Christ and the Angels: Higher than the Angels

Christ and the Angels: Higher than the Angels

by | Jun 14, 2024 | Bible Studies, Christological Reflections, God in the Details

In Hebrews 1:4-14: we see how Christ is higher than the angels:

In verse 4 we read that Christ has, by inheritance, obtained a much greater name, a more excellent name.

In Ephesians we read the following:

Ephesians 1:19-22: (KJV)

“And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church…”

Peter, before the council of Jewish elders and rulers, in Acts 4:12: states that there is no other name in Heaven or on Earth by which to be saved – that the name of the Lord Christ Jesus is the name of Salvation.

Reading this we realize that His name is the only name, and the most excellent name, that there is no other name worthy of exaltation and glorification – no other name than Jesus.

Christ is often called the Son of God, as He is from the Father. None of the angels have the privilege of being called the Son of God, and none of the angels share in this glory. Later on we read that Christ is like a Son in His house – meaning He has dominion and authority. The angels have no authority except where God allows it, but Christ – having the name above every name – has total dominion. (Verses 5-6)

And then we read (In verse 6) that when God brings the Firstbegotten, Jesus, into the world He says – Let all the angels of God worship Him.

In Psalm 18:3: David writes:

“I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.”

Earlier we read that there is only one name! One name through which we have our redemption, our salvation, our freedom – and that is the name of Christ! Jesus Christ, being God, is worthy of all the praise and honor, worthy of all exaltation and adoration, magnification and glory! Christ is worthy!

The angels bow before His throne, and worship Him.

Who makes His angels spirits and His ministers a flame of fire? In verse 7 and 14 we are taught that angels are ministering spirits – that they are sent forth to minister to those who will inherit salvation.

In Psalm 91:11-12: we read –

“For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.”

God commands His angels concerning us – to guard us in all our ways – to keep us from harm – but they are not Mighty to Save. They cannot save us from death and sin and disease. God uses them to minister to us – that is true – but Christ is salvation and healing and freedom! Christ is the one and only High Priest and King.

Finally, in verse 14 we read that the angels are but ministering spirits sent forth to minister to those who will inherit salvation.

Easton’s Bible Dictionary (Easton, 1897) has the following to say about angels:

“a word signifying, both in the Hebrew and Greek, a “messenger,” and hence employed to denote any agent God sends forth to execute his purposes. It is used of an ordinary messenger (Job 1:14: 1 Sam. 11:3; Luke 7:24; 9:52), of prophets (Isa. 42:19; Hag. 1:13), of priests (Mal. 2:7), and ministers of the New Testament (Rev. 1:20). It is also applied to such impersonal agents as the pestilence (2 Sam. 24:16, 17; 2 Kings 19:35), the wind (Ps. 104:4). But its distinctive application is to certain heavenly intelligences whom God employs in carrying on his government of the world. The name does not denote their nature but their office as messengers.”

As an example we will read from Luke 2:8-10:

“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.”

Angels are agents of God’s providence – that is to say – His intervention. They are messengers called to carry out God’s redemptive work – not His work of total redemption, but to minister to those in need and danger – to deliver God’s children from afflictions and tribulations.

This being said – it is of utmost importance that their ministry greatly differs from the redemptive ministry of Christ. Their call is to minister to those who will inherit salvation.

Hebrews 1:14:

“Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” (Emphasis own)

And also, we read in Zephaniah 3:17:

“The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.” (Emphasis own).

Christ is the mighty one who will save! The angels minister to those who will inherit salvation, but Christ is salvation.

Reflect:

1. Angelic encounters can take many forms. Are there any stories from your life – either lived or heard – where you have encountered anything resembling an angelic encounter? How did this affect your faith?

2. If the angels are created as ministering spirits to minister to those who will inherit salvation, what are some of the ways in which they interact with humanity? What scriptural references can we employ to lead us to a deeper understanding of how they perform their function?

3. If we think of the office of the angels in terms of the quote from Easton’s Bible Dictionary, that an ‘angel’ could refer to a person of flesh and bone (eg. a prophet, a priest, or any other agent of God’s providence – as also the intention behind John’s use of the word in his Revelation), how can we ‘assist’ the angels in their work as the hands and feet of God? What insight can we glean for use in our servanthood from the Biblical example of the angels?

Prayer:

Lord, as I think about what You did for me through Jesus Christ upon the Cross, let me employ all of my faculties, with renewed vigour, towards paying it forward. Let me learn from the example of the angels and be like a flame of fire to those around me – offering warmth, protection and light to the weary and burdened. Let me minister to those who would inherit salvation – let me be a beacon of hope, love and life everlasting – an agent of your divine providence. Let Your Name, high and lifted up, be as sweet as honey upon my lips – and may my life lead others to join the angels around your throne in worship. Give Your Heavenly Host command regarding me, oh Lord, so that I might not dash my foot against the stones, and keep me on the path of Your righteousness, for Your Name’s Sake. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Christ and the Angels: Angels as a Teaching Tool in the Book of Hebrews.

Christ and the Angels: Angels as a Teaching Tool in the Book of Hebrews.

by | Jun 12, 2024 | Bible Studies, Christological Reflections, God in the Details

Early Christian authors and apologists often made the case for Christianity by looking back and finding the significance of what had come before.

First Century Jewish Christians would often describe their faith as a continuation – a sort of next step – of Judaism. After all, Christ was the fulfilment of the Law and the Prophets.

Therefore it is no surprise that these same authors – like the Matthew in his Gospel account, and Paul in quite a few places, would make reference to types and shadows in the Tanakh, Rabbinical Literature as well as the cultural and historical identity of the Jews to drive home the fact that the Christ and His Kingdom had come.

The Book of Hebrews is a brilliant example of this. Two of the passages that is often misunderstood and even overlooked are those concerning Christ in relation to the angels, perhaps because we do not pay much heed in general to these heavenly helpers from the throne room of God.

Nevertheless there is much to be discerned from mining the text in this regard.

The first is Hebrews 1:4-14: which describes Jesus, the exalted Messiah,as higher, or better, than the angels.

The second is Hebrews 2:5-9: which describes Jesus, the Son of Man, as lower as the angels.

Angels played a very important role in Jewish culture and religion. One Rabbi is quoted as saying that every blade of grass has its angel.

In Judaism angels were considered to be intermediaries, fearful and intimidating deputies sent to speak and act on behalf of God.

Some teachers and philosophers, such as Maimonides, would go as far as to say that they were the invisible force behind the laws of nature.

In a lot of ways angels in the Old Testament function as the hands, feet and voice of God – tangible manifestations, interpreters and testaments of God’s infinite wisdom and power.

A casual topical search of the Bible would show that angels have two primary functions. To serve God, ministering to the Creator King of Heaven and Earth much as we do through worship around His throne, but also to reveal God to His people – thereby calling man to worship.

The latter takes many forms – whether delivering dreams, visions and prophecies, or guarding and protecting, working miracles and destroying armies on God’s behalf – the end result is a revelation of the nature and the glory of God.

Therefore – because angels are so important to the Jews of his time – the author of the book of Hebrews compares Christ to the angels to shed some more light on who He is.

The idea of these passages are to show the immortal and eternal aspects of the Messiah veiled in the mortal flesh of the Son.

Christ, higher than the angels as the Right Hand of God Himself – instead of angelic intermediaries, God Himself steps down to fill the gap.

We see the fullness of God revealed in the frailty of Jesus as man – the infinite folded into the finite, the Creator in the form of His creation.

The author of Hebrews uses the angels as a sort of teaching tool by which a basic Christology can be shared to the Jewish people specifically. As gentiles, though, and modern readers (although we were not the intended target audience), we can still glean very important insight if we read these passages intentionally and in context.

It also poses a challenge for us as believers today. The book of Hebrews engages with the predominant culture of the society it is addressing.

In encouraging a reading of the passages above, but also the whole of this Epistle, I would like to encourage us to look at how we can engage with the culture of the community around us to bring the beauty, the glory and the truth of Jesus to that same community.

Reflect:

1. How can you engage with the culture of our day and age to bring across Gospel-truth to your community?

2. How can reflecting on the Old Testament enlarge your vision of what Jesus came to accomplish? Choose a reading from the Old Testament, and reflect on how it might point you towards the finished work of Christ as well as how it might encourage you to think deeper about the whole of Scripture in terms of your daily Christian walk.

3. In thinking about the content of Hebrews chapters 1 and 2 we see a lot of reference to the ‘unseen’ reality that surrounds us. How might reflecting upon this unseen reality affect our daily walk? What role does the supernatural aspect of the Kingdom take on in Your day to day life?

Prayer:

Lord, as I ponder the deeper things of Your Word, let it be as an open book before me. Give me eyes to see the things unseen. As I read the Old Testament, let me see Jesus in what was. As I engage with the culture of today, help me see Jesus in what is. I know that all wisdom and all knowledge come from You. Show me the hidden things of the Bible and let me grow in wisdom and understanding so that I may be an effective witness for You in the world. Help me see how I can engage with culture – and how I might help others understand You through this endeavour – just like the author of Hebrews. In the Mighty Name of Jesus. Amen

Son of Suffering

Son of Suffering

by | May 24, 2024 | Devotionals, Worship Reflections

“There’s a God who weeps
There’s a God who bleeds
Oh, praise the One
Who would reach for me
Hallelujah to the Son of suffering”

Son of Suffering, Travis Cottrell

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.  Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

Hebrews 4:15-16, NIV

In the story of Lazarus we see that Jesus arrived at the tomb of His friend and He wept. This the shortest, but perhaps one of the most powerful verses in the Bible.

Jesus wept. (John 11:35).

There are loads of theological considerations we can get into, and we can get really deep in explaining why Jesus wept – looking at the Greek and the context of the passage – but even a simple reading is enough for us to get a glimpse of the heart of God.

He is the God who weeps with us.

Not only did He suffer upon the cross with us, but He also suffers with us. His heart breaks for the broken hearted.

He is the God who says to the weary, the burdened and the broken: “Come to Me! I will give you rest!”

Jesus lifts our burden. Makes it lighter.

He is a Husband to the widow, a Father to the orphan, and Friend of the friendless. He is Home to those who wander. He sits with the prisoner, the drug addict, the homeless. He is Bread to the hungry and Living Water to those going through desert places.

Jesus carries our burdens with us.

No wonder Peter writes: “Cast your burdens unto Jesus, for He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7).

Are there broader shoulders to cry on than the Shoulder of God?

It is true that believers share in the suffering of Christ (Romans 8) – but Jesus also shares ours.

What is my burden today? Is it depression? Is it infirmity? Is it poverty? Temptation?

Cast your burden upon Jesus.

Just as the author of Hebrews says, in Christ we have a High Priest who is not unfamiliar with our trials and our temptations – but One who is willing to get His hands dirty, stepping down into the muck of this world, the filth of our sin and wickedness, to pull us out of the miry clay.

We have a High Priest who is willing to step down from His Majesty into the swamp of our grief and the slow of our despondency to help us out – pulling us out of the sinking sand of our situations and placing us firmly upon the Solid Ground of His Salvation.

The Psalmist writes: “Cast your cares on the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken. (Psalm 55:22, NIV)

He is the God who weeps, the God who bleeds – the God who reaches out to us!

All we have to do is be willing to surrender to Him – to give over to His love, cast our burdens upon Him. All we have to do is throw ourselves on His mercy and grace – fall into His heart.

Prayer: Lord, things might seem dark – but You are the light in the darkness. When all around me is sinking sand, I can stand firm upon Your love and grace. When it feels like my situations are raging like a flood – I will not be overwhelmed. I will not be shaken – because my trust is in You. I am not alone. I don’t have to do this on my own. You are with me. Help me today to see You working in my life. Overwhelm me with Your presence. Flood my life with who You are. Give me strength to face this day. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Manger Throne

Manger Throne

by | May 9, 2024 | Devotionals, Worship Reflections

“Glory be to You alone
King who reigns from a manger throne
My life, my praise, everything I own
To Jesus the King on a manger throne”

Manger Throne, Phil Wickham

“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”

Matthew 11:29, KJV

In reading the book of Revelation there are some awe-inspiring, intimidating, and sometimes even terrifying images of Jesus.

He is described as having eyes like fire, a voice that roars like many waters, His words coming from His mouth like a sharp double-edged sword (Revelation 1:12-20).

Revelation chapter 4 describes Him as being seated on the throne – surrounded by rumbles and peals of thunder and flashes of lightning on a sea of glass – surrounded by elders and angels crying out holy!

In Revelation 19 we read the following description: 11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.”[a] He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:king of kings and lord of lords. (NIV)

These glorious descriptions of Jesus command reverence – He is worthy of our highest praise – and there will come a day where every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord of all creation.

He is the Name Above All Names, the King Set in Zion.

In the Old Testament we read that Elijah called down fire on the men of King Ahaziah. Certainly Jesus, as the Messiah, at His coming in the Gospels could’ve come with fire and showed the world who He was.

Instead of stepping down with the Hosts of Heaven and the sounding of trumpets, in all His awesome Glory, He chooses to come in meekness – our Dear and Gentle Saviour, our Good Shepherd and the Lover of our Souls.

“Come and learn from Me…” He says, offering us peace instead of judgement, rest for our souls.
The Will of God for humanity has never been calamity or destruction.

It has always been reconciliation.

So He comes as the Olive Branch – the Peace of God comes and walks in our midst. He comes, meek and mild – Jesus comes as the Lamb of God, the sacrifice for our pardon.

At the same time He is very much the Judgement of God, the Lion, the One Called Faithful and True with the eyes of fire, the voice of many waters and the vestments dipped in blood – riding upon a white horse, His Word like a double-edged sword, and accompanied by all the Hosts of Heaven – seated upon the Throne in Heaven. He is the Love of God, but also the Wrath of God.

In Luke 12:54-59: Jesus tells us to wisely discern the times we are living in.

This current dispensation of grace will only last while it lasts.

Jesus says, “learn from Me…”

In this current dispensation we are His hands – extending the Olive Branch of His peace, joy, love and righteousness. We are His feet upon the mountains bringing Good News. We are to be His agents here upon the Earth, ministers of reconciliation.

It is time we take our call seriously.

Charles Spurgeon shared the following thought: “If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our dead bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go unwarned and unprayed for.”

Let us discern the time we are living in and not waste it. Let us encourage our family, friends, neighbors – any and all who have ears to hear – to turn to the Lord, to take up His yoke of gentleness, peace and love – so that we may all stand together with the Hosts of Heaven behind the One Called Faithful and True, rather than on the other side, upon the Day of the Lord.

Prayer: Lord, give me a burden upon my heart – a need to see revival and restoration among Your children. I pray Lord that You would open doors for me to share the Good News of Your Kingdom. Give me the right words Lord, help me speak truth in a broken and lost world that I might see others come to You. Help me live a life surrendered to Your will. Help me Lord to take seriously my calling as a minister of reconciliation and equip me through Your Spirit to lift up the banner of Your mercy and grace and work for the expansion of Your Kingdom. In Jesus Mighty Name. Amen.

Grace to Grace

Grace to Grace

by | Apr 24, 2024 | Devotionals, Worship Reflections

If love endured that ancient cross
How precious is my Savior’s blood
The beauty of heaven wrapped in my shame
The image of love upon death’s frame

Grace to Grace, Hillsong

And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:1-2:

In the book of Numbers we read that even on the doorstep of the Promised Land the people grumbled and complained. They grew impatient. Again and again they complained and spoke out against God, the Lord who brought them out of Egypt. In Numbers 21:5: they say “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the desert? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!”

They did not see the salvation of God.

So the Lord sent fiery serpents in their midst. They bit the people and many died.

The people realised their folly and with it the source of their present trouble. They went to Moses and repented asking, in their humility, for him to intercede with God on their behalf.

Moses went to the Lord in prayer and was instructed by God to make a bronze serpent and put it on a pole – and all who looked upon it would be saved!

In the Garden of Eden a serpent speaks out against the plan and providence of the Lord. With that first bite of the forbidden fruit the sly serpent of sin bit the soul and death entered the world into the world.

In Romans 5:12: we read that sin entered the world through one man – and that sin came to all and through sin death.

That poison was in the blood – from generation to generation – in our DNA.

In talking about His purpose as the Messiah, in the third chapter of John during His conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus brings up the story of the bronze snake. He compares Himself to the snake in verse 14-18: “ Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”

“Love endured that ancient cross…”

Jesus came and – to pardon our iniquity – He not only took our sin upon Him but rather became sin itself upon the Cross.

“The Beauty of Heaven wrapped in my shame…”

God stepped down from His throne – the Holy One of Heaven – and enrobed in frail and failing flesh He hung upon the Cross the very image of the snake who bit us. He was crucified for our transgressions as our transgression – as the very image of sin itself. All of our carnality pierced through – He shed His holiness in that moment – that moment where He cried out MY GOD, MY GOD WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME!

(See also Psalm 22. Jesus is the fulfillment of the Messianic promise – His death bookended by the first and last lines of this Psalm!)

God separated Himself from Himself. Stripped of His holiness so that we may become whole. He was our weakness upon that cross – to become our strength. He was our infirmity – to become our healing. He was our poverty – to become our prosperity. He was our darkness – to become our light.

God separated Himself – His holiness – from Himself – and became our sin.

He became our sorrow so that He could become our joy. Our nakedness – to clothe us in righteousness. He became the burnt offering so that our ashes could make the clay of beauty.

The Beauty of Heaven hung upon that old rugged cross, clothed in my sin and shame – so that all who looked upon Him would be saved and have eternal life. He bore the wrath, condemnation and judgement that was for our account – the chastisement for our peace was upon Him. The trial, torment and terror of our sin fell upon His shoulders – He became the curse to become the Blessing (Numbers 6:22-27:).

No greater love will ever be found in the history of the world. No greater love will ever be found anywhere other than His Story.

Prayer: Oh Lord, My God – words cannot describe the awesome, awe-inspiring, almost terrifying thought of what You suffered for me to be here today. Words cannot describe the sacrifice, the price You paid for my peace. My soul trembles at the thought. Thank You Lord for Your love – for Your grace and for Your mercy. I pray that where words fall short You will see my gratitude in the life I live for You. Help me, through Your Spirit, to live a life worthy of the Life You gave – that all may see and know that You are the Lord of my life. Let Your love shine in me and through me. Let Your Kingdom come in me, through me and around me. Let my life be a worthy and acceptable sacrifice unto You. In the precious, beautiful Name of Jesus. Amen.