A Cute Picture of Jacob's Ladder and some thoughts

by Matthew

What are these angels thinking? What would run through the mind of an angel at such a time?

They look a little curious. They are keeping a slight distance.

The man they look at is hardly elegant in his sleep. No doubt he was dirty and sweaty from his travels. There is a great contrast between their purity and beauty and his own coarseness. Their barefeet gleam as they tread the celestial staircase, in contrast to Jacob's dusty feet.

The second angel up looks excited and is calling to his fellows. Perhaps he is saying:

Look, it's that man.
No, not just any man. The man our Lord is so concerned about. The one He sent us to watch over. Come and have a look at him. Maybe you have some idea what the big deal is about this guy.

Psalm 8
4 what is man, that thou art mindful of him?
and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels,
and hast crowned him with glory and honor.
6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands;
thou hast put all things under his feet:

The angels are wonderful creatures. In their glory and beauty they reflect the wonder and holiness of God.

Yet God is not accomplishing His purpose in establishing His eternal kingdom through angels. No God has chosen to work through humanity and it will be glorified men and women who exercise domminion over the universe when the Son of man puts down all rulers and authorities that oppose His rule. The saints will inherit the earth with Christ, and not only earth but heaven, for they shall judge angels.

God was mindful of that man Jacob. A weak and frail man, lacking in faith and integrity of character.

God loved that man in all his failings. From the ancestry of Jacob came our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ was a man, knowing all the limitations of our weak flesh. He did not take on the beautiful and heavenly flesh of angels, but the flesh of men.

Yet now this man, the risen and ascended Christ is seated in heaven, Lord over all. His flesh is glorified. His humanity now reflects the glory of God as does the flesh of angels.

Those men and women who are in Christ shall one day be brought into that position of heavenly glory. The Christian may feel frail and weak and dirty, yet one day she shall be transformed into the likeness of Christ. In Christ the Christian shall be deified in her flesh. Those Christians who have faithfully served their Lord will inherit all, as He has. They shall rule over multitudes of angels. They will ascend higher than Jacob's ladder.

Do those angels in the picture long to look into these things?