Acts 9:1-9

    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."

 

    The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.

 

On this seventh anniversary of the worst terrorist attacks our country has ever endured, it is fitting that we are looking at one of the ways our Lord and King deals with terrorists (side note: While we could wish that he would deal with all terrorists this way, we need to remember that not all terrorists are so directly persecuting Jesus’ people as Saul was, seeking out His people for persecution. This is not a statement, however, that justifies any terrorist activities).

 

While Philip and the apostles were sharing Jesus’ words in Samaria, on the road to Gaza, and wherever the Spirit led them, a young man named Saul who had approved the killing of Stephen was still threatening Jesus’ followers. He was so ambitious that he went to the high priest for approval to persecute Jesus’ followers not only in Jerusalem, but also in Damascus.

 

You just read the story: A light flashed around Saul, and as he fell to the ground a voice said to him, “Saul, why do you persecute me?”

 

Saul had only one question: “Who are you, Lord?” The word “lord” can mean something polite and respectful, like sir, or it can mean LORD, as in Adonai (YHWH), the master and ruler of the universe. Even if Saul was only being respectful, he had every reason to be respectful; the speaker had just overwhelmed him with light and had accused Saul of persecuting him – and it was just possible that such a powerful person might not be the best person for Saul to persecute.

 

But it is almost certain that Saul believed he was dealing with his God. Who else would Saul think of in the midst of such glorious light? Why else would Saul fall to the ground? When Saul asked, “Who are you, Lord?” he was asking because, whoever else he persecuted, Saul did not want to face this person – His God – again. Not as an enemy.

 

The response, as we know, was that it was Jesus Himself. Jesus was revealing Himself to Saul as Saul’s Lord – as the God and divine ruler Saul had thought he was serving all along.

 

Look how gently Jesus handled Saul. He could have struck Saul dead, but He had mercy on him. He instructed Saul to get up and go into the city, and there Saul would be told what to do. Saul would receive his marching orders from his true Lord.

 

But Jesus humbled Saul. He left him blind for three days. And Saul neither ate nor drank during those three days. The roaring young lion who had come to Damascus for blood was now sitting helpless, stripped of his fury and his powers, hungry and thirsty, in that very city. Still, there was hope for Saul, even in the midst of his humiliation; Jesus had promised to let Saul know what to do. Saul’s God, whom he had persecuted, was not through with him yet.

 

Father, thank You for your mercy through Jesus Christ – mercy to even the worst of us! Father, may we seek your mercy for ourselves. May we understand how deeply we have offended You and sinned against You. May we admit and confess our sins. May we sorrowfully reject our sins, turning away from them to cling to the hope that Jesus offers us. And even more than this, may we who have received Your great mercy thankfully pray for even the worst of our enemies to receive Your mercy, too. May those who hate You find that You are a merciful King! Be patient with sinners like us, because Your patience is our salvation.