Jesu Juva

“Angels of the Passion: How It All Started”

Text: Genesis 3:1-24; Romans 7:15-25a; John 6:25-35

I couldn’t believe it was happening again! And so soon! Another expulsion. The first time was awful. This time was worse.

Our Father created us angels as warriors. And I have to be honest with you . . . it’s frustrating to see how so many of you think of us angels! I see so many pictures and figurines of angels as soft and feminine, or as fat little babies! You got it all wrong! That’s not us at all. We’re warriors. Fighters. And it’s a good thing our Father made us that way.

At first, I didn’t know why. Everything was peaceful. There was only harmony and unity. You know it. When our Father finished creating everything, it wasn’t just good - it was very good (Genesis 1:31). It couldn’t have be better! It was perfect. Of course. Everything our Father does is perfect.

But I soon found out why our Father created us as warriors . . . when our brothers rebelled. So many of our brothers rose up against our Father. And why? Why? But that’s above my pay grade! As an angel, a good angel, anyway, I do what our Father tells me to do. And we were told to fight! And led by Michael, we did! It was an awful battle, fighting against our now evil brother and those who followed him. But there was no longer any place for them here, so we threw them out, and down to the earth (Revelation 12:7-12). I didn’t think much about it at first, about what that meant, all those evil angels now prowling the earth, and madder than ever since being thrown down from heaven! But we soon found out . . .

But I don’t want to talk about them too much today. I’ll say more next week . . .

But once they were cast down, they didn’t waste any time! They went right to work. Their leader - you call him satan, or the devil; I call him traitor - he went right after the man and woman our Father had made in His own image. He hated all of our Father’s good creation, but especially them. For made in our Father’s image, when he looked at them, he saw our Father, and he was almost exploding with anger and spite. So he took the form of a serpent, the craftiest of all the beasts our Father had made, and attacked.

And I have to give him credit - he was sly! He didn’t act angry. He pretended to be their friend. Help me out . . . just to clarify, Did God really say . . . ? Oh, he knew exactly what God said! I wanted to swoop down right then and there and put a stop to it! Shut him up! But I was not told to do so. And I only ever do what our Father tells me to do.

But oh, he was slick. And seductive. He snaked his way right into Eve’s heart and mind and before I knew it, she was sinking her teeth into that fruit! No! And Adam! Why didn’t you stop her? Why didn’t you speak? Why didn’t you tell the traitor exactly what our Father had told you about this fruit and protect your wife? I don’t understand . . . And then . . . I had only looked away for a moment, but then the fruit was in his hands, and then on his lips, and then in his mouth! No! What are you doing? Why? . . . Why?

And all of a sudden, then were ashamed. Of themselves. Of their beauty, the way God had made them. They covered it up. And then they hid. From our Father! Oh, this was bad. Really bad. This was wrong. Something was really wrong. It was all . . . broken.

But our Father wasn’t mad at them. He spoke kindly to them. He still loved them. He asked them questions to make them confess what they had done. But He didn’t curse them. He cursed that wicked serpent, and He cursed the ground, but He didn’t curse them. There were consequences for what they did, and - you heard! - they wouldn’t be easy. But our Father took care of them. He clothed them.

And that’s when I got the call. Me and a few of my brothers. The call to go down and guard the Garden of Eden. Guard the way to the Tree of Life. Guard it with a flaming sword! The man and woman weren’t allowed back in. They were expelled! Just as my former brothers had been after their rebellion. And now I had to stop them from going back in. That was strange, I have to admit. I was created to serve them, not stop them. But I always do what our Father tells me to do.

But there was a difference in these two expulsions. Because this time, our Father also made them a promise. This wasn’t going to be forever, like with my former brothers. Our Father promised that one day, someone would come from that woman and bruise the serpent’s head. He would be injured in the process - His heel would be bruised. But the damage inflicted would be far worse than the damage endured. So though my former brother had won this battle, he was going to lose the war. Our Father was going to set things right again.

So until He did, they couldn’t go back in and eat from the Tree of Life. It wasn’t so much punishment as it was protection. Our Father had something wonderful in mind. Oh, He is so loving! So kind! So while it was strange having to stop them, I was looking forward to seeing what our Father would do next. And He didn’t disappoint! I know my brother Gabriel came before and told you that story* . . . when God sent His own Son to be that one from the woman, who would set things right again.

And did He! I don’t really like talking about the two expulsions, but I love telling this story! And I’ll tell you the rest soon. But tonight, tonight I have to tell you about how our Father planted a new Tree of Life! Yes, a new one! I heard you just sing about it, in fact. About how our Father turned the cross that Jesus was hung on - the cross meant to shame and humiliate Him like a criminal; the cross that took His life away! Our Father turned it around! He turned it into a tree that now gives life. Here’s what you sang - the words were so beautiful! . . .

Now from that tree of Jesus’ shame Flows life eternal in His name;

For all who trust and will believe, Salvation’s living fruit receive.

And of this fruit so pure and sweet The Lord invites the world to eat,

To find within this cross of wood The tree of life with ev’ry good (LSB #561 v. 4).

And the Apostle John wrote about it, too. How Jesus said that He would give the food that endures to eternal life, and then said, I am the bread of life. You see what our Father did? Your parents took a perfect and wonderful Garden and horribly broke it, and then when Jesus took upon Himself all the sin and brokenness of the world, He turned a horrible cross into a wonderful Tree of Life! Our Father hung His Son on a new tree to be new food that gives new life. So the cross is the tree which again gives life to the world. And there are no angel guards stopping anyone from coming. Everyone is invited to come and eat from this Tree of Life and live forever. I told you our Father had something wonderful in mind!

Which is good for you all, because I see you acting just like your parents. Our Father has told you what to do and not do, what is good and not good, where life is and where it is not, but my former brothers attack you just as they did Eve. And they’re slick and sly, they lie and deceive, they’re seductive and persuasive, and I look and see you biting into all kinds of forbidden fruits! And I’ve seen it for a very long time now. With the same results. The sin and shame, the destruction and guilt. It’s bad. It’s wrong. It’s why you and this whole world are broken. And you try to hide it, but you can’t. And you try to cover it up, but our Father knows. And I know you’re like the Apostle Paul - he struggled with this, too. He did what he didn’t want to do, and and he didn’t do what he knew he should. Until he said, Ack! Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?

But to answer that question, our Father didn’t send angels, but prophets, and apostles, and pastors, who point you to Jesus, to the new Tree of Life, and proclaim: that’s who delivers you through His death and resurrection. Yes, Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! But it’s okay that I don’t get to proclaim that. Our Father keeps me busy enough! Continuing the fight, continuing to protect you from my evil former brothers. ‘Cuz they’re still out there, and they still hate you, and they’re still attacking you. But they can’t have you. Our Father isn’t mad at you. He loves you. And He has life for you. In Jesus. In His new Tree of Life. Come, take and eat, and live forever.

Oh, I can’t wait to tell you more! It’s such a great story. But it’ll have to wait until next week! I have work to do. So for now, signing off . . .

In the Name of the Father, and of the (+) Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

* - See Advent 2018 Midweek Sermon series: The Christmas Story (as told by the angel Gabriel).