To this day, it’s still one of the most vivid dreams I can remember having.
I was in my early 30s and was back in my hometown working for my hometown newspaper. But the dream wasn’t about work.
See if this one makes you think a little bit. …
My dream featured me inside the tomb where Jesus was buried after his crucifixion – and after he had been raised from the dead on the third day in victory over sin and death.
I was sitting where Jesus was laid, his linens next to me and the stone rolled away.
I was the angel who told the ladies visiting the grave that first Easter morning that Jesus had risen.
Mark 16: “Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen.
“And they said among them selves, ‘Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?’
“But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away – for it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.
“But he said to them, ‘Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples – and Peter – that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.’”
In my dream, I was that young man clothed in the long white robe sitting on the right side. I was that angel.
And what a message!
I remain in awe to this day that I had that dream. There really wasn’t much more to it that I remember. It was short and sweet – very, very sweet.
Today is Good Friday – the day we remember our Lord Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross. Jesus was sinless and he preached the good news of the gospel to everyone who would listen. He talked about being the way, the truth and the life, and his ultimate message was that everyone who believes in Him will have eternal life.
It all centers on John 3:16. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Jesus died an ugly death on that cross – and he died for you, me and everyone. And the salvation we receive if we truly believe in Him as our risen savior is a free gift. We can’t earn it. We can only receive it.
Faith.
And as horrific a death Jesus experienced for us on Good Friday, His resurrection is truly awesome. He is the good news, the savior of the world.
And, we’re all supposed to do as that angel did on Easter morning. “Go, tell …”
It’s the Great Commission.
Easter Sunday is the holiest of days in the Christian calendar and it’s what we base our faith on as Christians. Jesus paid the price for our sins by dying on the cross for us, and he was raised in victory over those sins and death.
We celebrate that on Sunday. There is no better message. This is it.
And all we have to do is truly believe in Him.
John 14:6: “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’”
Amen.
And I dreamed I was right there, in that tomb, telling those women He had risen.
Of course, I fail miserably in real life as a man of faith, a born-again Christian. Yes, I’m a true believer and my place in heaven is secure.
But, I sin and fall short of the glory of God. I don’t spend enough time talking to Him. I don’t spend enough time in His word. I don’t spend enough time doing what He instructs me to do. I don’t spend enough time going and telling.
But God forgives. God listens. He leads the way, and as long as I don’t stumble over myself trying to follow, or worse yet try to lead myself through life, I’m always going to be good – no matter what life throws at me.
That’s a tough thing to remember, and follow. But it’s the greatest message of all.
Through the saving grace of Jesus, who died on that cross at Calvary, I’m always going to be OK.
But I still need to go, tell … And so do we all.
Happy Easter. May we all remember the true meaning of this special and glorious holiday as we enjoy everything else it brings.
And may God continue to bless us.
As always, thanks for reading.
Comment
Comments