Acts 9:1-9 CSB
Now Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. He went to the high priest [2] and requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem. [3] As he traveled and was nearing Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. [4] Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" [5] "Who are you, Lord?" Saul said. "I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting," he replied. [6] "But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." [7] The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the sound but seeing no one. [8] Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing. So they took him by the hand and led him into Damascus. [9] He was unable to see for three days and did not eat or drink.
1 Timothy 1:15-16 CSB
This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners"-and I am the worst of them. [16] But I received mercy for this reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate his extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in him for eternal life.
Who are YOU?
There are terms for spiritual truths that well-educated people spout fluidly, but I find I must stop and reach for a dictionary when reading a dense commentary. One of those words is omnipresence. It simply means being in more than one place at the same time. Sometimes a dictionary is a person’s best friend when trying to understand those whose passions have risen above normal speech. If Jesus is in Heaven, how can He, in our reflection today, be speaking directly to the future Apostle Paul on a dusty road?
As Saul stood holding the coats of those stoning Stephen, he must have realized that Jesus’ followers would speak unto death, glorifying His name even as they fell. To Saul, this was a grave danger. From his perspective, the followers of Christ were apostate Jews who would corrupt the purity of Judaism. He fought this budding group of believers with a fanatic, jagged zeal. The brutal death of Stephen was not enough to satisfy him; Saul began to rampage through the lives of believers with threats, imprisonment, and murder.
I see a shadow of this ancient conflict in our world today. There is a hatred for Jesus and Christianity that I did not know in my youth. It is as if what was once considered good is now called bad, and what was once bad is hailed as good. This shift isn’t only affecting Christianity; antisemitism has risen in many countries to the point that the fears of the 1940s are coming back to the surface.
People are turning away from any connection to the Christian faith—some toward the “God of Science,” others toward the gods of possessions and power. The Creator of the Universe is being shoved into the backseat of the modern mind. Truly, there is nothing new under the sun. This turning away has happened throughout history, proving that the struggle Saul engaged in is a battle that each generation must face in its own way.
In his day, Saul acted much like a bounty hunter of the Old West, but he required legal authority. As Christians fled Jerusalem for Damascus, Saul prepared to hunt them down and bring them back for punishment. At that time, Damascus was under the influence of the Parthian Empire rather than Rome. To extradite these believers, Saul needed the specific authority of the Sanhedrin, to whom the Parthians had delegated religious jurisdiction over Jewish affairs.
With the same zeal we see in those who oppose the church today, Saul carried that authority like a weapon as he traveled toward Damascus—a grueling journey of nearly two hundred miles through open country. Finally, with the city almost within reach, the Lord intervened. A light from heaven exploded around him, sudden and total, far brighter than the midday sun beating down on the Syrian road.
Saul fell to the earth, and out of that blinding light came a voice: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”
Saul did not even recognize the voice. “Who are you, Lord?” he asked. Jesus, who rules Heaven and Earth, responded with a profound truth: “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting.” This revelation should strike fear into some and bring deep contentment to others. To harm even the smallest believer is to harm Jesus Himself. He cares for those who are His. He showed this to Stephen as he breathed his last, and He shows it to us now. Just as Saul’s understanding of the truth had been blind, his physical eyes now failed him. He stood up and had to be led by the hand into the city, waiting in the darkness to be told what to do.
In Saul, we see the staggering depth of the love of God. Saul would eventually have his name changed to Paul, becoming a “new creation.” Our old sins are forgiven so we can live with a newness of life. Many of us have come from the dark corners of life into the light of Jesus. No matter how far a person has spiraled down, and no matter the level of unbelief or hate they have held against God’s plan, there is a chance for a new life when Jesus calls. Sometimes, that call is as simple as a friend telling us about Him, giving us one more opportunity to change everything.
Reflection Questions
- Saul thought he was doing God’s work while actually opposing Him. Are there areas in your life where your “zeal” might be misaligned with God’s heart of love?
- Jesus asked, “Why are you persecuting me?” How does it change your perspective to know that Jesus personally feels the pain and struggles of His followers?
- Saul had to be led by the hand after his encounter. When has God used a season of “blindness” or waiting to teach you how to rely on Him?
Prayer
Father,
We are humbled by the fact that no one is beyond the reach of Your grace. Thank You for the “Damascus Road” moments in our own lives—those times when You stopped us in our tracks and called us out of the dark. Help us to remember that You are omnipresent, watching over us and feeling what we feel. Give us a heart of compassion for those who currently oppose the faith, remembering that You can turn even the greatest persecutor into a powerful witness. Guide us by the hand when we are blind, and lead us into the new life You have prepared for us.
In Jesus’ Name.
Amen.
