“The Day the Angels Cried”
Matthew 1:18-25
18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother
Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came
together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.
19 Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man & did not
want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce
her quietly.
20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared
to him in a dream & said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to
take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is
from the Holy Spirit.
21 She will give birth to a son, & you are to give Him the name
Yeshua [=Jesus], because He will save His people from their sins."
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the
prophet:
23 "The virgin will be with child & will give birth to a son, & they
will call Him Immanuel"-- which means, "God with us."
24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had
commanded him & took Mary home as his wife.
25 But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son.
And he gave him the name Yeshua [=Jesus].
DID YOU EVER STOP TO THINK ABOUT THE ROLE THAT
ANGELS PLAYED IN THE LIFE & MINISTRY OF JESUS?
It would take an entire book, & several more hours than we have
today, to spell out in detail how the life of Jesus was intertwined with
the attending ministry of angels.
Let me share briefly some of the episodes from the New Testament.
1. To prepare for the birth of Christ, an angel appeared to
Zacharias to inform him that his wife would be the mother of John
the Baptist—the cousin of Jesus.
2. Gabriel, one of the mighty angels of God, announced to Mary
that she would give birth to the Messiah.
3. A multitude of angels (literally, the heavenly Host or God’s Angel Army)
appeared to the Shepherds in the fields to announce His birth.
4. An angel appeared to Joseph in a dream 3 times:
 to tell him not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife for she
was with child of the Holy Spirit;
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 to warn him to take the child Jesus to Egypt so that Herod
would not kill Him;
 after the death of Herod, an angel told Joseph to return with
his family to Israel.
5. Angels assisted Jesus when He was being tempted of the devil
in the wilderness.
6. In the Garden of Gethsemane, an angel came & strengthened
Jesus as He agonized over the cross that awaited Him.
7. Angels were poised at Calvary, just waiting for Jesus to give the
word for them to deliver Him from the cross.
8. After our Lord’s resurrection, angels rolled back the stone in
front of the tomb so that His disciples & the whole world could see
that He was gone…”HE IS RISEN!”
9. At Jesus’ ascension, in Acts 1:11, two angels appeared to those
assembled & declared, “You Galileans, why are you standing here
staring up into the sky? This Jesus who is leaving you & ascending
to heaven will return in the same way you see Him departing.”
10. And then, of course, angels will accompany Jesus as He
returns one day to this earth to bring judgment & to usher in His
glorious Kingdom where He will reign forever & ever.
Note that according to early Church tradition, “that as Jesus was
ascending back to His Father, He was escorted by the holy angels,
to be seated at the Father’s right hand. Then even the morning
stars ascribed honor, glory, & praise to Him as the Son of the
Living God.”
On the other hand, the same traditions assert that some angels
remained behind to assure those early disciples that they would
always be near—ready to help God’s people throughout the ages to
come—until Christ returns to earth again & “…every knee shall bow,
in heaven & on earth & under the earth, & every tongue confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
The psalmist has promised in Psalm 34:7: “The angel of the Lord
encamps round about those that fear [= Honor or Reverence] God &
delivers them.”
[PAUSE]
So often as adults we lose our ability to believe in the miraculous &
allow ourselves to be a part of THE STORY…yet truth be told,
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“We are the Story”…the next chapter…of God’s Story that is waiting
to be told to us &/or heard by others.
In Matthew 18:3b-4 Jesus said, “I can guarantee this truth: Unless
you change and become like little children, you will never enter
the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes like this little child is
the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
**[PREACH]**
With all of this as background on the role of angels, along with
Yeshua’s command to become like children, let’s use our
imaginations for a few moments & picture a scene in heaven that
could well have taken place on a special night long ago.
… NOTE: (This is a story my mother read to me when I was a little boy &
sometime we can all use a good story instead of a sermon So let your innerchild come forth sit back & enjoy!)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Out of the Ivory Palaces”
by James H. Hogg, Zondervan Pub., (1954)
There was sorrow in heaven!
Can you imagine that?…Sorrow in heaven!
It all seemed so strange to two of the smallest angels by the name of
Arnal & Pax. They were given the task of carrying the messages for
the Master from one end of heaven to the other.
Arnal said to Pax, “I actually saw those things called ‘tears’
in Gabriel’s eyes. Something terrible must have happened
to have caused that. Someone said that tears were shed in
heaven on only one other occasion—back when the earth
was created.”
Pax asked, “When exactly was the first time?”
Arnal answered, “I’m not quite sure but I believe it had
something to do with the first creatures of earth. They did
something that broke the Master’s heart.”
“Do you remember that day when the foundations were
laid, & we all shouted for joy?”
“Oh, yes, Arnal, that wonderful song the morning stars
sang together. I’ll never forget that. But I still don’t
understand the tears in Gabriel’s eyes or the sad look on
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the faces of all the big angels. I’m sure it has something
to do with those beings on earth. The Father loves them
so much & I wonder why. They don’t seem to appreciate
what He has done for them. And do you know what I have
heard? I heard the strangest story—that the Lord Jesus is
going down to earth to live among them!”
Arnal looked at his friend, shocked! And for the first time in his
existence a tear fell down his cheeks & he said, “Going to leave
us? Leave the Ivory Palaces & the Rainbow Throne & the
love & beauty of Heaven?
What will He do down there, Pax?”
“I don’t know for sure.
Someone said He was going to be born.”
“Born? What’s born?”
“I don’t know. It’s something that happens to earth
creatures.”
“You don’t mean to say that He’s going to be like them &
take the same kind of body, do you?”
“I’m afraid so,” said Pax.
“Well, when is this thing supposed to take place, Pax?”
“I think it’s what they call ‘tonight’ down there.
It could be any moment now.”
“Then come on, Pax. Let’s hurry back to the city,” said Arnal.
There was a great deal of commotion in the celestial city when the
two little angels arrived. Messengers were hurrying to & fro & there
was a great blowing of trumpets. Angels had massed from the four
corners of heaven.
Row upon row, rank upon rank—angels & archangels were there
before the Great Throne of God Almighty. Arnal & Pax saw something
that made their hearts sink—the seat at the right of the throne was
empty! The Bright & Morning Star was gone!
Suddenly, Arnal & Pax heard their names called & Gabriel ordered
them to find a place in the massed group. They stood together at the
end of the front row. Gabriel raised his hand & there was complete
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silence! Then in clear tones as sweet as the sound of many waters,
he spoke: “You’ve been called together to hear the most
wonderful pronouncement ever made in the eternal ages
in which we live! Our beloved Lord, the only begotten of
the Father, has left us.”
The voice of the great angel trembled & sobs burst from the lips of
the gathered host.
In a moment Gabriel continued: “Our Lord has gone to earth to
be born as a babe that He might take upon Himself the
fashion of a man. Only in this way , the Father believes,
can the earth people know of His love for them. He will
take away the sin of all earth creatures who receive His
offer of salvation.”
A gasp of astonishment rose from the angels.
In a moment, Gabriel continued. “On earth tonight in a little
town called Bethlehem, His incarnation will be
accomplished. By the order of the Father, you will
accompany me as we bring the good news to the weary
world. I will make the announcement to a few shepherds
in the fields near Bethlehem, simple-hearted men who
fear God & believe His promises. You will sing the song I
give you. It’s time. Let us go.”
Arnal was trembling with excitement as he & Pax, small though they
were, had been selected for the journey.
They were to sing the glad tidings with the heavenly singers.
The whole air seemed filled with the angelic host that attended
Gabriel on his way.
By the thousands & tens of thousands they swept through the
heavens. Down through the belt of Orion, on past the Milky Way--down, down, they went through the still night air, leaving the stars
twinkling far behind them.
At a signal from Gabriel they stopped, poised above the earth.
Below them, by the light of a camp fire, they could see shepherds
keeping watch over their flocks.
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Suddenly, Gabriel broke through the clouds & stood before the men.
The shepherds gazed at them in awe & then fell in terror to the
ground.
Then Gabriel spoke: “Fear not, for behold I bring you good
tidings of great joy. For unto you is born this day in the
city of David, a Savior who is Christ the Lord. You shall
find the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes & lying in a
manger.”
As the angel finished these words, the light of the glory of God fell
from heaven & the angelic host stood revealed. They knew what they
were to sing, though they didn’t comprehend the mystery of it all.
And so they lifted their glorious voices in praise to Him.
“Glory to God in the highest & on earth, peace to all
people of good will.”
The song floated out upon the still night air. It enraptured the
shepherds who heard it. The night breeze that blows over the fields
of Bethlehem caught it up & bore it heavenward, where it echoed
around the Throne of God & was lost among the stars.
Then at a signal from Gabriel the heavenly host moved upward.
“What does all this mean?” Arnal asked Pax. “I cannot tell.
But wasn’t it wonderful? Oh, Arnal, don’t you know the
people down there appreciate what God has done?
I suspect they will soon be gathered to welcome the Baby.
They will come from all over the earth. They will love Him
as we do. I hope it doesn’t take long to redeem them for
we will be so lonely in heaven without Him.”
Now some 33 years passed, & again we listen in as Arnal & Pax are
engaged in conversation. “I can’t believe it Pax!
They killed our Lord! He went to love them & to show
them the way to the Father & they ridiculed Him &
mocked Him & tortured Him & finally nailed Him to a
cross. Why doesn’t the Father punish them?
Why doesn’t He destroy that sick & wretched planet?”
“Well, Arnal, I guess it’s because He loves them. In fact, I
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heard on of the bigger angels say that the Master knew all
along that they would do all of these awful thing to Him &
He willingly laid down His life to redeem them.
Remember when Michael led a group of 10,000 angels to
Calvary? They stood poised for action! Just one word from
our Lord & they would have destroyed the entire city of
Jerusalem…& yet He didn’t give the command. I don’t
understand that kind of love, Arnal!”
“He returned to the city just two days ago, Pax. All heaven
is rejoicing. It’s just like the old days. It’s so good to have
Him back.”
And so the two small angels returned to the city to behold their
Lord. His glory filled the entire city—with one difference, — this glory
shone through an earth creature’s body — a body with scars on His
hands, feet & side.
And the angels had again come from the far corners of the universe
to sing a new song. But when they approached the Great Throne,
they saw that it was impossible to get near it for it was surrounded
by thousands & millions of human souls singing with perfect
harmony:
“Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne & to the Lamb.
Praise & glory & wisdom & thanks
& honor & power & strength be to
our God forever & ever.
Amen!” (Revelation 7:10 & 12)
…Let’s Pray…
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