Jesus & Angels
Eternity Online: John Edmiston (Editor)
Eternity-Inspiration for Friday 6th February 1998
Jesus & Angels
Hebrews 1:6-9 (NIV) 6 And again, when God brings his firstborn into
the world, he says, "Let all God's angels worship him." 7 In
speaking of the angels he says, "He makes his angels winds, his
servants flames of fire." 8 But about the Son he says, "Your
throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will
be the sceptre of your kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and
hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your
companions by anointing you with the oil of joy."
At Jesus' incarnation when God brought Him into "the world" the
angels were commanded to worship Him and they did ..and the shepherds
saw it. Thus Jesus, being worshipped by the angels is greater than
the angels. The angels are ephemeral servants - winds and flames of
fire, both symbols of the Holy Spirit. The impermanence of these
symbols contrast vividly with the permanence of "Your throne, O God,
will last forever and ever.." notice the verse starts with about the
Son he says...Your throne O God.." the Son is explicitly called God
by the author of this epistle.
Jesus is portrayed as the anointed and righteous King with an
everlasting Kingdom. The thrones of men are so brief, political
parties change quickly, rulers rise and fall. But Jesus is enthroned
forever- He cannot be dethroned despite all the attacks of Satan. His
throne lasts forever and its authority is not abusive but righteous -
it is a sceptre of righteousness. Jesus is the perfect and ideal King
whose laws are just in contrast with Nero Caesar who was temporary
and evil. This epistle was probably written not long before the
destruction of the temple, possibly during Nero's reign which would
explain the references to persecution. Jesus does not only love
righteousness - He hates wickedness and thus would hate the evil
system of emperor worship. Thus the Caesar's were doomed. Jesus is
not a milque-toast figure but an avenger of evil.
God rewards His Son's love of righteousness and hatred of evil by
anointing Him with the "oil of joy". Moral awareness leads to deep
joy. As we let God's emotions become our emotions we find an
anointing of joy, a sudden inbreaking of His Kingdom life into our
spirit. God loves righteousness and hates wickedness and as we become
godly and Christ-like then the same will also happen to us. Being
able to look on horrid sin with equanimity is not maturity or
sophistication - it is moral decay. Paul was grieved over the idols
in Athens. Jesus wept over Jerusalem. The prophets had great anguish
of spirit over the moral condition of the nation. However they were
not permanently gloomy figures - they also had a deep intimacy with
God that gave them great joy.
Prayer:
Lord give us the moral perspective that Jesus had so that we can love
righteousness and hate wickedness and be set high with an anointing
of joy. Amen.
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