01/03/2021 – Day 231 – 2 Timothy 1 – 3 / Post 2 of ? – “The Great Mystery” section.
Yes, here I am posting this nine days later. But I wanted to share this with you:
2 Timothy 3:16: “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:
God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.”
The opening of the book of Hebrews – Chapter 1: verses 1 -4 is cross supportive of our 2 Timothy 3:16 text. Focusing on the three words – “Seen by Angels”, take a look here at a commentary by Bruce Garner:
“When you examine the life of Christ, one evidence that this is no mere man is the fact that his life and work were witnessed and supported by angels. Jesus lived His life, I am confident, as an incomprehensible spectacles to angels.
The Bible tells us that angels are ministering spirits. Just like humans, they are creations of God, but are of a higher order than you and I. They were created for God’s service. The Greek word literally means “messengers”. They are simply creatures that God has created to serve Him and to serve believers. And they are seen throughout the life of Christ.
They praised God at Jesus birth. Angel filled the heavens in a moment, praised God, and sang the first Christmas song, celebrating that the Word had become flesh (see Luke 2: 13-14)
They served Jesus after His temptation by Satan. The met him in the desert and ministered to Him after his days of fasting and temptation by Satan (See Matthew 4:11).
An angel strengthened Jesus as He prayed in Gethsemane. As Jesus agonized to the point where his sweat became as drops of blood due to the severe physical and spiritual stress He was under, when His prayers were concluded, an angel came to Him, and strengthened Him (see Luke 22:43).
Thousands of angels were available to rescue Him from His crucifixion... (skipping – look at Matthew 26: 52 -54)..”Put your sword in its place, for all take the sword will perish by the sword. Or do you think I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? How then could the Scriptures be fullfilled, that it must happen thus?” ..”
Garner points out that a Roman legion was 6,000 men. So Jesus is saying He has more than 72,000 angels who would on a moments notice rescue Him from all the Roman legions, let alone the small aresting force at Gethsemane. Similar to last night’s look at Jesus crying just before he knew he was about to raise him up . It points to His unfathomable love. In this case, he refused sure rescue so that he could give up His life for you, so that you could be saved, forgiven, and be with Him in His kingdom without end!
Of secondary note, let’s remember we have angels as well protecting us, comforting us, and cheering for us as we stand up to the devil and his evil minions. (Ephesians 6:13) If we suffer and are persecuted, let us seize the opportunity to give Him the glory through it on our way home, inevitable victory by His grace! “E.T. – Home!”
Soli Deo Gloria!