The Damascus Road
Acts 9:1-22
Read at beginning of service:
Acts 9:1-22 (NIV)
1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 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. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" 5 "Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. 6 "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." 7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8 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. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything. 10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, "Ananias!" "Yes, Lord," he answered. 11 The Lord told him, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight." 13 "Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name." 15 But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name." 17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord--Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here--has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. 20 At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. 21 All those who heard him were astonished and asked, "Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?" 22 Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.
For the last few weeks we have been taking a look at the roads of passion surrounding the events taking place prior to and following the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. While studying, I have found that in every sense of the word these roads ARE characterized by passion! The Jerusalem, Emmaus, and Narrow Roads have all shown the passion of, passion from, and passion for Jesus Christ. His passion for the lost for the world separated from God, His passion for those who follow Him, and likewise those who are passionate for Him. All of these roads lead to Jesus. The fourth and final road we will be looking at in this series is the Damascus Road. This road also leads to Jesus, and this road also is a road of passion.
Although as we begin, it seems that the traveler on this road seems to have a passion for the wrong thing.
Saul of Tarsus, a Jew among Jews, born into the tribe of Benjamin, blameless according to the law and is a Pharisee with great zeal for tradition. Having sat under the wisdom and teaching of Gamaliel (Acts 22:3), one of the greatest teachers among the Pharisees, Saul was quickly advancing through the rank and file of his own, a head above all the others.
In the Acts chapters 7-9 we find this man Saul filled with bitterness and hatred, breathing threats of death to those who followed a man called Jesus. He was a man with a mission, not of mercy but of punishment and pain. Here was a man who was passionate in His own way – but definitely not for the followers of the "Way" – definitely not for the followers of Jesus Christ.
With permission in hand he was ready to confront and rid Israel of those who were of the Way. With his mind unwilling to change and his heart filled with the challenge set before him, Saul stepped foot onto the Damascus road.
Little did he know that on this day he would not confront, but be confronted. He would not change others, but be changed himself. He would not challenge those of the Way, but the Way would challenge him.
The Damascus road is one of confrontation, change and challenge.
A Road of Confrontation
Acts 9:1-5 … "I am Jesus"Acts 9:1-5 (NIV)
1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 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. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" 5 "Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied.
Traveling from Jerusalem to Damascus only intensified the situation. Saul with determination in his eyes set off for Damascus. No matter what stood in his way he would confront and either convert or convict. A face to face confrontation was sure.
Confronted by the LightSaul had expected the confrontation to take place in Damascus. But as he approached the city he was confronted by a light from heaven that caused him to fall to the ground.
Some suggest that the light was …Heat Stroke and Saul became light headed and fell to the ground.Lightning and Saul became dazed and only thought he heard a voice.
Epilepsy and Saul was seized by an epileptic fit falling to the ground.
Charles Spurgeon remarked that if Saul had epilepsy he wished all men in London would have epilepsy like that!
The truth is, man is always trying to explain away the supernatural of God with the natural. We are comfortable explaining heat strokes, lightning and epilepsy but there is no nice and neat explanation of the supernatural for it moves us into the realm of faith. And man would rather walk by sight than faith.
The story of the blind man healed in John 9 is so characteristic of man’s dealing with the supernatural.Jesus declares Himself as the Light of the world. vs 5Jesus heals the man who had been blind from birth. vs 6The man is asked how he received his sight. He answers a man called Jesus. vs 11Pharisees trust in their traditions of the sabbath … division arose. vs 16Jews did not believe he born blind. vs 18Jesus is declared a sinner. vs 24The man is asked again … "One thing I know; that though I was blind, now I see." vs 25Saul was confronted with nothing less the Light of Heaven, born among men.
John 1:4-5 (NIV)
4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.
John 3:19-20 (NIV)
19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.
Confrontation by the Light reveals Jesus.
Confronted by JesusSaul upon the ground was now face to face with the Risen Lord Jesus.
Notice that Jesus twice made it clear that those Saul was persecuting are identified in Christ. That is when Saul was beating up Christians, He was beating up Christ. Friends this should give you an inkling into the intimacy that Christ shares with His church!
Saul asks the question of inquiry as to who this is that is conversing with him. Jesus identifies Himself by saying "I Am Jesus."
His words to Saul reverberate His words to Martha, "I am the resurrection and life." (John 11:25) Jesus is the great I Am of the scriptures and life. I am Jesus!
When Jesus revealed who He was, Saul did not say, "Well Hi there, I’m Saul!" We need to quit emphasizing who we are and start emphasizing who He is! Who is He? We’ve made Him out to be most anything that fits our traditions, views and ideas of what we think He is to be. That Jesus is so far removed from the Jesus of the scriptures. Who is He?He is the Creator
He is the Seeker and Saver of sinners.
He is risen and alive.
He is the giver of life eternal and abundant.
He is the Way, Truth and Life.
He is our righteousness.
He is the One who brings unity to His body.
He is the head of His Church
He is the Son of God
He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
He is coming back!
Saul was given a wake up call by Jesus. Here, the wake up call is given through the Holy Spirit. I believe Saul had been prodded and urged by several events in His life.
Stoning of Stephen … "Father do not charge them with this sin."
Gamaliel his teacher had warned him and others to keep away from these men.
Acts 5:34 (NIV)
34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while.
Acts 5:38-39 (NIV)
38 Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God."
The boldness of Peter and others in the face of persecution.
All these and more were things that should have opened Saul’s eyes, but like most men he was fighting the conviction with anger and wrath. He was blinded to the truth playing out before Him.
Some of you are continually kicking against the urging and prompting of the Holy Spirit. We need to be confronted again with who Jesus is. We need to have the blindfolds removed from our eyes and see what it is Jesus wants us to see!
A Road of Change
Acts 9:6-9, 20-22 … "Arise"
Acts 9:6-9 (NIV)
6 "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." 7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8 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. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
Acts 9:20-22 (NIV)
20 At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. 21 All those who heard him were astonished and asked, "Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?" 22 Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.
Confrontation is to do one thing … bring about change. Saul was changed after being confronted by Jesus the Son of God. And yes it was for the better.
From Threatening to Trembling.With the confrontation of Jesus Christ in His glory, Saul was changed from a man who threatened to a man who trembled. What He had passionately believed was a lie was being proved to be true before His very eyes. He thought He had been zealously serving the Lord but instead He had been dangerously persecuting Him. It doesn’t take much thought to wonder why Saul was down on His knees and why His first words were, "Who are you Lord?"
From Leading to Being LedThe man who came to enter Damascus by force was now being led humbled and blind into the city. I believe there is great significance in the blindness of Saul.
Saul, who had been blinding leading the persecutions against the infant church was now being led blindly at the mercy of the church.
Saul, who had turned a blind eye to the convictions of the Holy Spirit was now blinded with the revelation of Jesus Christ.
The last image implanted in Saul’s mind would have been Jesus Christ and as He sat in Damascus blinded He would have had plenty of opportunity to focus on Jesus until Jesus was imprinted on his mind, his heart and his life. Saul, who became Paul gained a passion for Jesus that is rare today.
Led into the city by human hands, he was led from the city and the rest of his life by the hands of God. His encounter with Christ turned Him from a blind leader to a leading follower!
From Persecutor to Proclaimer"Immediately he preached the Christ." The Jesus he sought to present as false had become the true Messiah he now proclaimed.
Everyone was amazed and astonished. After all this was the fire breathing dragon from Jerusalem. The skeptics and cynics are always out in full force.
What’s going on? … Jesus!
What’s happened to him? … Jesus!
What’s got into him? … Jesus!Paul was confronted, converted and changed.
A Road of Challenge
Acts 9:10-19 … "he received his sight"Acts 9:10-19 (NIV)
10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, "Ananias!" "Yes, Lord," he answered. 11 The Lord told him, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight." 13 "Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name." 15 But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name." 17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord--Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here--has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.
On this road we see not only the confrontation and change in Saul’s life, but we also see the challenge presented to another who was in Damascus. This person found himself being a part of Saul’s Damascus Road experience and what he faced is not any different from what we face today.
The life of Christ is a challenge.
Challenged to Greater ServiceAnanias when called upon by God simply said, "Here I am Lord." How close are we to our God that if He were to call our name out we would respond as Ananias?
He had been serving God, but now he would be challenged to serve God in a greater capacity. Isn’t that what God wants of you and I … greater service to Him than that of yesterday?
Challenged to See DifferentlyAnanias had been a faithful disciple for a while and no doubt would have been one of the targets of Saul had he not had the encounter with Jesus on the Damascus road. There was every reason for Ananias to make sure he was hearing right in this vision. In his vision, God challenged him to see Saul not as the enemy, but as a "brother." I sense the unity God desires in the body of Christ when Ananias walked into the room, seeing this man who once was so bad, reaching out to him, touching him and calling him "Brother Saul."
Ananias became a forgiver and a reconciler that day.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19 (NIV)
18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
God desires reconciliation and healing in the Church, the body of Christ.
Saul when touched by Ananias was healed and filled with the Holy Spirit. His sight was restored and he began to see things in a different light … the Light of Christ. When we are confronted by Jesus to see Him differently we will see others in that same light.
2 Corinthians 5:16 (NIV)
16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.
How might we see one another today? In the light of Christ I hope.
The Damascus Road … has confronted and challenged us with the risen Lord Jesus Christ. Prayerfully it will change us to see one another, as well as those lost, differently.
This sermon was preached by Darren Ethier at Hanover Pentecostal Church on May 6, 2001. This message is Part 4 of the sermon series: Roads of Passion. This message series is inspired from the series "The Road" by Bob Aubuchon. The outline and title for this particular message in the series has been gleaned from Bob Aubuchon’s message, The Damascus Road. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, Copyright © 1873, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.
