JESUS
IS GREATER THAN THE ANGELS
Introduction: Randy Alcorn shares a true story in his
article, “Spiritual Warfare, Demons, and Righteous Angels.” My family stayed
with the Shel Arensen family in Kenya back in 1989. Shel grew up attending Rift
Valley Academy in Kijabe, Kenya. During our visit, Shel told me a story I’ve
heard since, about something that happened there in the 1950s. Shel’s family
was living there at the time, and he pointed out to us where the events of that
night unfolded.
That
particular night during the “Mau Mau rebellion,” the ruthless warriors of the
Mau Mau tribe gathered to climb the hill up to the missionary school (RVA).To
capture and kill the missionary children and teachers, and fulfill their vows
by eating the brains of white men, who they considered their oppressors.
Word
got out about this plan, but it was too late to evacuate the school or to get
outside protection. Desperate phone calls were made, and people around the
world were called upon to pray for God’s intervention. The night went on, with
teachers and children huddled at Rift Valley Academy praying and fully
expecting to be attacked and likely killed, any moment.
But
nothing happened. The warriors never made it to the school, and no one was
harmed.
No one knew the rest of the story
until sometime later, when a Mau Mau warrior was in jail and on trial. At his
trial, the leader of Mau Maus, who led that attack, was asked, “On this
particular night, did you intend to kill the inhabitants [of the missionary school]?”
“Yes,”
he replied. “Why didn’t you?” His answer, “We were on our way to attack and
kill them, but as we came closer, suddenly between the school and us, there
were many men dressed in white, holding flaming swords.” He said he and his
warriors were all terrified, and fled down the hill, never to return.” Sure,
sometimes, God chooses not to answer our desperate prayers precisely as we
wish. And yes, sometimes God’s children are hurt and even killed. But how many
times has He answered when we haven’t realized He’s moved heaven and earth—and
maybe a company of righteous angels—to do it? Had the human warriors not told
what they saw, no one would have known what happened that night. How many
amazing stories will we not hear until we are with Jesus? I do not doubt that
the answer is “the vast majority of them.[1]
We
have been on a journey to discover better things from the book of Hebrews. Last
week we learned how Jesus the Son radiates the glory of God, and in Him, we
have everything we need. This morning we will focus on the Son again by looking
at the contrast between Jesus and the Angels. We will try to answer some
questions. Are angels real? What is their role in the life of a believer? Can
we worship Angels? Who is greater, Jesus or the Angels?
After
establishing certain facts about how God communicates to the world, the author
highlighted that the Son radiates the Glory of God. In Hebrews 1:3-4, he captured
the completed work of purification of Sin, of the Son and His superior and
exalted position at the right hand of the Father. Hebrews 1:3-4, “When he had
cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand
of the majestic God in heaven. This shows that the Son is far greater than the
angels, just as the name God gave him is greater than their names.”
What
do we see in these two verses? After completing the work of salvation now, I
see Jesus in heaven, seated at the right hand of the majestic God. I also see
the angels and the superior position of Jesus over them. What does it mean that
Jesus sat at the right hand of God?
I. WHAT ABOUT THE
RIGHT HAND OF GOD?
The hand was symbolic in the
ancient world. It was believed that from it, one either bestowed grace or
pronounced punishment. In literature, it personified a king or deity’s
character and deeds. To be seated at the right hand of a ruler meant occupying
a place of high honor. The position itself was considered an indicator of the
power and authority of the one holding. Someone
who sat at the King’s right hand was, as in the modern English idiom, his
“right-hand man. Also, sitting at the
right hand was a statement of fellowship and favor between the central figure
and the individual so honored. In the Hebrew Bible, the right-hand represented
God’s ultimate strength and provision for his people.
Jesus
Christ is depicted in the Bible as sitting at the right hand of God the Father
for eternity. Psalm 110:1, “The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit in the place of
honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool
under your feet.” The Apostle Peter testifies, in Acts 2:32-33, we read, “God raised Jesus
from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this. Now he is exalted to the place
of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand.”
Later,
when Peter and the apostles were brought before the council because of their
newfound faith in their risen savior, they boldly proclaimed whom they were
accountable to, not to human authorities but to the one and only one who has
all authority. Acts 5: 29-31, “But
Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than any human
authority. The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead after you killed
him by hanging him on a cross. Then God put him in the place of honor at his
right hand as Prince and Savior. He did this so the people of Israel would
repent of their sins and be forgiven. We are witnesses of these things, and so
is the Holy Spirit, who is given by God to those who obey him.”
What
gave Peter and the Apostles such courage amid their persecution and suffering?
It was their perception of who and where Jesus was. We, too, must have that
perception of Jesus. Unlike portrayed in the Catholic symbols of the Cross,
Jesus is not a defeated and broken victim of Roman’s execution. He is the
victoriously risen, ascended and enthroned King of the universe.
When
we picture Jesus that way, we can come out of our poor me; everybody hates me
and victim mentality. When we see Jesus seated at the right hand of the Father,
we can go through any hardship or difficulty because they will not have the
last word on us, but Jesus does. I
believe that the picture of exalted Jesus gave the early martyrs courage and
strength to endure persecution and even die for the sake of their Lord, master,
and King. The same can help us in our times of trouble and persecution. Here is
the testimony of the first martyr Stephen.
Acts
7:55-59, “But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and
saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God’s
right hand. And he told them, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of
Man standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand!” They rushed at him and
dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. As they stoned him, Stephen
prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
Here
is the only place we see Jesus was standing at the right hand of God instead of
sitting, I wonder why? Could it be that He was giving a standing ovation to the
first martyr and all the future martyrs? We spent quite a bit of time at the
right hand of God because we must understand whom we are called to represent: A
risen Lord and a soon coming King!
II. JESUS IS
GREATER THAN THE ANGELS (Vs4)
Vs.
4, “This shows that the Son is far greater than the angels, just as the name
God gave him is greater than their names.” The author makes a powerful
assertion saying that Jesus the Son is far greater than the angels. What made
Jesus greater than the angels?
The
author’s basis for his assertion was twofold: The works of Jesus and the
testimony of God regarding his Son recorded in the ancient scriptures. The
completed work of salvation and the enduring work of saving people puts Jesus
far above anyone, including the angels.
III. WHAT DO WE
KNOW ABOUT ANGELS?
Why
did the author make that distinction between Jesus and the angels? At the time
of this writing, the Jews held angels in very high regard as the most elevated
beings next to God. The sect of Judaism that had established a community at
Qumran taught that the archangel Michael’s authority rivaled or surpassed that
of the Messiah. The writer of Hebrews disclaims any such notion by asserting
that Jesus is indeed greater than the angels.
The
word angels appear in this chapter six times, lending to its significance. Both
the Hebrew and the Greek words that are translated into English as “angel” also
mean “messenger.” The angels, therefore, are messengers from God carrying forth
his messages to people.
In
the Bible there are several encounters of people with angels. Consider these
scriptures. God placed two Cherubim with flaming swords guard the gates of Eden
after Adam and Eve were banished (Gen. 3). Three angels tell Abraham that Sarah
will have a child (Gen.18).
God
sends two angels to save Lot’s family from the destruction at Sodom and
Gomorrah (Gen 19). It is an angel who saves Hagar and Ishmael in the desert
(Gen. 21). Again, an angel tells Abraham to hold off sacrificing his child
(Gen. 22). An angel appears to Moses out of the burning bush (Ex. 3). An angel announces
to Samson's mother that she will have an exceptional child (Judges 13). This
list is but a sampling of the angelic visitations in the OT.
We
all are familiar with the messages of the angels to Zachariah, Mary, Joseph,
the shepherds, and the wise men around the narrative of Jesus’ birth. Who
ministered to Jesus after his forty days of fasting and praying in the
wilderness? Who strengthened Him during his moments of anguish in the garden of
Gethsemane?
Who
rolled the stone away so that He could raise from the dead? Who told the
disciples who were intently looking into heaven to get on with the work after
His ascension? You know the answers they were all angels who obeyed God’s
instructions and served His people.
When
you go home, please read through the section from Vs. 5-14, and you will see
how the author cleverly used his understanding of the angels from the OT and
proves to the Jews that Jesus was and is greater than the angels. The author
explains in Hebrews 1:14, “Therefore, angels are only servants—spirits sent to
care of people who will inherit salvation.”
During
this COVID-19 Pandemic, we won’t panic because God’s angels will protect His
children. Take note of these words from Psalm 91:9-12, “If you make the Lord
your refuge if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no
plague will come near your home. For he will order his angels to protect you
wherever you go.” What assuring words!
In
closing, our only hope in this world is in Jesus the Son, who is the radiance
of God’s glory. He holds everything by His powerful word. Jesus is greater than
the angels. He only truly deserves to be worshipped, served, and trusted, and
no one else, including the angels. Amen!
Spiritual Warfare, Demons and Righteous Angels BY
RANDY ALCORN JUNE 24, 2019
