You probably know the Old Testament story of Jacob’s Ladder. After stealing Esau’s birthright, Jacob leaves home. Might Esau come to kill him? What’s ahead? He has a dream “and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it!” (Genesis 28:12). That’s all the text says about these angels. Are they window dressing?
Over a thousand years later, north of where Jacob had his dream, Nathanael was introduced to Jesus. Nathanael was skeptical about Jesus, until Jesus said, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” “Rabbi,” said Nathanael, “you are the Son of God!” Jesus responded, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man” (John 1:43-51).
Jesus is Jacob’s Ladder. From heaven, the realm of the unseen, Jesus descended to be born, live, die, and rise again for us. Today from the realm of the unseen, the Spirit of Jesus comes to us in His Word and Sacraments and lifts our devotional thoughts to heaven; “we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen” (2 Corinthians 4:18). “From whence He will come to judge the living and the dead.” On that day we will ascend, up the ladder, so to speak, body and soul, to be with God forever. Jesus is Jacob’s Ladder.
The angels are not window dressing. They are more than invisible creatures to take care of little children. “…the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” The angels announced Jesus’ birth, were there when He was tempted by Satan, were present on Easter, at the Ascension, and will be with Jesus on the Last Day when He is revealed in all His glory. Angels are part of the invisible creation who marvel at God’s coming to us in Jesus, “things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look” (1 Peter 1:12).
“Therefore, with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify your glorious name…” Today is the Day of St. Michael and All Angels.
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