How about those angels?
Here are several key points about angels and their roles, especially related to the Christmas story:
Then there came a time when they had to PREPARE for their execution of all that was required of them. They were very much a part of the PROPHECY that needed to be
fulfilled. And then they gathered to PROCLAIM! Their anthem was heard across Bethlehem and especially to the lowly shepherds. Their anthem a song of PRAISE!
fulfilled. And then they gathered to PROCLAIM! Their anthem was heard across Bethlehem and especially to the lowly shepherds. Their anthem a song of PRAISE!
meeting?
What keeps us to busy?
What the stats show.
Feeling Overwhelmed: A majority of adults (around 60%) sometimes feel too busy to enjoy life, with parents feeling it even more acutely.
Exhaustion: About 40% of knowledge workers feel exhausted due to this cycle.
In the article, “7 Hypotheses for Why we are So Busy Today.”
Busyness as a badge of honor and trendy status symbol — or the glorification of busy — to show our importance, value, or self-worth in our fast-paced
society.
society.
Busyness as job security — an outward sign of productivity and company loyalty.
Busyness as FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) — spending is shifting from buying things (“have it all”) to experiences (“do it all”), packing our calendars (and social media feeds with the “highlight reel of life”)
Busyness as a byproduct of the digital age — our 24/7 connected culture is blurring the line between life and work; promoting multitasking and never
turning “off.”
turning “off.”
Busyness as a time filler — in the age of abundance of choice, we have infinite ways to fill time (online and off) instead of leaving idle moments as restorative white space
Busyness as necessity — working multiple jobs to make ends meet while also caring for children at home.
Busyness as escapism — from idleness and slowing down to face the tough questions in life (e.g. Maybe past emotional pain or deep questions like, “What
is the meaning of life?” or “What is my purpose?”)
(Provided by Kyle Kowalski : Busyness)
Quote: “We stay so busy that the truth of our lives can’t catch up.” — Brené Brown
Another article I researched reminds us that there are other factors at play as well. Mobile devices allow employees to be
reached anywhere, anytime. “We can’t get away from work anymore,” says Gabe Ignatow, Ph.D., a sociologist at the University of North Texas who studies social change. “Even when we’re relaxing on the weekends, we’re often bombarded with emails, text messages and calls from the office.” (Ray Williams)
reached anywhere, anytime. “We can’t get away from work anymore,” says Gabe Ignatow, Ph.D., a sociologist at the University of North Texas who studies social change. “Even when we’re relaxing on the weekends, we’re often bombarded with emails, text messages and calls from the office.” (Ray Williams)
Depictions of Angels in Christmas movies:
When we see the Christmas movies, angels are depicted in a variety of ways.
Many of these examples are not biblical but yet they make us feel good inside. In the example of, “It’s a Wonderful Life“ we see Clarence (the angel) who jumps in the river to save a man on the brink of suicide. He of course, is trying to get his wings. In the famous depiction, we get the ever familiar ending to the story and from Clarence, “every
time a bell rings an angel gets its wings.” Within that movie there are over 75 times that angels supposedly are getting their wings. Though this is not biblical but it is indeed cute.
time a bell rings an angel gets its wings.” Within that movie there are over 75 times that angels supposedly are getting their wings. Though this is not biblical but it is indeed cute.
In the depiction of a Christmas Carol, Ebeneezer Scrooge is visited by three angels. Each of them deliver a message and causes him to have a change of heart. This too is
extra biblical.
No matter, angels are real. They have a variety of responsibilities and roles that seem to all come together at the time of Jesus‘s birth. God Emmanuel – God incarnate has come to us in the form. I’d like this a man.
We can see almost all of the characters depicted from this story. They are mostly depicted as messengers. Whether it be Gabriel delivering the news or angels in a dream to Joseph or even Gabrielle, who came to Mary.
We also see them as protectors. There you might find the Seraphim who are guardians and protectors. Some may say that we have guardian angels, but for sure Jesus had those that protected this vulnerable child.
Billy Graham tells a story:
From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham
On a deserted, narrow mountain road along a steep cliff, three missionaries realized they needed to turn their car around and go back down the mountain.
But how?
They could barely see in the heavy snow, and there wasn’t much room—they could easily slide off the cliff. They prayed. A car appeared, coming from the opposite
direction. A man stepped out and offered to turn the missionaries’ car for them, and then he told the missionaries to follow him down the mountain, which they gladly did. Near the bottom, the man’s car suddenly disappeared.
direction. A man stepped out and offered to turn the missionaries’ car for them, and then he told the missionaries to follow him down the mountain, which they gladly did. Near the bottom, the man’s car suddenly disappeared.
Reports like this can only be explained as heavenly help from God’s angels!
As for Christmas …
Without a doubt the angels would have been certainly intrigued by the opportunity to see their God become like human. Born in the flesh would have left them
wandering as it did with Mary who pondered all these things in her heart. We find that the God of glory has stooped to our level so that we may know and experience,
the freedom, and the hope we have of canceled and delivery of sin. We will know of salvation because of the shed blood of the most precious lamb (willingly) given.
Let me focus on the messengers in this particular message. The Angels brought good news. They stated on several occasions to fear not. They even silenced a priest
because he was not believing that with God all things are possible.
Angels are powerful. Every occasion that we see angels, we see of their might. They are not weak. They appear to us in scripture as being able to mute a priest and even
with just one angel can destroy an army of 150,000 Assyrian soldiers to save the people Israel. Now that’s a warrior for you.
with just one angel can destroy an army of 150,000 Assyrian soldiers to save the people Israel. Now that’s a warrior for you.
Moreover, we will see that they are worshipers. They are not to be worshiped. Feared, yes! Never to be worshiped. They are created beings that serve God’s plan.
So in our passages today, we find that the angels were busy. They had plenty to do.
They were fulfilling the plan that God spoke about through His prophets in their prophecy.
- able to battle evil.
- able to mute the priest, Zachariah.
- able to be in the dreams of Joseph and the Wisemen.
They fulfilled plans.
- waiting many years to announce the birth of The King!
- waiting many years to announce the birth of The King!
They are fulfilling prophecy.
- the prophecies of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Micah…
- the prophecies of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Micah…
The angels were giving praise.
- They worshipped for all eternity.
- Yet, this night they were able to praise for the world to see the birth of Jesus!
- They worshipped for all eternity.
- Yet, this night they were able to praise for the world to see the birth of Jesus!
Imagine, if you could, the angels have never seen God appear in this form of a vulnerable baby. Imagine their surprise and their wonder! The uniqueness of their
busyness was based on the various roles that one of them had to make.
busyness was based on the various roles that one of them had to make.
From being GUARDIANS to protect Him or WORSHIPERS as in the Seraphin to the praise-worthy choir on that first Christmas anthem.
We can even see them as dispatched representative who brought MESSAGE of the miraculous.
If you want to get something done, ask a busy person!
However, at the time of his death, tens upon thousands of angels were restricted from coming to his rescue. Everything that they were created to be was restricted
from rescuing the Redeemer, who died a cruel death as the supreme sacrifice – once in for all sinners.
The angels saw in real time God’s plan to save the world! They saw God as Emmanuel — Seeing their creator as a vulnerable child!
They saw their creator as royal - eminence!
They could not protect Jesus from humanity! Yet, Jesus was sent to rescue us from sin & death.
The Bible tells us that the angels worked overtime to announce the birth of a King.
The angels PROVIDED for every PLAN God had set. They delivered messages to many, ESPECIALLY Mary and Joseph. Though angels are primary characters in the
story even they needed to be told of the events to come through baby Jesus – like the rest of us, they were filled with anticipation!
story even they needed to be told of the events to come through baby Jesus – like the rest of us, they were filled with anticipation!
The angels : How many of them are there?
The angels were fulfilling the PROPHECY foretold many years before this glorious night!
We are busy with our lives and pay little regard to what Jesus had provided — Hope, Joy, Peace, & Love.
The birth of Jesus is celebrated by decorations and gifts. Christmas is an incredible time of year with calendars filled up with activities.
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” - John 1:5
They assembled as a choir to lift up the birth of Christ and PROCLAIMED it to the
The Priestly couple & especially Zachariah and the young couple of Bethlehem as well as the Shepherds, and to the world!
“Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” (Luke 2:13-14)
