The prophets…searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. (1 Peter 1:10-11, NIV)
Since the beginning of time God has been speaking about how he would deliver men and women from the curse of evil. He spoke about it on the day Adam and Eve were evicted from the garden.
Then God spoke about this deliverance through the prophets. They knew that somebody would come, that this person would suffer, and that afterwards they would be surrounded in glory. The prophets longed to know more, but they only saw it from a distance. Then Peter tells us that even angels long to look into these things (1:12).
Imagine an angel watching the Son of God leave heaven, and take on human flesh as he is born as a baby. The Son of God never became an angel; he became a man. Angels are servants of God and they see the glory of God, but they know nothing of being indwelt by the Spirit of God.
Peter says angels long to look into these things. They cannot begin to imagine what it’s like for the Spirit of God to live in you. They cannot imagine what it must be like to know that the Son of God has made himself one with you.
Peter is saying, “You’ve got the real deal!” You have received what others have longed for. Prophets looked for this; angels longed for this. They wanted it; you’ve got it!
Do you see the breathtaking privilege of being a Christian?
