Jerusalem was the birthplace of the household of the Christian faith, and where the first ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ would open up the doors to the perpetual and shining light: “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (John 8:12). What a wondrous and historic occasion, my dear friends and comrades in Christ!!!
This most special occasion first and foremost affords us the opportunity to remember and refresh our hearts with the reality of knowing that we have been chosen as the recipients of this special calling. What a grand and glorious privilege and responsibility. Think about it. We have been tasked with the mission of the original church, the chosen few, and for the glory, praise and honor of the King of kings and Lord of lords: “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:” (Matthew 28:18-19).
Nonetheless, this is surely something that warrants reflection. The Word of God, Jesus Christ, equips and prepares His chosen ones for the challenges beyond their vision: “Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.” (Isaiah 53:10-11).
Thanksgiving and the giving of self is something that is a byproduct of what one must do. In other words, it’s an act of sacrificial service. Christ’s emissaries were keenly aware of this, because they had come to know Christ personally. The prophet Isaiah puts it like this: “So shall my word be that goeth forth from my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall in the thing whereto I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11).
The brutality and horror of the crucifixion of Christ would leave an indelible mark in the minds and hearts of His emissaries. This was coupled with actively expressing a willingness to suffer, or even die for the faith. The way to salvation would inevitably collide head-on with persecution, as they collectively and effectively absorbed the cost of the defense of the gospel.
Enter Saul of Tarsus, who made it his business and mission to frustrate and obliterate the movement of the Christian faith, and with an unbridled and seemingly unstoppable persecution of the disciples of the Lord. They felt the sting from Jerusalem to Damascus (a Roman province of Syria). Saul was a staunch Pharisee, a stickler for the Law of Moses and in direct conflict with the message of the Gospel of Salvation.
As the persecution became more intense, Stephen, among the disciples of the Lord, would earn himself a place among the roll call of others who would be murdered (martyred) for their commitment to the dissemination of Christianity. He would own the distinction of being the first to suffer martyrdom for the risen Lord, and at the hands of the infamous Saul. This would seal the deal in terms of Saul's rising notoriety as the most fearsome foe of those suffering for the cause of Christ: “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” (Hebrews 2:9-10).
I have heard it expressed that some things never change. Well, that’s not the case today, and it certainly wasn’t the case in Saul’s day. Though circumstances and the weight of emotions have a tendency to cloud reasoning, at some point a change will come.
Saul’s loyalty to his own cause would betray him and at the pinnacle of his reign of terror: “And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.” (Acts 8:1).
We get a snapshot of one of the most vicious and violent of persecutors: “Saul, yet breathing out threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, and desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.” (Acts 9:1-2). Saul of Tarsus was a terrorist and, arguably, the first of his kind. Terrorists terrorize and that’s what he did.
But as history has taught us, even terrorists have their day and Saul was no exception: they rise, and they fall. Modern-day terrorists are cut from the same cloth. We hear about them, read about them, talk about them and view images of them. Like Saul, they have risen and they have fallen. And this pattern has and will persist.
Upon request, Saul was granted authority by the high priest to pursue the disciples as far as Damascus. The scene was the Damascus Road, and it unfolded approximately 150 miles northwest of Damascus: A SPECTACULAR and unexpected encounter with the eternal Lord Jesus Christ. To Saul’s dismay and utter shock, a radiant light thundered from heaven, dropped him to the ground, blinded him and humbled him! Now wait a minute, that ain't all. It gets better. What finally happened to Saul was something that the world who knew him was not ready for. In other words, they couldn't and didn't believe it, and justifiably so. Saul had experienced a life altering conversion, and by the mercy and grace of the Savior of the World!!!
Think of the above as a pre-ordained collision course with the Lord of Glory. The “Potter” simply demonstrated His power and authority over the “Clay”. The Scriptural narrative of what took place is contained in Acts Chapter 9, verses 1 thru 19.
In retrospect, what Saul didn’t see was the fact that he couldn’t see, and even from the very inception of his extreme persecution of the first church! What he didn't understand was that any opposition to the power and authority of Christ would be rendered subject to Christ.
In consideration of the human condition, and in absence of the guilt and ultimate damnation of the act of such persecutions, how could my life, our lives suggest even remote similarities to the ghastly deeds of Saul? Well, would the Lord Jesus deem us any less guilty for our own indiscretions? As the Bible teaches, sin is sin and despite the cast of characters.
Besides, all are guilty, miserably inept and come woefully short of the glory of God Most High. An indictment difficult to digest, but nonetheless true! Let us not forget that our God is a faithful and righteous God: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:8-9).
Consequently, among our readership today I am assured that there are those who've experienced a life altering conversion, and are now living for the Lord. Furthermore, among those who have come to know Him personally, I would surmise that there are those who have a testimony about a "Damascus Road Moment" as well. It is good to know, that as your humble servant of God Most High, I must say that it is good to be in good company! I, in fact, was humbled by a Damascus Road moment, and it has now evolved into years. How many ways can I say: I am inexpressibly grateful for the ultimate, one-of-a-kind BLESSING!
In conclusion of today’s message beloved ones, and if the TRUTH be told, nobody, and again nobody is beyond the reach of the RESURRECTION. Apparently, Saul of Tarsus, who we now know as our beloved apostle Paul was no exception. Beloved brothers and sisters, let us make it our business to remain in humble submission to the Eternal King of Glory: Jesus of Nazareth.
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