An Angel's View

An Angel’s View…
by Margaret Duchrow, Feb, 2010

Oddly, God had left his throne and walked to the edge of heaven. The one and only Lord of all creation was looking down on earth just like the angels tend to do. Angels are always curious about the antics and activities of man, but God always seemed to know what was going on and our excited comments amused but did not surprise Him in the slightest.

This was different. All these days He was watching a boy – a normal human boy, playing and growing. This boy was special. He walked to the temple and spoke with the Rabbis and officials like an equal. Every earthly day the boy grew until one day we looked from the heavenly visage to the earthly face and saw that the boy was so much like God, you would have thought them the same being. This boy was obviously not of man – but absolutely of God. Soon we watched a young man, then a mature man, inspiring and enriching the lives of those around Him.

How joyous the heavens as one by one, and then ten by ten, men turned to God through His only son - the man they knew as Jesus.

But last week, things changed. A dark cloud seemed to develop and hang between heaven and earth. There was joy and cheering as Jesus entered town, but soon it was clear that something had gone terribly wrong. The good feeling and joy had been replaced by anger and bitterness. Jealousy had seized the leaders and fallen angels were dancing in the street.

God watched, not angry or confused. He appeared resigned – nearly emotionless as the scene played itself out…so far below, but it felt so near. We watched and listened. Jesus was in a garden, talking and praying and God softly exhaled and we heard a whisper…it begins.
The sounds of a mob became louder and louder. I saw a kiss…but the sound that echoed through the heavens was a slap. God drew back as if he himself had been struck. He watched the man, his only son, get dragged away and beaten and abused. Those same people who joked and laughed and listened to him a week ago now jeered and shouted in anger – and the words that had united and excited them now infuriated them. Was it the calmness of the man or the truth of his words that they hated?

The earthly shell of Jesus was torn and broken – the human blood of his body running in the streets. Jesus fought the path up to the hill, carrying a cross. God reached down as if wanting to help him carry it, but drew back his hand. God’s face reflected pain yet he did not turn away from Jesus…or ask the angels for help. And we would have helped.
Jesus was nailed to the cross, put on display and left to die a horrible, human death.
He cried out to God, not to condemn the evil that happened – not to save himself from the humiliation and pain…but to forgive those who did not realize what they were doing.

And then, Jesus, with no malice for those around him and recognizing that his time on earth was done, declared…it is finished.
His head bowed and there was no sign of life – no sound – nothing.

God dropped his head and when he raised it again a sound came out. Not a word, but more a roar that was so loud and filled with pain that all in heaven covered their ears…and the reverberation was so great it descended to earth and shook it with unrelenting fury. The heavens closed; blotting out the sun, moon and stars. And God reached out his hand – and with the nail of one finger, slit the curtain of the temple…

We gasped and seeing our surprise, God declared: The barriers have been destroyed forever. The last sign of the separation of God and man is no more. In three days, all doubt will be banished. Those who believe in me, will see that my son is of me and they will know that he is God.
They will take the word to those who didn’t witness what happened here and they will tell them. I will give to all my children what I promised through the prophets and Jesus.
Once again to know…they are my people and I am their God.

And the angels knew that it was over…and just beginning.