May the mumbling commence!
Saul’s conversion in the book of Acts is important. The story is recorded several times in the book. Today, I want to look closely at the first account – specifically with the interaction between Jesus and Saul. It is written at the beginning of Acts chapter nine:
Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"
"Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked.
"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." (Verses 1-6)
Saul, a Pharisee, felt threatened by the Way of Jesus. Many people were being attracted to this Way. Saul’s fear was that it was leading people away from the Lord God. He met threat with violence. Saul had already given the official stamp of approval to the stoning of Stephen.
Saul had a plan forming – one that he thought would serve the purposes of God. He would hunt down followers of the Way to take them prisoner… which possibly could lead to their execution. The high priest gave Saul official approval and sent him on the road to Damascus.
But something happened on the way. A light from heaven came down upon Saul. A voice came from the heavens as well. “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
Saul’s immediate reaction was to fall down and prostrate himself. Saul recognized the apparition as being divine – his actions show this recognition. His words of response were, “Who are you, Lord?”
I wonder who Saul saw in the vision. Was it just a silhouette against the light? Did Saul see some of the faces of the people he had persecuted and killed? Did Saul see the face of Stephen?
The voice answered, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” Now that is a statement of intrigue. As far as Saul knew, Jesus was dead. How can you persecute a dead man? Again, I wonder if Saul saw the faces of those he had persecuted and killed because they were following the Way of Jesus.
There is something to be learned here. If you persecute the people who follow Jesus, you persecute Jesus. They are one and the same. The church represents Christ’s living presence here on earth. That is a tall order! Christ be with us!
The voice continued, “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” Continue your journey of zeal. HOWEVER, your zeal will be refocused. You will be told what you must do.
Refocus our zeal, O Lord. It will mean rebuilding and healing broken relationships – like those with our Christian brothers and sisters. Ananias was uncertain of the Lord’s call to heal Saul. But Saul was to be God’s chosen instrument to proclaim the name of Jesus before everyone. Saul would be shown how much he was to suffer…
Healing those broken relationships would mean suffering for Saul and for those lives he destroyed and maimed. How many times would Saul come across people he had hurt in his previous misplaced zeal? Let us mend our bridges and tend carefully our relationships.
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
No comments:
Post a Comment