Mary - Her Life And Times

Mary - Her Life And Times

ANGELS

Mary cowered in fear when the angel Gabriel appeared to her — not an uncommon reaction. Most often in Scripture, when an angel appeared to a human being, the reaction was one of fright. While we’re not told exactly what angels look like or how they appear, one description in Matthew’s gospel says the angel’s “appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow” (Matthew 28:3). Certainly it’s obvious from the reactions of those who saw them that angels are supernatural beings and therefore frightening.

The 291 references to angels in Scripture give us a varied picture of their duties. Angels in heaven stand before God’s throne and worship him (Revelation 5:11 – 12). An angel helped Hagar and Ishmael when they were in trouble in the desert (Genesis 21:17). An angel freed the apostles from prison (Acts 5:19). An angel directed Philip to the desert road where he met and witnessed to the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:26). An angel appeared to Paul to comfort him (Acts 27:23 – 24), to Elijah when he was worn out and discouraged in the desert (1 Kings 19:3 – 9), and to Daniel and his friends in places of danger (Daniel 3:28; 6:22). Sometimes God uses angels to punish his enemies (Genesis 19:1; 2 Kings 19:35).

Angels played an important role in the life of Jesus. After first appearing to Zechariah, Mary, and Joseph, angels announced Jesus’ birth to the shepherds (Luke 2:9). Angels came and ministered to Jesus after he was tempted in the desert (Matthew 4:11) and when he was in the garden just before his crucifixion (Luke 22:43). A violent earthquake accompanied the angel that came to earth and rolled back the stone over Jesus’ tomb (Matthew 28:2). When Jesus ascended into heaven, two angels, “men dressed in white” (Acts 1:10), told the disciples he would be coming back in the same way.

In the book of Revelation, John describes a glorious scene: “Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang: ‘Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!’ ” (Revelation 5:11 – 12).

Imagine the sight: hundreds of thousands of beings — purest white, like lightning — all moving in concert around God’s throne. Listen: Can you imagine their loud, supernatural voices praising Jesus? Worthy is the Lamb! Then “every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them” (Revelation 5:13) will join in with them, singing the same song of praise. What a sight! What a sound! Mary will be there praising her son. Will you be there praising your Savior?