christ.

A. The angels knew Jesus before Mary ever did.

1. When the angels opened their eyes the first being they saw was Jesus. Colossians 1:16 “For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven and that are in the earth visible and invisible…” as a child to its mother, a loving relationship was born

2. They witnessed the creation. Saw His great power, infinite wisdom, beauty as literal worlds were created by Jesus before their eyes

B. The angels saw Christ visit earth before the incarnation. “Christophany”

1. In the Garden. Gen. 3:8 He would walk and talk with His creation

2. Abraham. Gen. 17, 18 (actually sat in Abraham’s tent)

3. Jacob. Gen. 32 wrestled with Him

4. Moses. Exodus 3 saw His back parts

5. Joshua. Josh. 5:13-15 Captain of the host of the Lord

6. Daniel. Daniel 3:22-25 in the fiery furnace

C. The angels pronounced the birth of Jesus.

1. To Joseph. of Holy Ghost, name will be Jesus, save His people from their sins

2. To Mary. Jesus, great, Son of the Highest, throne of David, eternal reign

3. To Shepherds. Glory to God, peace on earth, good will to man

The text says that the angels were to worship the Son of God when He came into the world. The worship of heaven followed Christ to earth. Christ was the object of the angels affection. Isaiah saw the seraphim in heaven crying out “Holy, Holy, Holy…” Revelation 5:12 says the angels cry out “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, riches, and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing”. The angels came to earth to announce that the one worthy of worship has been born among men. They led by example. They worshipped Him to show the world that we are to worship Him.

II. Angels Protected Christ. God has ordained Himself an army. He doesn’t need it, but that is the way He ordained it

A. His army fought for Him in heaven.

1. There was a rebellion in heaven among the angels. Isa. 14:12-15 tells us they followed Lucifer, Rev. 12 says 1/3 of them fell, 2 Peter 2:4 says some of them were thrown into hell, rev. 12:9 says that some of them were thrown down into the earth.

2. Angels fight against fallen angels even now. War in heavenly places, in the end it will be an angel that casts Satan into the bottomless pit.

3. Even fallen angels recognize who Christ is. They fear Him (Matt. 8:29)

B. His army fights for Him on earth.

1. Angel’s showed up to protect Elisha from the Syrians. 2 Kings 6

2. One angel killed 185,000 Assyrians in one night. 2 Kings 19:35, The Lord told Moses in Exodus 33:2 “And I will send an angel before thee: and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite…”

C. Angels provided protection for Christ when He came to earth.

1. An angel warned Joseph about Herod. Matthew 2:13

2. Angels strengthened Jesus in the wilderness. Matthew 4:11

3. Angels would have gladly slain the entire earth to protect the life of Christ. Jesus told Pilate in John 18:36 “If my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should be delivered…” After His arrest Jesus told His captors in Matthew 26:53 “Thinkest thou that I cannot pray to my Father and He shall presently send me more than 12 legions of angels?” (72,000 angels!!)

4. Angels protect Christ because they belong to Him! The Bible says Jesus will come with His angels (Matt. 16:27) 2 Thess. 1:7 says that when Jesus returns He will be “revealed from heaven with His mighty angels”

III. Angels Proclaimed Jesus Purpose for Coming to Earth.

A. Angels know the seriousness of God’s judgment on sin.

1. They have witnessed Him judge fellow angels with no hope of salvation.

2. They have witnessed Him intervene in history with catastrophic judgment. Noah, Sodom and Gomorrah, Israelites in the wilderness, judgment of nation after nation throughout history.

3. Angels escort the doomed to everlasting perdition. Matthew 13:41-42 says “The Son of Man shall send forth His angels and they shall gather out of His kingdom all things that offend and them which do iniquity. And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth”.

B. Angels are involved in the redemption of humanity. Heb. 1:14

1. That was the message given to the Shepherds. Luke 2:11 “a Savior is given to you, lowly shepherds.

2. That was the message given to Joseph. Matt. 1:21 “She shall bring forth a Son and thou shalt call His name Jesus for He shall save His people from their sins”.

3. They can’t personally experience it but they are still greatly interested in it. 1 Peter 1:12 says they greatly desire to look into our salvation.

4. I think one of the main things they do is protect us before we are saved! We just thought we were lucky!!

C. Angels know that because of Christ peace has come to the earth.

1. This was what they told the shepherds. Luke 2:14 They knew that peace was on earth because Christ was on earth. They knew there were still wars to fight and evil abounding, but they saw the Prince of Peace and they knew that peace was on earth! Because of Christmas they knew that God would not just leave the earth to itself. He had come and when he comes He brings peace.

2. Sometimes life doesn’t seem so peaceful. There is a great story behind the song “I heard the bells on Christmas Day”.

The hymn was written originally as a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. It was written during a great time of despair in his life. He was married at age 24 but soon after his wife died of an illness. He remarried seven years later and had five children with his new wife. A terrible accident occurred with his new wife. She was attempting to preserve some locks of hair from her seven year old daughter in wax. Her clothes accidently caught on fire and she burned to death. Henry tried to save her life but failed. A year later Longfellow wrote the words “I can make no record of these days. Better leave them wrapped in silence. Perhaps someday God will give me peace”. Almost a year later Longfellow’s oldest son was wounded severely while fighting for the union in the civil war. He hated the war. He hated seeing the wounded young men and the loss of so many children of folks he knew. In talking with friends he would ask “Where is the peace?” On December 25 1863 he heard the Christmas bells ringing in the city and picked up his pen. Out of despair he wrote this poem.

I heard the bells on Christmas day Their old familiar carols play, And wild and sweet the words repeat Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And thought how, as the day had come, The belfries of all Christendom Had rolled along the unbroken song Of peace on earth, good will to men.

Till ringing, singing on its way The world revolved from night to day, A voice, a chime, a chant sublime Of peace on earth, good will to men.

Then from each black, accursed mouth The cannon thundered in the South, And with the sound the carols drowned Of peace on earth, good will to men.

It was as if an earthquake rent The hearth-stones of a continent, And made forlorn, the households born Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head “There is no peace on earth,” I said, “For hate is strong and mocks the song Of peace on earth, good will to men.”

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: “God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; The wrong shall fail, the right prevail With peace on earth, good will to men.”

We all long for peace. We want strife and want and war to end. We want peace. One of the reasons the angels stand in such awe of God is because they have that peace. They know that He will prevail. They know that He will win. Peace will rule because God is on the throne. Christmas reminds us that the God in whom the angels trust and delight has come to us. We can have peace if we bow our knee to the Christ of Christmas. We can have peace with God. We can have assurance that no matter how dark the night may become, the light will shine again. Let us stand in awe of Jesus as the angels. Let us hold in faith that salvation and peace has come to those who will believe.