Jesus-Greater Than The Angels

He is Greater!

The book of Hebrews is an interesting book of the Bible. It doesn’t have a salutation, so no one knows for sure who the author is. Rather than a letter, it’s more like a homily or sermon. Many attribute the author to be Apollos given the Greek used in this book and his reference to Timothy as his brother (Hebrews 13:24). This is the outline of the book of Hebrews- it begins with the

Supremacy of Christ

Perfection or maturity as believers in Christ

Perseverance

Jesus makes the old law obsolete

Reality of new Jerusalem

The way the author begins his writing suggests to us that its readers were confused as to who Jesus Christ really was. Many claimed Him to be an angel sent by the Lord to help mankind. Here the author of Hebrews wants to establish the fact that Jesus Christ is not an angel. He is far greater than angels.

To understand much of this truth let’s see who are Angels.

Angels

According to the writings of the Talmudic and Midrash, angel or ‘malak’ were the sent ones who carried the message of God. They are knowledgeable and powerful emissaries of God. Angels are spiritual in nature; seen only in the spiritual dimension. It is said that more Angels than humans inhabits the earth and they are all around.

It is believed that there are different Angels behind everything. Angels for every nation, Angels to carry our prayers to presence of God. We read in Genesis chapter 18, how 3 angels came to visit Abraham.

These Angels surround the divine throne of God. There are 7 chief archangels, namely

Michel (who is like God)-watches over Israel

Gabriel (God’s strength)- in charge of heavens

Raphael (God’s healer)- watches over human spirits

Muriel (God’s light)- in charge of the underworld

Raguel (God’s friend)- justice and harmony

Sariel (God’s special command)- received Moses

Jeremiel (reviews people’s lives)- in charge of resurrection

In heaven everything is organized and so on earth all that happens is recorded under high surveillance. The Jews especially believe that every good word and deed can create Angels. Though these Angels are powerful spiritual beings, Jesus Christ is greater than them all.

How is Jesus superior?

Hebrews 1:1-4 (KJV) God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high: Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

Jesus superior because He is the

1. Heir of all things- the earth belongs to Him alone

2. Creator of the universe

3. Radiance of God’s word or glory

4. Exact representation or icon of God’s being

5. Supreme sacrifice for the sins of the world.

Why is Jesus Superior to the angels?

The Fatherhood of God

Hebrews 1:5 (KJV) For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?

This belongs exclusive to Jesus. As Jesus came out of the waters of river Jordan and at Mt. Tabor, the Mount of Transfiguration, we see God attesting to the fact that Jesus was His beloved Son and that we ought to listen to Him. About no angel has these words ever been said about. He was at the bosom of the father and He revealed the Father to us (John 1:18) Now in Christ Jesus we are children of God, which is to say that angels are there to serve us because of our position in Christ

2. Worshipping Angels

Hebrews 1:6 (KJV) And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.

No angel is worthy of worship. Yet

Jesus is greater than the angels because He is the Centre of their worship. Choirs of angels proclaimed His birth. Heaven is filled with worshipping angels, cherubim and seraphim who constantly declare worthy is the Lamb of God.

3. The Kingdom of His Son

Hebrews 1:8 (KJV) But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

The kingdom of God is a reality. When the Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ came to the earth, the kingdom of God is seen and is evident amongst us. We will see it in its fulness when we see the Son Himself face to face. Angels don’t have a kingdom. But the Lord Jesus does. In the Gospel of Mark, we see the message of Jesus was this, the kingdom of God is at hand.