No Angels at the Cross

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God 

When you read the accounts about Jesus in the Gospels, it’s common to see angels at critical moments in His life. For example, at His birth, in His temptation, in His agony. That’s why it’s startling that they were absent at the cross. The great commentator Matthew Henry suggested that when the Father forsook the Lord at the cross, the angels withdrew from Him also. 

Once Jesus died, we see angels again. In fact, it was an angel that rolled the stone away from the cave door and was found sitting on it. Jesus could have done that Himself. He had plenty of power, right? 

I have a theory about this. You won’t find it in the Bible, it’s simply my observation of the event. Jesus didn’t roll the stone away Himself in order to show that His resurrection wasn’t a “prison break.” He had to pay the full price for sin, and when the sentence was satisfied, an officer of the court was dispatched to open the prison door. He was free to leave because full satisfaction of the judgement against sin had been made. 

The enemies of Christ had sealed the tomb. It was their hour and they seemed mighty. But an angel, dispatched from heaven, broke the seal and rolled the stone away. Thus, the captives of the mighty were released by the Almighty!

There he was, sitting in triumph on the stone he had rolled away, as if defying any power to try and cover up the mouth of the cave again. Having frightened away the Roman guards, he sat ready to give the women who came early that morning the wonderful news, “He is not here, for He has risen just as He said” [Matthew 28.6].

Where are those angels now? Well, now that Jesus has resumed the glory He had with His Father before the foundation of the world, the angels are there worshiping Him.

Let’s do the same!

And they sang a mighty chorus:

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain

To receive power and riches and wisdom,

And strength and honor and glory and blessing!” Revelation 5.12