Exploring the Angels of the Bible, Part 7

Exploring the Angels of the Bible, Part 7 

While so many people are focusing on the demonic things of Halloween, I thought I would repost my series on angels from the Bible. 

After reposting parts 1-6 of this series that I wrote several years ago, I realized that I never really finished it.  I am not sure why I left off in the Psalms and did not continue forward.  Therefore, I will now attempt to complete this series (there will be just one more writing after this one).  I am going to jump ahead now to the New Testament.

Angels were prominent in Jesus' human life before He was even born. First, an angel appeared to his cousin, John the Baptist's Father Zachariah to announce the prophet's birth.  Because I have previously written about that story, I am simply going to share the link to that writing if you want to read it: https://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2024/02/profile-of-doubter-part-3-zacharias.html   

Jesus' own miraculous virgin birth was announced to His mother by an angel.  Mary had one of the most beautiful responses to her divine assignment, "Be it unto me according to thy word."  And yet, we complain if God asks us to love or forgive someone who has hurt our feelings.  Imagine being given the assignment to carry to Son of God?  Mary was humbled and honored and did not whine or complain that the task would be too difficult.

(Luke 1:26-38) And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, "Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women... Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end." Then said Mary unto the angel, "How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?" And the angel answered and said unto her, "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God..." And Mary said, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word." And the angel departed from her.

Next, angels announced the arrival of Jesus to a group of shepherds.  I did a video on this that I repost every Christmas titled, "Why did Angels appear to Shepherds."  To see it, you can either scroll through my videos on my Facebook page or wait for me to post it again in less than 2 months in December.  For now, I will just quote the Bible rather than my own video:

(Luke 2:8-20) And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, "Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us." And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger... And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

Going back a little before the shepherds, an angel appeared to Jesus' earthly stepfather in a dream.

(Matthew 1:19-25) Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins." Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife. And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus.

Now we will go forward again about two to three years after the shepherds. Joseph has two more dreams when Jesus is a toddler.

(Matthew 2:13-14 & 19-21) And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him." When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, Saying, "Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life." And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.

God spoke to Joseph three times through dreams that we know of; it easily could have been more times that were not recorded.  I sometimes wonder why it was only in a dream he saw the angel and not in person as both Zacharias and Mary had, but if God has deemed Jospeh worthy enough to be the earthy father of Jesus, then I am sure it was not a spiritual default of Joseph.  I guess it really is not my place to speculate why, but it is interesting.

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As Jesus grows up, around the age of 30, He is ready to enter His ministry.  Before His chooses His 12 apostles, however, He is tempted by Satan in the desert.  You can read more about that here: https://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2025/01/matthew-4-1-11-temptation-of-jesus.html .  This is the first time we read that angels ministered to Him during an emotionally difficulty time.  

You can read more about Jesus' experience here: https://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2021/09/the-prayers-of-jesus-christ-part-4.html

Although we only read about an angel giving Jesus strength one more time while He is in the Garden of Gethsemane, I would venture to believe that angels were frequent visitors to Jesus all throughout His time on earth to offer comfort, strength, and messages of love and loyalty to the King of Kings. 

(Luke 22:41-44) And [Jesus] was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed Saying, "Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done." And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Not counting the angel at the pool of Bethesda (John chapter 5), the next time we read about an angel before the books of Acts and Revelation is the angel at the tomb of Jesus after He has been crucified and buried.

(Matthew 28:1-7) In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, "Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you."

Announcing the birth of Jesus would have been a tremendous honor, but can you imagine how fantastic it would have been to announce that Jesus had risen from the dead as He had said He would! Smiles, tears, even joyful laughter maybe?  Guess what?  You and I can do the same.  Maybe not in the same way, of course, but we can announce to all that we serve a risen Savior!