The scene centres around a series of questions, the first from the Seeking Saviour. Paul was on his way with a small group of men to arrest Christians in Damascus. He was so eager to get there, that he did not stop for a noon siesta as was usual with travellers. Suddenly he heard his own name, coupled with a question, "Saul, Saul why do you persecute me?" Notice first that Jesus knew his name. He knows all our names. He can see you where you are. He knows all about you. "Saul, what have I done to you that you are so angry at me?" It is hard to know sometimes why some people are so against God. Maybe they don't know why they are themselves. Jesus made an interesting point in His question. Paul hadn't touched Christ, yet he had in the person of Christ's servants. It is a beautiful picture of how the church and Jesus Christ are one. Then it was Paul's turn to ask, "Who are you? Who's calling my name?" "'I am Jesus." Paul knew Jesus had been killed and buried several years ago. But here He was speaking from heaven. Then the quick brilliant mind of Paul realized that the only way this could be true was for that same Jesus to be exactly who He had claimed to be and was now speaking from heaven itself. That settled it. That recogniton shattered him completely. Then came the words of instruction. "Go on into the city as you had planned, but now it will be different. I will plan things now for you." What happened next? Three days of darkness. But in those days, as his mind went back through the Old Testament and saw things in a new light, there must have come tremendous changes and overall a beautiful new peace he had never known before. Gone was his pride, his self-sufficiency. From then on, it was Christ and always would be to the journey's end. His commitment will always be a great example to us. His letters will always be an inspiration. Thank God for the man who was arrested by God and changed into the mighty apostle of love and zeal for Christ. What does that say to us today? |