An Angel's Longing
by Glenn A. Hascall
Summary
A monologue that looks at Jesus' time on earth (Christmas to Easter) from
the perspective of an angel who doesn't always understand what is happening
to Jesus.
Characters
Angel
Script
ANGEL: We kept asking if this was time. The answer was always "no".
Perhaps a gentle rebuke, but we watched with fascination as the girl's
stomach swelled. Our Sovereign had taken residence within that blessed
womb. One day soon our Master would assume the flesh of man.
None of us could understand the reason why. However, we were ever alert
should our services be required in this era when everything we had come
to understand was changing.
The girl and her betrothed arrived in Bethlehem seeking refuge.
However, refuge was not to be had. I was quite upset and asked if perhaps
a host of angels might be dispatched to make a palace ready for His arrival.
A splendid palace with servants and the finest clothing and food. Not the
perfection of heaven to be sure, but the best accommodations we could think
of - given the circumstances.
Again we were told, "no."
We watched as the man paced outside the cave waiting for the wail of
new life.
Suddenly, new orders arrived. This was not at all like mortal man receiving
orders from a high ranking official to his subordinates. We knew without
knowing how that we were called to the hills of Judea with a new song to
sing.
Legions of my companions converged on that hillside. We discovered
a menagerie of sheep and a few lonely shepherds guarding the flock. Their
expressions held great apprehension, and I remember calling out, "Do not
be afraid, for I bring you good tidings of great joy, which will be for
all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David, a Savior
which is Christ the Lord."
We told the men where and how they would find - God. Then we sang.
Long glorious notes rippled over the crisp night air. Thousands upon thousands
of us singing as one, "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace and
goodwill to men."
These men will remember our visit. The song they will never remember.
It will simply dance along the edges of their memory but will only be fully
recalled in eternity.
We watched as the shepherds left their flock and hastened to Bethlehem.
I remember telling the girl that she would bear the child whose voice
we are waiting to hear. I remember the shame the man felt when he discovered
her condition and realized that he was not the father. I know the pain
they felt as family shunned them. Yet, our God was about to be born with
human skin.
Why was there a refusal to allow this child to be born in surroundings
more befitting a king? Why must there be the disgrace of such a mangy birth?
Common beasts of burden companions to our King. He rested amid straw in
a cattle trough. Why? We didn’t understand.
Years passed and we watched the infant grow to boyhood. We saw the
boy turn into man and we saw the man tempted by one who was once one of
our own.
He hadn’t eaten in days. The enemy barraged Him with temptations that
would immediately satisfy the needs He has. We were ready for battle -
yet God steadied our indignation and we were made to watch as our Lord
suffered through a temptation not meant for Deity.
Suddenly we heard the words we were longing for, "You may go", and
we raced to our Lord’s side ministering to His needs. We had missed His
presence. We were anxious to take Him home - away from the evil of the
world in which He found Himself. Yet He was determined to stay and we slowly
left Him, wondering what more He must accomplish before He comes home.
A group of men came alongside our God-in-the-flesh, and there was much
rejoicing as many who were blind received their sight, many who were sick
were made well, and those possessed by the adversary were cleansed.
Perhaps God’s plan was to become one of them so that He could set up
an earthly kingdom. This had been hinted at. Indeed the masses glorified
Him, shouting "Hosanna in the highest," as He rode through Jerusalem on
a donkey.
Then came the meal. A solemn affair in which the "twelve" and our Lord
dined together. Yet, this was not the celebration of a conquering king.
Our Lord spoke of His body being broken and His blood being spilled.
"May it never be", I remember saying and was startled to hear similar
statements from the one called Peter. We were told to hold our peace as
soldiers took our Lord away. I watched as the "twelve" scattered like the
sheep on the Judean hillside years before.
After being taken by the soldiers He was beaten, spit on, tufts of
beard were pulled from His beloved face, thorns that He had created were
fashioned into a crown and placed on His head as drops of blood trickled
down His face.
Yet we were made to stand down. There was something happening and we
must wait.
The mockery of a trial. The baiting of a crowd and the walk up a hill,
a cross beam strapped to his shoulders would soon be an instrument of death.
Surely we would be called to save Him soon. Yet we watched as spikes
were driven into flesh - as waves of nausea passed through our Lord, as
precious blood was spilled on earthen clay.
The sky grew dark. Surely we would be called upon soon.
"You must gather sins from the four corners of the world and place
them on His shoulders."
Those were the unbelievable orders. We wanted to refuse but were powerless
to resist.
"Past, present and future - He must bear them all."
Anything but this.
"Now, we must leave Him alone."
And all heaven turned away from Him. And for a time we were made to
endure silence.
Mourning? No there was no mourning in heaven, for this is something
that cannot exist there. Yet we were very somber at such a loss. We did
not understand. We had waited and were willing to help whenever the call
came, yet we were asked to refrain from helping when that was our greatest
desire and we were made to place all the sins of mankind on His shoulders
when He himself had never sinned.
Why this needless sacrifice?
"You must go and be with Him now."
"Be with Him now. In the grave?" I asked.
"Yes."
I went quickly, with another, and we waited outside the cave. Such
joy filled our being as we heard from within, the call of life. He sat
up and smiled at us. The marks of cruelty still held their place on His
body, but He was alive.
Suddenly we understood. Our Lord had deliberately chosen to become
a man and chose the only means possible to pay the forever penelty for
sin. That’s why we had to place the sin throughout all ages of mankind
on Him. He paid the sin debt and He had emerged the victor over death.
We asked if it was time, and He said "Yes" and the angels rejoiced.
……………………………………..
Copyright 2001 by Glenn A. Hascall
If you use this script would you be so kind as to let us know? glenn.hascall<a>gmail.com