Wednesday, March 9, 2016

The Dream State And The Cross

I had an interesting night with some very fun unique dreams I can't remember having before. I wrote down a few sentences of what they were about on a piece of paper knowing that what I was writing might not make sense to me later. Dreams are like that. They make sense to the sleeping mind but not the wakeful one.

It makes me think of this portion of scripture.

"Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and SPOKE OF HIS DEPARTURE, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, 'Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah' - not knowing what he said. As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, 'This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!' And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen. On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. And behold, a man from the crowd cried out, 'Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child. And behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out. It convulses him so that he foams at the mouth, and shatters him, and will hardly leave him. And I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.' Jesus answered, 'O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.' While he was coming, the demon threw him to the ground and convulsed him. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. And all were astonished at the majesty of God. But while they were all marveling at everything he was doing, Jesus said to his disciples, 'Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is ABOUT TO BE DELIVERED INTO THE HANDS OF MEN.' But they did not understand this saying, and it was concealed from them, so that they might not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying." - Luke 9:28-45 ESV

The mountain must have seemed like dream to them and the valley was very much a reality. It was almost as if Peter spoke from the contents of his heart that was still in bondage and the dream state was broken.

I capitalized a couple of statements in the narrative above because they speak to me this morning. The content of what Jesus said to Moses and Elijah was the same as what he spoke to Peter and His disciples. The difference was that Moses and Elijah were in a different place and had a different vantage point. Jesus could have a real conversation with them about the cross but the conversation he had with them just made the disciples sleepy. Then when He talked to Peter and the rest of the disciples later they still did not understand and avoided the subject.

Knowledge of the cross was concealed from them like the dream is concealed from the mind that is awake to the pressures and harsh realities of life.

"But Jesus called them to him, saying, 'Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.' " - Luke 18:16-17 ESV

Jesus is innocent. He isn't naive. He is wise and deals with the harshest of realities in innocence.

Peter was an adult and spoke like an adult. He wanted something to do so that he could frame his identity by his actions and all it did was pull him out of Heaven's conversation.

Heaven's conversation involves the cross. He spoke on the mountain as if it was behind him. It was His point of departure. We can say that also if we have believed. We have passed from death into life because of it. We have traveled through it with Christ.

For those who haven't believed the cross is in front of them. Maybe it puts them to sleep or maybe they avoid it because it is a conversation they would rather postpone.

Either way... It must be our message.

"For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." - 1 Corinthians 1:17-18 ESV

One day we will be on Moses and Elijah's side of life. We will see Jesus aflame in all His glory and we won't want to take a nap. We won't need to sleep. We will live the waking dream of heroes and kings.

Thank you God. We have hope for a good awakening someday. Please let our mind reflect that glory now in the details of life we all have to face. You are so good to us.

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