Key Scripture: Exodus 12:12-13; Luke 2:10-11; John 1:29
Introduction: A View of Christmas From the Unexpected Tonight, let us explore Christmas from a perspective many have likely never considered: the Angel of Death. This celestial being, sent by God to execute the final plague upon Egypt in Exodus, plays no direct role in the nativity story—or does it? Through reflection, we will see how even this feared messenger is silenced and awed by the birth of Christ, the Lamb of God, who conquers death itself!
1. The Angel of Death’s Mission in Egypt: Judgment and Deliverance
The Angel of Death in Exodus 12 came as an agent of divine justice, carrying out the plague that claimed the lives of the firstborn in Egypt. However, the angel’s sword paused wherever the blood of the lamb marked the doorposts, symbolizing God’s provision for salvation.
Illustration: Imagine the Angel of Death standing silently as he sees the blood—his mission restrained by God’s mercy. He is a witness not just to death but also to God’s power to save.
Application: Just as the angel recognized the blood’s power to protect, humanity today must realize that the blood of Jesus shields us from eternal death. This angel’s mission was only a shadow of what was to come.
2. The Angel of Death Observes Bethlehem: The Birth of the True Lamb
Fast forward to Bethlehem. The Angel of Death, if watching, would have seen something miraculous: not the judgment he was known for, but the arrival of the One who would take the judgment of the world upon Himself.
Luke 2:10-11: “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord.”
Instead of fear, we hear the cry of life—the newborn cry of a Savior.
Illustration: Imagine the Angel of Death hearing the angelic host proclaim, “Glory to God in the highest.” For the first time, his mission to judge is rendered irrelevant by a mission to redeem.
3. The Angel of Death at the Cross: Fulfillment and Defeat
The Angel of Death would later observe the ultimate fulfillment of his own limitation. On the cross, Jesus became the Lamb of God, taking the judgment of humanity upon Himself. This was not a postponement of death but the death of death itself.
John 1:29: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
Through Jesus’ sacrifice, death lost its sting. The angel who once brought judgment would now bear witness to eternal life offered through the cross.
Illustration: The veil in the temple was torn at Jesus’ death, signifying direct access to God. If the Angel of Death had a voice, it might say, “My power ends here, where Christ’s sacrifice begins.”
4. A Modern Reflection: What Does the Angel of Death See Today?
If this being, charged with executing God’s judgment, could observe our world, what would he see now? Likely, he would see a world in spiritual death, marked by sin, distraction, and division. But he would also see the enduring light of the Gospel.
Illustration: Imagine the Angel of Death standing at the threshold of a modern home where a family celebrates Christmas. Would he see evidence of Christ’s blood—faith in action—or a home where materialism has replaced meaning?
Application: Let us mark the doorposts of our hearts and homes with faith, living as though the Lamb of God’s birth, death, and resurrection are our guiding truths.
Closing Comments: The Angel of Death’s Silence
The Angel of Death has no dominion where the Lamb of God reigns. His perspective, though rarely imagined, underscores the power of Christmas: God incarnate, defeating judgment and offering grace.
Illustration: C.S. Lewis wrote in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe that death itself would begin to work backward when the true King arrived. Christmas is the start of that reversal.
Conclusion: A Call to Respond: This Christmas, let us honor the Lamb of God who came as a baby to save us. Mark your life with His presence so that His blood will speak for you when the final judgment comes.
Prayer: “Lord Jesus, we thank You for coming as the Lamb of God to take away our sins. Help us live in the power of Your victory over death, sharing this good news with others. Amen.”
Resources and Comments:
Scriptural Insights: The parallels between the Passover lamb (Exodus) and Jesus as the Lamb of God (John) are rich in meaning.
Cultural Application: In a time when death seems pervasive—be it through pandemics, violence, or despair—Christmas offers the ultimate hope: life through Christ.
Recommended Reading: The Cross of Christ by John Stott and Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis.
This perspective reshapes how we view Christmas: not merely as the birth of a child but as the first step in the ultimate defeat of death itself.
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