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Luke 22: 39-44| King James Audio Bible | KJV | King James Version
‘And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the Mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him. And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.’ (Luke 22: 39-44)
Angels In The Old Testament | Meditations On The Love Of Jesus Christ
In the Old Testament, angels are described as celestial beings who act as messengers and servants of God. They appear in various forms, conveying vital messages and instructions to key figures such as Abraham, Moses, the prophets. For instance, the angel who appeared to Hagar in the wilderness provided comfort and guidance (Genesis 16:7-14, KJV):
‘And the angel of the Lord found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur. And he said, Hagar, Sarai’s maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai. And the angel of the Lord said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.’
Angels played a crucial role in the deliverance of God’s people, protecting them from harm, as seen during the exodus from Egypt (Exodus 14:19, KJV):
‘And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face and stood behind them.’
Furthermore, angels are associated with God’s divine judgment, as exemplified in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:1-26, KJV). The belief in angels continued to grow throughout the Old Testament period, shaping the Jewish understanding of God’s intervention in the world and His divine order.
Angels In The Gospels | Love Revealed By Jesus Christ
The presence of angels in the Gospels expressed incarnation of the divine in the person of Jesus Christ. Angels heralded Jesus’ coming, rejoicing in the birth of the Saviour. In the Gospel of Luke, an angel announced to the shepherds, ‘Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord’ (Luke 2:10-11, KJV).
Angels ministered to Jesus during significant moments of his earthly journey. After Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness, angels came and attended to Him (Matthew 4:11, KJV):
‘Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.’
When Jesus faced immense anguish in the Garden of Gethsemane, an angel appeared to strengthen Jesus (Luke 22:43, KJV):
‘And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.’
The presence of the angels underscores profound connection between divine and human, as Jesus, God-Man, experiences the same care and interaction with angels that had been observed throughout the Old Testament.
There is an ongoing dialogue of love within the Trinity of God as through Creation.
Ascension Of Jesus | Love Revealed By Jesus Christ
As Jesus ascended to heaven, two angels appeared to the disciples, comforting them and affirming Jesus’ return (Acts 1:10-11, KJV):
‘And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.’
It is again a moment of again continuity between the Old Testament and the New Testament, as the angels play a pivotal role in witnessing and announcing significant supernatural events.
Powerful Prayer To Jesus With The Angels | Meditations On The Love Of Jesus Christ
Dear Jesus,
I lift my heart to you, knowing that you are both fully divine and fully human, understanding the struggles and joys of our human existence. I thank you for your sacrifice on the cross, offering us the gift of eternal life and reconciliation with our Heavenly Father.
In the company of the angels, I seek your presence, knowing that they too worship and adore you. Just as they proclaimed your birth with joy to the shepherds, may they also lift up my prayers and praises before the throne of God.
Jesus, I ask for your guidance in my life’s journey. Send your angels to surround me and protect me from all harm and evil. Grant me discernment to know your will and the courage to follow it.
Help me to see the beauty of your creation with new eyes, recognizing the angels’ whispers in the rustling leaves and the gentle breeze. Let me be mindful of the angels’ presence, guiding me towards acts of kindness, love, and compassion.
May the angels sing heavenly melodies of praise in your honour, and may I join in that chorus, lifting my voice in worship and thanksgiving. As the angels ministered to you during moments of trial and temptation, I pray for their comfort and strength in times of my own struggles.
Jesus, may the angels be messengers of hope, carrying my prayers to the throne of grace. I pray for healing for the sick, comfort for the grieving, and peace for the troubled hearts.
In moments of doubt, may the angels remind me of your love and the promise of your return. Let them be a constant reminder of heaven, which awaits those who trust in you.
In all things, I surrender my life to your divine will, knowing that your angels are always at your command. Teach me to trust in your providence, and may your angels guard me day and night.
I pray all this in your precious and holy name, Lord Jesus, with the angels as my witnesses, and I place my trust in your infinite grace and mercy.
Amen.
Hagar’s encounter with the angel of the LORD illustrates how God intervenes in the lives of the oppressed and the outcasts. In her moment of desperation, God reached out to her personally, comforting her and providing guidance for her path. Hagar’s response was profound; she acknowledged that God sees her and cares for her well-being. Despite the hardships she faced, Hagar found reassurance in the divine presence, recognizing that God’s plan was at work even in her struggles [ … ]
We are given different accounts of Jesus teaching his disciples the Lord’s Prayer, the Our Father, in today’s verses from the Gospel of Luke, and also in the Gospel of Matthew, during the Sermon on the Mount. Here the situation is quite different from that of Matthew. Jesus has been praying, seemingly apart, to his Father, and so it is after this that the disciples ask Jesus to teach them how to pray. This is unusual: prayer, especially of the psalms, would have been an integral part of these Jewish people’s daily routine. We are alerted to the Lord’s Prayer being an additional offering, an innovation of grace, and a further initiation for the Christian. The prayer furthermore reflects John the Baptist’s teaching of his disciples [ … ]
In this verse, Jesus shares the parable of the lost sheep, emphasizing Jesus’ care and concern for those who have gone astray. Jesus shows us that every individual is precious and worth seeking out, no matter how far they have wandered. This passage invites us to reflect on Jesus’ relentless pursuit of the lost sheep and Jesus’ deep desire to bring the lost sheep back into his fold [ … ]
