The Truth about Angels, Ellen G. White [free e novels .txt] 📗

remove, and it would have obeyed His voice. He could have bidden the angels who were close by His side to do this. At His bidding, invisible hands would have removed the stone. But it was to be taken away by human hands. Thus Christ would show that humanity is to cooperate with divinity. What human power can do divine power is not summoned to do.—The Desire of Ages, 535. {TA 190.3}

Jesus Hunted From City to City During His Ministry

Jesus was hunted from place to place during His ministry. Priests and rulers were on His track. They misrepresented His mission and labor. He came unto His own and His own received Him not. Angels watched the conflict at every step. They saw the spirit and work of the enemy. They looked with amazement upon the devices of Satan against the divine Son of God. They saw that he who had only been second to Jesus in power and glory had fallen so low that he could influence men to hunt the steps of Christ from city to city.—The Signs of the Times, November 25, 1889. {TA 190.4}

Again and again He [Jesus] would have been killed had it not been for the heavenly angels who attended Him and guarded His life until the time when the case of the Jews as a nation should be decided.—The Review and Herald, October 12, 1897. {TA 191.1}

 

Chapter 16—Angels From Christ’s Passion Until His Death

Chapter 16—Angels From Christ’s Passion Until His Death

Jesus and His Disciples Go to Gethsemane

In company with His disciples, the Saviour slowly made His way to the garden of Gethsemane. The Passover moon, broad and full, shone from a cloudless sky.... As they approached the garden, the disciples had marked the change that came over their Master. Never before had they seen Him so utterly sad and silent. As He proceeded, this strange sadness deepened.... {TA 192.1}

Near the entrance to the garden, Jesus left all but three of the disciples, bidding them pray for themselves and for Him. With Peter, James, and John, He entered its secluded recesses.... {TA 192.2}

“Tarry ye here,” He said, “and watch with Me.” {TA 192.3}

He went a little distance from them ... and fell prostrate upon the ground. He felt that by sin He was being separated from His Father. The gulf was so broad, so black, so deep, that His spirit shuddered before it.... {TA 192.4}

As Christ felt His unity with the Father broken up, He feared that in His human nature He would be unable to endure the coming conflict with the powers of darkness. In the wilderness of temptation the destiny of the human race had been at stake. Christ was then conqueror. Now the tempter had come for the last fearful struggle. For this he had been preparing during the three years of Christ’s ministry. Everything was at stake with him. If he failed here, his hope of mastery was lost; the kingdoms of the world would finally become Christ’s; he himself would be overthrown and cast out. But if Christ could be overcome, the earth would become Satan’s kingdom, and the human race would be forever in his power. With the issues of the conflict before Him, Christ’s soul was filled with dread of separation from God. Satan told Him that if He became the surety for a sinful world, the separation would be eternal.... {TA 192.5}

In its hardest features Satan pressed the situation upon the Redeemer: The people who claim to be above all others in temporal and spiritual advantages have rejected You.... One of Your own disciples ... will betray You. One of Your most zealous followers will deny You. All will forsake You.... {TA 193.1}

In His agony He clings to the cold ground, as if to prevent Himself from being drawn farther from God.... From His pale lips comes the bitter cry, “O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me.” Yet even now He adds, “Nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt.”—The Desire of Ages, 685-687. {TA 193.2}

Angels in Gethsemane

The heavenly universe had watched with intense interest the entire life of Christ—every step from the manger to the present awful scene. And what a scene was this for ten thousand times ten thousands of angels, of cherubim and seraphim, to look upon.—The Signs of the Times, December 9, 1897. {TA 193.3}

Angels were hovering over the place [Gethsemane], witnessing the scene.—Spiritual Gifts 1:47. {TA 194.1}

They beheld the Son of God, their loved Commander, in His superhuman agony apparently dying on the field of battle to save a lost and perishing world. All heaven had listened to that prayer of Christ. {TA 194.2}

His soul agony, which three times forced from His pale and quivering lips the cry, “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt,” convulsed all heaven. They saw their Lord inclosed by legions of Satanic forces, His human nature weighed down with a shuddering, mysterious dread.—The Signs of the Times, December 9, 1897. {TA 194.3}

The angels who had done Christ’s will in heaven were anxious to comfort Him; but it was beyond their power to alleviate His sorrow. They had never felt the sins of a ruined world, and they beheld with astonishment the object of their adoration subject to a grief beyond all expression. Though the disciples had failed to sympathize with their Lord in the trying hour of His conflict, all heaven was full of sympathy and waiting the result with painful interest.— The Present Truth, December 3, 1885 par. 9. {TA 194.4}

Thrice the prayer for deliverance had been wrung from His [Christ’s] lips. Heaven had been unable to longer endure the sight, and had sent a messenger of consolation to the prostrate Son of God, fainting and dying under the accumulated guilt of the world.—The Present Truth, February 18, 1886. {TA 194.5}

In the supreme crisis, when heart and soul are breaking under the load of sin, Gabriel is sent to strengthen the divine Sufferer, and brace Him to tread His bloodstained path.—The Signs of the Times, December 9, 1897. {TA 195.1}

In this awful crisis, when everything was at stake, when the mysterious cup trembled in the hand of the Sufferer, the heavens opened, a light shone forth amid the stormy darkness of the crisis hour, and the mighty angel who stands in God’s presence, occupying the position from which Satan fell, came to the side of Christ. The angel came not to take the cup from Christ’s hand, but to strengthen Him to drink it, with the assurance of the Father’s love.... {TA 195.2}

The sleeping disciples had been suddenly awakened by the light surrounding the Saviour. They saw the angel bending over their prostrate Master. They saw him lift the Saviour’s head upon his bosom, and point toward heaven. They heard his voice, like sweetest music, speaking words of comfort and hope.... Again the disciples in their weariness yield to the strange stupor that overpowers them. Again Jesus finds them sleeping. {TA 195.3}

Looking sorrowfully upon them He says, “Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.” {TA 195.4}

Even as He spoke these words, He heard the footsteps of the mob in search of Him, and said, “Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.” {TA 195.5}

No traces of His recent agony were visible as Jesus stepped forth to meet His betrayer. Standing in advance of His disciples He said, “Whom seek ye?” They answered, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus replied, “I am He.”—The Desire of Ages, 693, 694. {TA 196.1}

It was in the power of Christ to deliver Himself. When He spoke the words, “I am He,” immediately angels surrounded Him, and that throng had all the evidence they could or would have that Christ was the power of God.—This Day With God, 267. {TA 196.2}

It was difficult for the angels to endure the sight. They would have delivered Jesus ... but the commanding angels forbade them.... Jesus knew that angels were witnessing the scene of His humiliation.... The feeblest angel could have caused that multitude to fall powerless, and deliver Jesus.—Spiritual Gifts 1:50, 51. {TA 196.3}

The angel who had lately ministered to Jesus moved between Him and the mob. A divine light illuminated the Saviour’s face, and a dovelike form overshadowed Him. In the presence of this divine glory, the murderous throng could not stand for a moment. They staggered back. Priests, elders, soldiers, and even Judas, fell as dead men to the ground.... But quickly the scene changed.—The Desire of Ages, 694, 695. {TA 196.4}

The angel withdrew, and left Jesus standing calm and self-possessed, with the bright beams of the moon upon His pale face, and still surrounded by prostrate, helpless men, while the disciples were too much amazed to utter a word. As the angel removes, the hardened Roman soldiers start to their feet, and, with the priest and Judas, they gather about Christ as though ashamed of their weakness, and fearful that He would yet escape out of their hands.—The Signs of the Times, August 21, 1879. {TA 196.5}

The disciples had thought that their Master would not suffer Himself to be taken.... They were disappointed and indignant as they saw the cords brought forward to bind the hands of Him whom they loved. Peter in his anger rashly drew his sword and ... cut off an ear of the high priest’s servant. When Jesus saw what was done, He released His hands, ... and saying, “Suffer ye thus far,” He touched the wounded ear, and it was instantly made whole. He then said to Peter, “Put up again thy sword into his place: ... Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He shall presently give Me more than twelve legions of angels?”—The Desire of Ages, 696. {TA 197.1}

As these words were spoken, the countenances of the angels were animated. They wished then, and there, to surround their Commander, and disperse that angry mob. But again sadness settled upon them as Jesus added, But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be? The hearts of the disciples sunk again in despair and bitter disappointment, as Jesus suffered them [the mob] to lead Him away.—Spiritual Gifts 1:48. {TA 197.2}

Before the Court of Annas and Caiaphas

Christ was to be tried formally before the Sanhedrin; but before Annas He was subjected to a preliminary trial.... {TA 197.3}

When the council had assembled in the judgment hall, Caiaphas took his seat as presiding officer.... As Caiaphas ... looked upon the prisoner, he was struck with admiration for His noble and dignified bearing. A conviction came over him that this Man was akin to God. The next instant he scornfully banished the thought.—The Desire of Ages, 698, 703, 704. {TA 198.1}

All heaven saw the cruel work done to Christ. In the dreadful scenes transacted in the judgment hall, God showed to the heavenly universe the spirit that would be manifested by those that are unwilling to yield obedience to His law.—Manuscript Releases 12:412. {TA 198.2}

It was difficult for the angels to endure the sight. They would have delivered Jesus out of [the] hands [of His inquisitors]; but the commanding angels forbade them.... Jesus knew that angels were witnessing the scene of His humiliation. {TA 198.3}

There stood Jesus, meek and humble