Lower than the Angels

“Then let us all with one accord

sing praises to our heavenly Lord,
That hath made heaven
and earth of naught,

and with His blood
mankind has bought.
Noel, born is the King of Israel.”

“The First Noel” by an unknown author

England, ca. 18th century

**Noël means “Christmas” in French

"Angel"
Abbott Thayer
1887

Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God, is the only truly perfectly sinless man who ever lived. He willingly took on every single sin everyone has ever committed or will ever commit, from the most despicable of child abusers and terrorists to that time we spoke unkindly about a person we knew, and every sin ever committed against any of us by both man and nature, and He paid dearly for them all.

Jesus didn't just die for them. He lived for them, too, enduring the results of sin with us as a man lower than the angels, a man lower than any earthly king, a man born in a trough. He suffered for them as a criminal worthy of ridicule and shame like a common thief. He was abandoned by God for them as the worst sinner of us all. A sinner who was no sinner at all... because He loves us that much. Remember that when you're looking in the mirror.

"We see Him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God, He might taste death for everyone." (Hebrews 2:9)

For more on Angels, click here.