Easter Angels
(topical)
1. A Sunday School teacher asked her class on the Sunday before Easter if they knew what happened on Easter and why it was so important. One little girl spoke up saying: "Easter is when the whole family gets together, and you eat turkey and sing about the pilgrims and all that." "No, that’s not it," said the teacher.
"I know what Easter is," a second student responded. "Easter is when you get a tree and decorate it and give gifts to everybody and sing lots of songs." "Nope, that’s not it either," replied the teacher.
Finally a third student spoke up, "Easter is when Jesus was killed, and put in a tomb and left for three days." "Ah, thank goodness somebody knows" the teacher thought to herself.
But then the student went on: "Then everybody gathers at the tomb and waits to see if Jesus comes out, and if he sees his shadow he has to go back inside and we have six more weeks of winter."
2. Even some people who go to church regularly may not know too much!
3. In ancient times, Theology, the study of God, was called the, "Queen of the Sciences." Even today, serious Christians do things like devour their Bible, attend Sunday School, teach a class, and read good Bible study material.
Main Idea: When you study the Bible or reflect upon the person and work of Christ, you are joining in the curriculum of the angels; you are on holy ground.
I. Born-again Believers Are the CURRICULUM
(I Peter 1:12b)
• Ever feel like you are being watched?
? The verb parakypto (NIV, "long to look") means "to stoop over to look." It implies willingness to exert or inconvenience oneself to obtain a better perspective. Here the present tense gives it a continuous aspect. (ski lift?)
The angels have intense interest in human salvation.
• it is not an experience they have
• they learn about God by watching how He deals with us
• besides being messengers and servants, angels are students, and we are the curriculum
1. Angels REJOICE when a sinner is converted (Luke 15:10)
“In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
You may have never heard of Sir Lionel Luckhoo. But if you open the Guinness Book of World Records, you’ll discover that he is listed as the most successful trial lawyer ever. He had 245 successful murder defenses in a row.
To give you an idea how good that is, I want you to think about the TV show Perry Mason. The producers had him lose a case after he won 70 successful ones, because they didn’t think anyone would find his character credible without a loss every now and again.
Although Lionel Luckhoo had fame, success, and wealth he felt empty inside. The older he got, the more meaningless life seemed to him. At age 63, he turned his analytical skills to the claim that Jesus rose from the dead. He found that the message of Jesus’ resurrection satisfied his personal needs and his intellectual questions.
He wrote: “I have spent more than forty-two years as a defense trial lawyer in many parts of the world. I say unequivocally the evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ is so overwhelming that it compels acceptance by proof which leaves absolutely no room for doubt!” (source: Michael Luke, www.sermoncentral.com)
• But whether we come to Christ via great intellectual pursuit or simply by hearing the Gospel, the angels party.
2. They observed the LIFE of Jesus (I Timothy 3:16)
“Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.”
3. They learn about SALVATION from us (Eph 3:10)
“His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms…”
4. They SERVE believers (Heb 1:14)
“Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?”
John Paton was a missionary in the New Hebrides Islands. One night hostile natives surrounded the mission station, intent on burning out the Patons and killing them. Paton and his wife prayed during that terror-filled night that God would deliver them. When daylight came they were amazed to see their attackers leave. A year later, the chief of the tribe was converted to Christ. Remembering what had happened, Paton asked the chief what had kept him from burning down the house and killing them. The chief replied in surprise, "Who were all those men with you there?" Paton knew no men were present--but the chief said he was afraid to attack because he had seen hundreds of big men in shining garments with drawn swords circling the mission station.
Today in the Word, MBI, October, 1991, p. 18. Higher Praise.org
5. These angels are involved in our lives for several reasons, but one of them is to learn about God’s grace by watching us.
When you study the Bible or reflect upon the person and work of Christ, you are joining in the curriculum of the angels; you are on holy ground.
II. CHRIST is the Curriculum
1. Angels were involved THROUGHOUT the ministry and life of Jesus
• at His birth
• after His temptation
2. Angels who were NEVER called (Matt. 26:53)
• an angel strengthened Him at Gethsemane (Luke 22:43), but that’s all
• "Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?"
"A Roman legion consisted of about six thousand soldiers, or upwards…" John Gill
3. The angels at the TOMB (Luke 24: 1-8)
On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ’The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ " Then they remembered his words.
MAX LUCADO, in his book, Six Hours One Friday, tells the story of a missionary in Brazil who discovered a tribe of Indians in a remote part of the jungle. They lived near a large river. The tribe was in need of medical attention. A contagious disease was ravaging the population. People were dying daily.
A hospital was not too terribly far away—across the river, but the Indians would not cross it because they believed it was inhabited by evil spirits. To enter the water would mean certain death. The missionary explained how he had crossed the river and was unharmed. They were not impressed. He then took them to the bank and placed his hand in the water. They still wouldn’t go in. He walked into the water up to his waist and splashed water on his face. It didn’t matter. They were still afraid to enter the river. Finally, he dove into the river, swam beneath the surface until he emerged on the other side. He punched a triumphant fist into the air. He had entered the water and escaped. It was then that the Indians broke out into a cheer and followed him across.
That’s exactly what Jesus did! He told the people of His day that they need not fear the river of death, but they wouldn’t believe. He touched a dead boy and called him back to life. They still didn’t believe. He whispered life into the body of a dead girl and got the same result. He let a dead man spend 4 days in a tomb and then called him out and the people still didn’t believe Him. Finally, He entered the river of death and came out on the other side. No wonder we celebrate the Resurrection!
4. The angels at the ASCENSION (Acts 1:6-11)
So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"
He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."
5. The angels were involved in the life of Jesus for many reasons, but one of them was to learn about the grace of God and the nature of the Gospel.
When you study the Bible or reflect upon the person and work of Christ, you are joining in the curriculum of the angels; you are on holy ground.
CONCLUSION
1. Angels are learners – forever. Are we learners?
2. Have you received the grace of God? Do the angels study you?
3. The condition of our souls is the most important thing about us, and we must give this undivided attention: A"Cat who tries to catch two mice at one time, goes without supper." (Charlie Chan’s Greatest Case)
3. So let’s talk about our souls and receiving the grace of God.
