By Elizabeth Prata
SYNOPSIS
This advent season, we reflect on the miraculous birth of Jesus, highlighting the significant roles of angels. From announcing His birth to guiding the Wise Men, angels were actively involved throughout His life. Their presence serves as a reminder of God’s ongoing engagement in human affairs.
It is the season of advent, when we anticipate the commemoration of the baby Jesus’ birth into the world. His appearing was miraculous, humble, and the start of a new covenant. It’s the holiday we call Christmas!
The advent story is filled with amazing happenings and interesting characters. Looming large is Mary, of course, John the Baptist, Joseph, Herod, the Wise Men (Magi), and more. We have Simeon, Zecharias, Anna, and the Shepherds. But we also have angels.
Once you start clueing in to the heavy presence and activity of angels in this story it’s really amazing to see just how active they are in the doings of man on earth at the command of God, and not just at the nativity. But for our purpses let’s look at the time of Jesus’ conception, birth, and immediate aftermath.
An angel named Gabriel announced the coming savior to Mary. Angels announced the birth to Shepherds in their fields by night. An angel of the Lord came to Joseph in a dream and told him to take his family and flee to Egypt. I personally believe the star leading the Magi to the boy child’s house was probably an angel. An angel spoke to Zechariah- and rendered him mute for 9 months until his son John the Baptist was born.
The involvement of angels in the Babe’s birth and immediately after continued throughout the New Testament (and was just as active in the Old, of course). And, they were involved in the crucifixion and its aftermath, too. They were involved in giving of the Old Testament Law at Sinai, executing judgment, worshiping God, ministering to Jesus, ministering to humans, and engaging in warfare.
Angels are amazing.
We know the ‘veil’ between this world and the angels’ world is thin. When Jesus was speaking to Peter, John, and James on the mount, He transfigured and was simultaneously taking with Moses and Elijah who appeared next to Him. When Elisha’s servant became fearful seeing the enemy’s war machine surrounding them in the city of Dothan, Elisha asked the Lord to open his servant’s eyes. And what did he see? The Lord’s invisible army, now visible, numerous, and waiting. When Stephen the first martyr of the faith lay dying on the ground, stones raining down around his head, he looked up and saw the heavens parted and the Son of Man at throne of God.
These ‘peeks’ are intriguing. Have other people in our times been privy to see beyond the veil? Have they been given a peek? Some people have reported unusual activity at the moment of a believer’s death, or have said their loved one exclaimed at a heavenly sight just before expiring.
If we are a born again believer, when we get to heaven, we will meet the ministering angels, and we can thank them for their service to us in the name of Yahweh. Even though most of us do not see or hear the angels in our own lives, we know they are active on earth, for sometimes we may be entertaining angels unawares.
Do not neglect hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it. (Hebrews 13:2).
Holy angels God and for us. What amazing, powerful creatures they are.
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