ANGELS AND JESUS

A deeper insight into the actions and duties of angels can be collected from words spoken by Jesus. He often discussed angels during his ministry.

Jesus had once been questioned about a person who had more than one spouse in their lifetime. The question was to whom would they be married in heaven? In answering the question, Jesus made it clear that there would be no marriage in heaven. He explained that angels are not married. “For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.” (Matthew 22:30) This is again confirmed in the book of Mark. “For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.” (Mark 12:25) The book of Luke goes into even more detail concerning this question. “And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage: But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage. Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection." (Luke 20:34-37)

Jesus, being questioned as to who was the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, pointed out a small child and said that we all need to humble ourselves and become as a little child in order to become a part of the kingdom. He continues to explain that those who are good to these, his children (or, more accurately, his believers) are being good to him. He goes on to declare a severe punishment of anyone who harms those children who are his followers. "At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!" (Matthew 18:1-7)

Jesus continued by revealing an encouraging fact to his disciples concerning angels. He said that the angels watching over his children have access to the father. This confirms that we have guardian angels that watch over us, who have access to the father on our behalf whenever we are in need. “Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 18:10) This is as well confirmed in the Old Testament book of Psalms where it states, "For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways." (Psalms 91:11)

The Bible teaches clearly that we are never to worship these angels, a subject that is covered in another post, but it is important to be aware of their nearness.

Concerning death and the angels, Jesus gives an extraordinary revelation to us in the parable of the beggar, Lazarus, and the rich man. Jesus states that when the beggar died he was "carried by the angels," but not so of the rich man. In the parable, the two were both still alive after their physical death and able to see each other, although there was a barrier between them that could not be crossed. The one taken by the angels was definitely in a better place. "There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead." (Luke 16:19-31) Being escorted from this life by angels is a lovely thought.

Angels were active during the time when Christ walked on this earth. Gabriel, we’ve learned, was the one who made the glorious announcement to Mary. Yet, what an honor it was for a small select group of shepherds, out in a pasture field, when an angel made the announcement to them of Christ’s birth. The angel’s appearance had to have been breathtaking. Imagine the humbling experience, after the angel made the announcement, when an entire host of angels appeared before them, praising God. “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. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:8-16)

In the period following Jesus' baptism by John the Baptist, before his ministry had begun, Jesus went off by himself for forty days and was tempted by the devil. After the devil had departed from him, angels came and comforted Jesus. “Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.” (Matthew 4:11) This is also recorded in the book of Mark. “And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him” (Mark 1:13)

During the last hours of his life, before being turned over to the chief priest, we read that an angel appeared with Jesus, to strengthen him as he knelt alone praying. “And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.” (Luke 22:41-43)

Later on that same night, when the chief priest and leaders took Jesus into custody, one of the men that were with Jesus drew his sword and cut off the ear of one of the servants of the high priest. Jesus told the man to put up his sword. He at that time made a profound statement concerning his position and the availability of angels. “Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matthew 26:53) Jesus goes on to explain that if he were to do that the prophecy concerning himself in the word of God would not happen. “But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be.” (Matthew 26:54) Jesus had the ability and freedom to call upon the father to stop his execution, but thankfully, for our sakes, he did not.

It was an angel who, through an earthquake, caused the stone to be rolled away from the tomb where Jesus was buried. The angel made the first declaration of Jesus' resurrection to two women named Mary. It is somewhat humorous to picture an angel sitting on top of the large stone which had just been moved. This angel was not the average, human-looking angel. The appearance of this angel was spectacular, since the guards watching the tomb became paralyzed with fear. It describes the angel’s appearance as being like a bright light, and his raiment as being snow white. The angel gave the two women precise instructions to go and tell the disciples of Jesus' resurrection. “In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow. And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come; see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you” (Matthew 28:1-7)

According to the book of John, when Mary Magdalene returned, there were two angels also described as wearing white, who appeared to her inside of the tomb. “But Mary stood without at the sepulcher weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulcher, And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.” (John 20:11-12)

Jesus states in the book of Luke that he will acknowledge us before the angels if we acknowledge him before men. He describes the joy that the angels experience when a person becomes a believer. "Also I say unto you, whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God. But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God. (Luke 12:8-9) “Like wise; I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth." (Luke 15:10)