Greater than Angels

 

After making purification for sins, he [Jesus] sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”? Or again, “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son”? And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” Of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire.” But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, shas anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.” And, “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end.” And to which of the angels has he ever said, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”? Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation? (Hebrews 1:4-14 ESV).

 

People have been fascinated with angels since the beginning of time. This is vividly illustrated in our age of multiple streams of media. There have been many TV shows and movies that have captured viewers’ attention with fictional stories about angels and other spiritual beings. Do you remember the television series “Touched by an Angel”? It first aired in 1994 and ran through 2003. It was a touching and entertaining series that dealt with a lot of heavier issues in a sweet and tender way. Often it encouraged, inspired and gave pause to ponder. It gave viewers frequent opportunities to walk in another’s shoes, to have empathy and kindness for fellow people and the world around them. It featured a group of three angels who were dispatched from heaven to help those in need. It was a popular show. Yet it did not represent the real magnitude of the power and majesty of these heavenly beings as we see them in Scripture. In the Bible angels are powerful beings capable of anything.

 

We are not exactly sure why the book of Hebrews has a heavy emphasis on angels. There may have been some popular speculation about them back in the time when it was written. Maybe people were trying to reduce Jesus to the same level as angels. But one thing that Hebrews makes clear is that Jesus is far superior to the angels. Angels are messengers of God. Prophets also were messengers of God. But Jesus is far greater because he is God.

 

Our text says it rather simply. After reminding readers of all that Jesus is and has done, Hebrews says, “So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.” Then the rest of the chapter quotes from text after text in the Old Testament to show how much superior Jesus is. The focus of Hebrews is on Jesus. Not even the angels can compare to him.

 

Do you see the impact of this truth? Even if we could command the angels to come to our aid, we do not need their inferior support. We have the presence and power of the Creator and Sustainer of the universe; we have the relationship of the Son of God who has redeemed us and sits on the very throne of heaven as ruler over all! Jesus is all we could ever need and He is in us to do His good will!