Jesus And Angels

JESUS AND ANGELS
The epistle to the Hebrews spends an entire chapter dealing with people who had been raised to believe many of the rabbinical concepts of angels. As a result, they assumed that there could be nothing that was greater than the angels. There were some who had even gone to the extreme of worshiping angels (Colossians 2:18). Eventually, a teaching known as Gnosticism would arise that would teach Jesus was an angel. The message of the book of Hebrews is that Jesus is better. The covenant He brought is better than the first covenant that was brought by angels. His covenant is a better covenant because He is better than the angels.

Sons of God: Having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they. 5 For to which of the angels did He ever say, “Thou art My Son, Today I have begotten Thee”? And again, “I will be a Father to Him And He shall be a Son to Me”? (Hebrews 1:4-5). Even though the term “sons of God” is used in the Old Testament in a context that seems to refer to angels (Job 1:6; Job 2:1; Job 38:7), that does not mean that angels are the sons of God in the same way that Jesus is the Son of God. They are sons of God in the sense that they have been created by God Jesus is the Son of God in a totally unique sense.

Angels and Worship: And when He again brings the first-born into the world, He says, "And let all the angels of God worship Him." (Hebrews 1:6). The next reason Jesus is better than the angels is because He is to be worshiped by the angels. This passage is another quotation from the Old Testament. It is a prophecy found in the book of Psalms.

Let all those be ashamed who serve graven images,
Who boast themselves of idols; Worship Him, all you gods. (Psalms 97:7). This raises a question. The psalm that is cited by the author to the Hebrews does not specifically mention angels. It is only in the Greek Septuagint that the word translated “gods” (Elohim) is translated with the Greek avggeloi (angels). The writer to the Hebrews is evidently citing the Septuagint and indicates this verse as containing a prophecy of Jesus that was fulfilled when the angels worshiped Him. Do you recall the story of the angelic announcement at the birth of Jesus? The scene was the rolling hills outside the village of Bethlehem. A group of shepherds were gathered together in the cool of the night. Suddenly the stillness of the night was broken. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. (Luke 2:9). The reaction to this angelic visitor was the reaction of which we normally read in the Bible when it describes people being confronted with angels. It is the reaction of fear. The shepherds were not merely frightened. They were terribly frightened. They were frightened with great fright. As a result, the angel says to the shepherd the same thing that angels always say to people when they appear. They tell them not to be afraid. And the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths, and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:10-12). The angelic messenger had come with a very specific message. It was to tell these shepherds of the birth of Jesus. It was to given them the sign so they would be able to identify Him. As great a sight as this angel was to the shepherds, his presence was to serve a still greater purpose. He had come to bear witness of One that was greater than himself. He was sent to announce the one who is Christ the Lord. The fact that the lesser is bearing witness to the greater is seen in what takes place in the next two verses. And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” (Luke 2:13-14). The single angel gave way to a host of angels -- an entire army of angels. These same angels who sang for joy at the creation of the cosmos are now pictured praising the Lord at the announcement of the birth of the One who created the cosmos. The Role of Angels: And of the angels He says, "Who makes His angels winds, And His ministers a flame of fire." (Hebrews 1:7). The angels are seen in contrast to Jesus as regards their separate roles. The angels are described as spirits and ministers. The quotation is taken from the Psalms. Psalms 104:1-35 is a song of praise. It describes God as the One who controls all of creation.

He makes the winds His messengers, Flaming fire His ministers. (Psalms 104:4). This is a picture of the sovereign God. He controls the universe. The wind and the rain and the lightning all do His bidding. Notice that the Hebrews passage substitutes the word “angel” for “messenger.” This is because they are the same word in both the Greek and the Hebrew. In the context of the Psalms, the writer is speaking of the physical world and of God's control of the winds. But here in the epistle to the Hebrews, a higher truth is in view. Here we see that God is in control of the spiritual world as well as the physical world. This brings us to another question. Why are angels identified as “winds?” The Greek word translated “winds” is pneumata, the plural of pneuma. It can be translated “wind.” The same Greek word can also be translated “spirit.” It is the latter meaning that is used by the writer to the Hebrews.

Angels are spirit beings. They are spirit oriented. They can see spiritual events in the same way that we can see physical events. The spiritual world is just as real and as experiential to them as the physical world is real and experiential to us.

I believe in the spiritual world, but I cannot see the spiritual world. I cannot see my prayers ascending to heaven. I cannot see my sins being forgiven. I cannot see the spiritual conflict going on around me. These things are intangible to me. But I am not so certain that they are intangible to the angels. This is because angels are made differently than we are. The possess a different set of senses. They have a different kind of body.

Ministering Spirits: But to which of the angels has He ever said, "Sit at My right hand, Until I make Thine enemies A footstool for Thy feet”? 14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation? (Hebrews 1:13-14). The next point of contrast between Jesus Christ and the angels is that God has made Jesus the sovereign ruler over all things: Sit at My right hand, until I make Thine enemies a footstool for Thy feet (Hebrews 1:13). This was never said to angels. They were never invited to sit in the seat of honor at the right hand of God. On the contrary, angels have the role of servanthood. They are ministering spirits. They have a ministry. Their ministry is one of rendering service. They have been assigned the task of rendering service to those who will inherit salvation.

Now let me ask you a question. Who are the heirs of salvation? We are! When a person believes in Jesus Christ and trusts in Him as Savior and Lord, he becomes an heir of God's salvation.

Here is a fantastic truth. These supernatural beings have been assigned the task of ministering to you. You are not aware of all the dangers that face you through the day. But God is aware. And He has assigned His holy angels to protect you. They keep harm from coming your way. They allow nothing to touch you that has not been approved by the Lord. And, when the day finally comes that you are called home, they will act as your royal escort to heaven (Luke 16:22).