Calling – John 1:35-51

And He said to Nathaniel, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you shall see the heavens opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”

One of the ways we discover who we are is through our relationship to others. The others this verse introduces are angels. Who are we in relationship to these supernatural beings? Hebrews 2:6-8 tells us …

For God did not subject to angels the world to come, concerning which we are speaking. But one has testified somewhere saying, “What is a man, that You remember him? Or the son of man, that You are concerned about him? You have made him for a little while lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, and have appointed him over the works of Your hands; You have put all things in subjection under his feet.” For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him.

When men have seen angels, unless they are undercover, they are usually tempted to worship them because they are so resplendent. For a time, we are lower than angels. Yet, after a time, in Christ, we will know a glory of our own. Do we understand we are eternal beings with destinies which match, or exceed, the glory of angels? If this is true, how shall we think of ourselves in this moment?

The scriptures and experience with God lead me to believe that Father thinks of us as more than just sinners saved from damnation. What does this upgrade in identity look like and is it effective now? Or does it await some future dispensation? We can wait and see (which sounds a lot like the burying of a talent) or, we can press on to know the Lord and discover who we actually are, in Christ. We can also keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, at the right hand of God because, when Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then we also will be revealed with Him in glory.

My NAS has angels descending upon Jesus. I checked other translations and they each used “on”. Neither word was creating a useful image. However the NLV came to my rescue …

I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth.

Jesus is the conduit between heaven and earth. Any man who abides in Jesus, who recognizes Christ is his life, by nature, has access to both realms. So many Christians reel at thoughts about themselves that are this grand, “This cannot be! What about sin! I am still a fallen man!” If this is us, we should then pray, “Lord, may it not be done unto me according to my faith.” God’s word will eventually stretch us. It may require some tension for us to keep things in perspective. But ultimately, we must alter our confession to align ourselves with God’s word. We must renew our minds so that we are saying …

I was a fallen man who was buried in Christ and raised, in Him, to newness of life. (Romans 6:4) Today, I am a new creation. The old me, the fallen one, has passed away. (2 Corinthians 5:17) I can boldly access God in his throne room. (Hebrews 4:16) I can enter the holiest place in full assurance of faith. (Hebrews 10:19-22) In Christ, I live blamelessly in God’s presence with great joy. (Jude 24)

A song has come to mind …

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! / Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine! / Heir of salvation, purchase of God, / Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

Refrain: This is my story, this is my song / Praising my Savior all the day long / This is my story, this is my song / Praising my Savior all the day long.

Perfect submission, perfect delight / Visions of rapture now burst on my sight / Angels descending, bring from above / Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

Perfect submission, all is at rest / I in my Savior am happy and blest / Watchng and waiting, looking above / Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

The hour the church realizes who she actually is, in Christ, will be a dark day for the god of this world. This is why, identity in Christ is fundamental equipment for every child of God. When the so-called “called” equip men with the knowledge of their high calling in Christ, there will be cause for rejoicing.

Now to you Father who is able to keep us from stumbling and to present us blameless before the presence of your glory with great joy, to you, the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.