Arylton Angel

The Bible is so full of such amazing stories. Matthew wrote his Gospel with a good deal of detail, and when he got to chaptrer 28 he recounted what was told to him by two Marys. Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James the least, were followers of Jesus and they probably were deeply emotionally involved with Jesus as they recognized that He was more than just a man. He was God. He was EVERYTHING. I know the feeling. And when He was killed on the Cross the two women were there, having not fled like the men…plus another Mary, the mother of Jesus. But they were totally disappointed and frustrated and disillusioned…they had thought He was unable to die because, after all, He was God. But die He did, and they put His body deep in a tomb and sealed it with a giant, heavy stone. And put guards around the tomb. There were NO TRESPASSING signs tacked up! But the two Marys couldn’t sleep that Saturday night, they tossed and turned, and early in the morning on Sunday, just at dawning, we see them making their way to the tomb of Jesus. Silently weeping. Blubbering to each other and saying “why”. WHY? And that is where Arylton Angel’s story begins. Brasil once had a speedster named Arylton Senna who drove Formula One cars at breakneck speed! He crashed and was killed. He was no angel!
All Heaven was a buzz. Jesus was returning! He had been gone now 33 years on some kind of mission to save the earthlings. Angels longed to understand what this “redemption” thing was all about, but it was beyond their comprehension. But the one thing they all did comprehend was that their precious Prince was coming HOME. He had a new name given by the earthlings. Jesus! Savior! They were all waiting for Him to appear. And then Eternal Father made the great announcement, “Someone needs to go down to Earth and wait at the empty tomb for two women who are on their way there. Tell them that Jesus has risen and is gone! Tell them to get the word out to everyone that He is alive! Now who will go for me?” All the angels wanted to go, but they also had a great desire to be there in Heaven when the Prince came home. So they were all quite silent. Then suddenly Eternal Father was looking right at Arylton Angel! “Arylton, you have been flitting around Heaven like lightning! Why don’t you use some of that energy to go down and make this announcement? Just slow down a bit so you don’t crash!”
And he was off! The Bible says quite clearly that he went like white lightning! Arylton never knew how to do anything slow. He sped down through the constellations and past the Milky Way and hardly looked at the moon. His GPS was right on target and he was ripping. The sooner he got there, the sooner he could return and be there when the Prince sat down on the right side of Eternal Father. He kept telling himself, “I’ve got Good News…Jesus is risen! I’ve got Good News! I’m a missssssionary!!” Meanwhile, down at the tomb site, the burly Roman guards were all yawning. They had quite literally gotten “graveyard shift” and it had been a long night. They cussed the Jews for being so religious and making such a fuss over some peasant who thought he was God. Oh well, He was dead now. No one was going to rob that grave! No one! And then one of them looked up in the pre-dawn darkness and saw a streak speeding towards earth! Arylton tried to use his air brakes, but it was just too late. He came crashing right down in the midst of the guards and caused a tremendous earthquake! He wasn’t hurt, he was an indestructible angel, but he did feel a bit silly. Sorry guys! The guards were petrified and shaking with fear! Over they crashed one by one into a deep sleep like they themselves were dead. Scared to death. Arylton just stood there bright and shining and musing at how weak these earthlings were. Guards indeed. humph.
The earthquake had broken loose the stone blocking and sealing the tomb. Arylton examined it, and with little effort, because angels don’t sweat, he rolled the big rock off to the side. OK. Where’s the women? He had heard rumors that earth women were always late for appointments. Probably combing their hair or selecting their nose rings. C’mon, gals, I want to get back Home for the celebration! And he flitted up on the rock and sat there. If angels drank Starbucks coffee or ate angel food, he was a good prospect. He sat and waited…very impatiently. Finally, he heard them coming…making weeping sounds and enough noise to awake the dead! With that he looked around at the unconscious guards laying helter-skelter on the ground.
The Marys broke into the opening and suddenly were wide-eyed and speechless! Arylton realized they were going to be crashing over like the guards did, so he shouts “Stop! Don’t be scared! I’m an angel! Nothing scary about that! I know you have come expecting to find a body in a tomb, but HE IS GONE! They killed him, but they couldn’t kill Him. Oops, well, that’s about the best I can explain it!” The Marys are shaking and feeling weak and needing to sit down…but where? On one of these sleeping guards? Did this strange bright creature kill them? Will he kill us? You can imagine their emotions and heart poundings! Arylton, ever the diplomat, then said from his seat on the rock, “For goodness sake, ladies, He told you He was going to rise again. Didn’t He? Yes, He did! Go over and look in that hole and see for yourselves. He is NOT there. And then go quickly and tell His disciples that He is not dead. He is walking around Galilee and you must hurry there to see Him! Did you get it? ALRIGHT, I HAVE TOLD YOU! I’m out of here! See you in Heaven. Bye!”
Mary Magdalene, out of whom had been cast seven evil angels, or demons, has now met a good angel. A good fast one! Mary the mother of James the least, is now the “most” blessed. The Bible says the women finally got their breath and shrieked with joy and ran off to tell Peter and John. And Arylton zipped faster than the speed of light to get back to Heaven because the Prince was coming Home! It’s all right there in YOUR Bible!
How about you? Are you excited about the resurrection of the Creator Son and your Prince? The tomb was empty. Wherever Jesus is not, there is emptiness. Empty lives. Empty hearts. Empty heads. Empty futures. Empty homes. Because if Jesus isn’t there, there is nothing. Have you asked Jesus to sit on the throne of your heart? Is He your Lord and Savior? And are you an “Arylton Angel”? Just zipping around telling people that Jesus was crucifed for their sins, but He is not dead…He is alive and walking around amongst us! Go and tell!!
This story was used with permission, from Duane Howe. Missionary to the Culina people of Brasil.