Better Than The Angels

In the beginning of the book of Hebrews, the writer quickly established the superiority of Jesus.  For years, the Jewish people had relied on prophets of old to come and tell them God’s Word.  While the faithful prophets did a good job of what God wanted them to do, Jesus is God.  Mankind was able to view and listen to the living Word (John 1:1-5, 14).  Therefore, the Hebrews’ writer wrote, “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they” (Heb. 1:1-4).  By putting on flesh, Jesus was able to show God to the world.  It was hard for some to grasp that truth.  That should not surprise us because today it is still hard for some to grasp that truth.  When teaching his disciples, “Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.  Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip?  he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?  Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me?  the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself:  but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.  Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me:  or else believe me for the very works’ sake” (John 14:8-11).  God came and dwelt among men and “purged our sins.”

Not only is Jesus superior to the prophets of old, but he is also mentioned as “Being made so much better than the angels.”  While we do not know everything about all of the angels, God has given us record of some of them.  Gabriel is mentioned in the Bible as being the angel that came and foretold the coming birth of Jesus (Luke 1:26-37).  What a privilege it was to say, “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” (Luke 1:30-31).  To be entrusted with such a work, Gabriel must be considered a faithful and true messenger of God.  There is also a mention of the “archangel,” Michael.  At one time he disputed with the devil over the body of Moses (Jude 9).  Michael must likewise be a faithful messenger and servant of God to be referred to as “the archangel.”  This seems to imply that there is a hierarchy among the angels, and that Michael has excelled among others.  Some people might try and claim that Michael and Jesus are the same person.  This cannot be the case because Jesus is “better” than all of the angels, including Michael.  Then, there a reference to Satan.  Many believe that Satan is a “fallen angel.”  The Bible does mention Satan coming before God with other angels (Job 1:6-12; 2:1-6).  The Bible also records, “And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation , he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day” (Jude 6).  Regardless, Jesus is better than them all.

The writer of Hebrews further indicated Jesus’ superiority when he wrote, “For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee?  And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?  And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him…But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?  Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation” (Heb. 1:5-14).

Friend, there has never been a greater than Jesus Christ.  As a part of the Godhead, Jesus willingly suffered so that His creation could have everlasting life.  No angel has ever done that.  No other prophet has ever done that.  By becoming the seed of Abraham, He allowed Himself to be lower than the angels for the suffering of death (Heb. 2:5-13).  However, that act further cemented that Jesus is, and will always be, the King of kings and Lord of lords!
~ Corey Barnette