Angels on Call

Matthew 26:47-56

 

INTRODUCTION:

 

The Adversary and Judas become associated.

  1. Satan enters into Judas to betray Jesus (Luke 22:3)
  2. The betrayal and arrest of Jesus occurs in Gethsemane.
  3. Jesus could have called seventy two thousand angels to deliver Him  (Matt. 26:53)

 

Angels and Jesus are associated.

  1. Angels are associated with the birth of Jesus (Luke 1:26-37; 2:1-14)
  2. Angels are present after the temptation of Jesus (Matt. 4:11)
  3. Angels are present at the resurrection of Jesus  (Matt. 28:1-7)

 

Why didn’t Jesus call angels to deliver Him?

 

  1. THE SCRIPTURES MUST BE FULFILLED.
    1. The cross was in God’s eternal plan  (1 Peter 1:20)
    2. Prophecies of the Cross are found throughout the Bible.

1.      Every Passover lamb pictured the slain Savior.

2.      David wrote of the coming Crucifixion.  (Ps. 22)

3.      Isaiah described Christ’s sufferings and death (Isa. 53)

4.      Zechariah wrote abut Christ’s wounds on the Cross.  (Zech 13:6)

    1. Even the betrayal of Jesus was prophesied.  (Ps. 55:13)
    2. An angelic interruption of the cross would have left us without a Savior.

 

  1. THE SAVIOR MUST BE FORSAKEN
    1. Jesus repeatedly revealed His coming betrayal

1.      “The Son of Man shall be betrayed”  (Matt. 17:22)

2.      “shall deliver him to the Gentiles” (20:19)

    1. Jesus told His disciples they would forsake Him  (v. 1)
    2. The prophets said Jesus would die alone, forsaken.

1.      David said, “Despised of the people”  (Ps. 22:6-8)

2.      Isaiah said, “We hid…our faces from him”  (Isaiah 53:3)

    1. Jesus must even be forsaken by His Father (Ps. 22:1; Matt. 27:46)
    2. Jesus was forsaken so we might never be forsaken.

 

  1. SOULS MUST BE FREED FROM THEIR SINS
    1. Had angels intervened there would have been no gospel.

1.      No gospel would have meant no salvation.

2.      All would be lost—forever without hope.

    1. God’s love kept Jesus on the Cross (Rom. 5:8)

1.      Angels were not summoned so we might be saved.

2.      We can be clean because the angels weren’t called.

CONCLUSION:

The call of Christ is to sinners not to angels.

 

Have you responded to His call of salvation?

1.      Has God been speaking to your heart about your sins?

2.      Have others been talking to you about being right with God?

Will you respond to God’s call?