Angels Had to Wait.

Jesus could have called on legions of angels at His crucifixion, but He didn’t. The angels had to wait for another day. Brian explains.

Angels Had To Wait

In the Gospel of Mark, dozens of times it emphasizes how far the fame of Jesus spread:

“His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee.”

“The whole city was gathered together at the door.”

“Everyone is looking for You.”

Words like “astonishment”, “fame” and “marveling” at His greatness show up again and again. But after the middle of Mark, there are only two references to crowds until we come to the cross, where the crowds are not there to praise Him but to persecute him. No “astonishment”, no “fame”, no “marveling” at His greatness. The king has come to the cross.

Journey to the Cross

Mark 15:22 records,

“And they brought him to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull).”

Jesus’ journey to the cross is along a road now known as La Via Dolorosa, “The Way of Suffering”. The crossbeam, weighing as much as 100 pounds, is placed on his injured shoulders. An officer carries a wooden sign describing Jesus’ so-called crime:

“Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews”.

(John 19: 19)

Jesus is led on the long route to Calvary so that as many people as possible will learn the lesson of what happens to Rome’s enemies.

Mark 15:23 states,

“And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it.” 

Mark 15:23

Jesus refuses to have his pain blocked by this drink. He will experience the cross fully. He will not use his supernatural powers to shield himself or drive off his tormentors.

Angels Await

Thousands of angels wait for Jesus to call them to annihilate every human enemy. At the battle of Sennacherib, the Angel of the Lord single-handedly killed 185,000 Assyrians in one night. (2 Kings 19:35)

Jesus himself said he could have called 12 legions of angels – that’s 72,000 such creatures. Imagine what they could have done at Calvary. But the legions are not called.

Michael and Daniel

Michael and the angel who fought his way past the Persian prince in order to help Daniel, remain at their post. They responded to Daniel’s prayers, but there is no prayer for help from Jesus. (Daniel 10:13) Gabriel, who responded to Daniel’s pleas for mercy because he was greatly beloved, would not be coming to relieve to the one who is God’s only, well-beloved Son. (Daniel 9:23)

The angel of the Lord who wiped out the Assyrian army does not execute the Roman executioners. The cherubim who stood at the gate of Eden with a flaming sword (Gen 3:2) leave their swords in their sheaths; then they watch as Jesus reopens Eden paradise to the thief on the cross.

The Captain of Our Salvation

No angelic being comes. No Seraph. No Cherub. They will need to wait 3 days till some of them will be stationed at an empty tomb to announce that this crucified Jesus is alive. At his birth, the angels announced “Surprise – he is here!” At his empty tomb, they announce, “Surprise – he is not here!”

Until then, the captain of our salvation, the Lord Jesus Christ, would endure the cross alone. In that one act of sacrifice he would bear the punishment alone.  When he was done, he could say, “It is finished.” Finished – He completed the work his Father gave him to do. Finished – He fulfilled every prophecy of the promised messiah. Finished – He paid the debt for sin in full. Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Have you experienced persecution? What did you do?  Contact us at HopeStreamRadio,  or comment below.