We sang the anthem “Praise the name of the Lord our God” in church the other day and a vivid picture began to form in my mind …
Imagine the scene in Heaven, while Jesus stands bound in front of Pilate, the angel armies stand ready to swoop down at a word and destroy the whole earth in order to rescue him. Legions of angels stand at attention, watching and waiting, while their Commander stands silent before his accusers.
Pilate offers the crowd their choice of prisoner and a murmur of anger and disbelief sweeps through the ranks as the people call out for Barrabas. Still the command does not come, the angels can only watch as Jesus is handed over to be flogged. Their spear tips quiver with suppressed fury at each stroke of the lash, their boots scuff the ground as they unconsciously prepare to charge, they heft their shields into position, visors snap down, surely now the trumpet will sound and the forces of heaven will be released?
But no, the order is not given, there will be no last minute rescue, they will not be entering this battle, this time the Commander is fighting alone.
As he is nailed to the cross and hangs there, naked and bleeding, the shields lower, the army goes from a state of readiness to a shocked stillness. Great tears rolls down the faces of these warriors of light, their shoulders heave with weeping as they watch him die alone. Heaven turns away and the earth isplunged into darkness as he cries out “It is finished!” and gives up his spirit.
For a long, long time, silence falls. Then another sound is heard, far away, but getting louder and more confident. They recognise the voice of their fallen brother as Lucifer laughs and they stand helpless.
But wait, what sound is this?
From the depths of hell the screaming of the damned is replaced by cheering, the sound of crashing metal and falling masonry interrupts the devil’s laughter as the gates of hell are broken asunder and the captives are freed to flee to the light.
Now it is the turn of Satan and his dark minions to stand silent, open mouthed and dumbfounded, as the Victorious King strides out of hell itself and reverses the curse of death and darkness.
The angel at the gates of Eden lays down his flaming sword at the feet of the Prince of Peace and the Son of Man comes to present the blood of sacrifice at the mercy seat of the Ancient of Days. Only the pure offering of a sinless sacrifice can be accepted to wipe away the sins of the world, only Love, pure and whole, can defeat fear and hatred and even death itself.
The sacrifice is accepted, the Father smiles on his beloved Son, who now returns to the tomb he needs no more to reveal himself to his followers. The stone rolls away, the guards fall back from the glory of heaven as the Resurrected King steps away from his discarded grave clothes and the angels roar!
Their victory song resounds through the heavens, swords and spears beat on shields, feet stamp and voices ring out the anthem of praise to Christ the King.
“Worthy is the Lamb!” they cry
“Holy, holy, holy!” the redeemed from hell join in
“Hosanna in the Highest” through the ages the voices of the saints join the chorus. Two thousand years and they are still singing, joined in heaven and on earth by all he came to save.
Our victorious Saviour, risen and glorified, restored to the right hand of the Father, to whom be glory and honour and power through all eternity. Amen.
Into the Word 