if life is but a dream, why does Mikey like it?
I had a terrifying dream last night—and one feature that bothers me about the dream is that it seems to have lasted the entire night. I woke a few times in the course of the evening; yet, when falling asleep again, the dream simply continued without interruption. Another feature of the dream is that it was disturbing. Very disturbing. A bad dream? No, disturbing—more than bad.
I’ve wondered throughout the day if it was really a vision more than a dream. It was vivid, enduring, consistent over time and I remember it—which indeed is significant as I seldom remember any dream altogether.
Whether dream or vision I don’t understand what it means nor do I understand what I am to do with it.
One co-worker of mine tells me that dreams have significant in Pakistan. She recounted to me the occasion of a man to whom her husband was sharing the gospel. Being the good Muslim, he would talk and listen but would not submit to Christ. One day the man came and shared a dream he had the previous night.
The man said he saw a figure standing before him with long, white flowing robes. In the Middle East this is not unusual, so he was pressed for more information. The man then described the figure with white hair and eyes of fire. Excitedly, the man was asked, “what did the figure say?” Now this got the man’s deeper attention as he had not mentioned anything the dream-figure said or did. The man recounted how the figure told him to listen to all he heard from this missionary, for what he said was truth. Sadly, we do not know if the man ever made a decision for Christ.
Most dreams, if remembered, are generally disregarded as they have little or no significance. Even if I did remember one of my dreams, I am certainly able to retain no details worth analysis.
I have made a note to self: explore the character of biblical dreams and visions. It seems that visions contain more detail than dreams, though both contain communication from God.
My dream was of my torture and execution.
For some reason I had been convicted and arrested and was to be killed. There were arguments over my captors (guards?) as to whether I should be shot or hanged. They settled on the latter—though I remember distinctly asking for a bullet to the head.
Details of the dream (vision?) I am able to recount but will not. To say the least I was continually bound hand and foot and the noose was placed around my neck. I was constantly and slowly hoisted into the air for period of time and was the recipient of acts of brutality I cannot report.
Sometimes I was ushered from cell to cell, from one place to another—sometimes to say goodbye to family (though I never saw my wife and children) and friends or be tormented by my holders.
At the end of it all I finally awoke with the expected feelings of panic and relief. I also had the distinct impression of Jesus saying to me, “you could never know what I did for you.” (This is why I am convinced that Mel Gibson’s movie was not as gory as it could have been).
Now, what am I supposed to do with this? Obviously, I have conceded to interpret the dream according the statement I believe Jesus wanted me to consider.
For one thing, life was miserable (to say the least) on death row. Jesus was never on death row—He was on death LIFE.
It should go without saying that each person lives until he dies. I don’t know how many people live with death in mind—I know I certainly don’t. I remember spending one semester in College taking a course on “Death and Dying.” We were encouraged to dwell many hours on the subject. But it was not like the dream.
Jesus lived His life with His death in view. Jesus lived His life knowing fully well of His own horrendous, painful and terrifying death. He knew He was not merely going to die, as you and I might—but that He would die in agony. He was not merely going to die, as you and I might—He would give His life away.
Murdering criminals die of punishment.
Victims die of cruelty.
Jesus died of love.
Jesus died for sin.
Every time in the life and ministry of Jesus you see the word “Passover” or “the feast”, this is a reference not a “holiday” of remembrance and a reference for what would happen to Jesus as well. Since He was a baby His family joined with thousands of others to celebrate the Passover. Every time He observed the feast, He was faced with what He would face later in life.
Can you imagine what Jesus must have thought through the course of His life, how He must have felt every time he looked at someone? As a child, how did He play with them? When He worked, how did He work? When people celebrated, what joy did He experience?
When the Romans dealt with criminals, did Jesus simply avoid that side of town?
What was He thinking when He saw others crucified?
Certainly the Romans didn’t start crucifying people the day they nailed Jesus to a cross.
