I am finding myself so much more emotional this CHRISTmas. I know it will probably only get worse as the years go on and I have my own babies and such. Each year I find God stirring my heart in new ways at this time of year. Last year, I was just completely fascinated with Joseph. The fact that he chose to stay and raise a son, even though I am sure he faced so much criticism, amazes me. This year for some reason my brain has centered on the angels. I heard David Phelps's rendition of "O Holy Night"** side note- Google his version. I love him anyway but I bought a CD with it on it the other day and weeped driving down the road. The song and man moved me to tears. SO beautiful.** and I got stuck thinking about the line that says, "Fall on your knees, Oh, hear the angel voices". That statement got me to thinking about the angels and what was going through their minds as Christ was born. Do you think they knew that Jesus was going to have to die such a painful death? I know they knew He had to come to earth to save mankind, but do you think they knew the exact plan? If so, do you think that they begged and pleaded for God to do something different? The angels showed up on earth praising Jesus, but they do not elude to Him dying. Maybe they did not know. Maybe they were so excited because they had been waiting to see it happen, and it finally had. OR maybe they did know. Maybe after much struggling with the fact that the Son of God that they spent day in and day out serving and worshiping had to come to earth to die to save mankind, maybe then they just said "our job is to praise and that is what we will do." I am sure they knew that God's ways were far above their own and that He had it under control, but I would imagine that it did not make it any easier. I can imagine they watched over Him his whole life. As he learned to walk, they guarded to make sure Jesus did not hit his head too hard. As he wandered away from Mary and Joseph, maybe they guided him to the Temple. As He prayed that the cup could pass over Him, if angels hear prayers, I am guessing they pleaded fervently with God to let it pass from Him. As he was arrested and beaten, they watched through clinched eyes. Begged to be allowed to go rescue him. Listened intently for the slightest peep to come from His bloodied lips that would signal that they could attack. I know that there is no weeping in Heaven, but I would imagine if God is in the process of atoning for all the sins of the world, and God Himself was laying down his life....I am guessing Heaven was pretty somber in that moment. But OH, the moment that Jesus said, "It is finished." and that curtain tore. The minute THE HOLY OF HOLIES became accessible to everyone, I am guessing the angels sitting on the edge of their seat and then chest bumping each other and shouting and high fiving. You know they got a little antsy. They knew what was foretold. They knew that curtain being torn and what all it symbolized was just beginning. I would imagine it was maybe the longest 3 earthly days they ever struggled through. Maybe they got to hang with Him before He arose again. Maybe they did preparations for when He was going to arise. I have no idea what Heaven was like for those 3 days. Maybe it was still somber. The fact was Jesus was still "dead." But OH MY! to be an angel on Sunday morning. They were the first ones to see Him alive. 2 of them got the job of sitting in the tomb to tell the women!! Can't you just imagine the excitement of those two. How they probably wanted to shout it from the rooftops but they just sat there and waited. The party that happened in Heaven on that morning was something that I believe is still happening right now! I cannot wait to experience it and get in on it. The angels just got in on it first!
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