1 Cor 15:7-8 “Then he (JESUS) appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.”
In referencing the appearances of the resurrected LORD Jesus, Paul placed himself at the end of the line. Chronologically, his conversion/apostleship was 3-4 years after Jesus ascended in Acts 1, 6-7 years after the Twelve were first called. His history of persecuting Christians caused Paul to identify himself as “least of the apostles”, therefore the end of the line fit. Also notice how the various versions translate Paul’s birth as an apostle: abnormally born, wrong time, untimely born, born out of due time, untimely (prematurely, traumatically) born.
All this surely raises the question: How can a “wrong time” become the “right time”? Paul shares the details of his conversion and appointment as an apostle in 3 different chapters in Acts: 9, 22, 26. Here is a blended account of Paul’s 3 descriptions.
• Regular print = Ac 9• • Bold = Ac 22• • Italicized = Ac 26•
Saul of Tarsus was traveling to Damascus with authority and letters from the chief priests to arrest followers of the Way. About noon, as he came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around him. The light was brighter than the sun, blazing around him and his companions. We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”
“Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’” “I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.”
My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of him who was speaking to me. “What shall I do, Lord?” I asked.
“Get up,” the Lord said, “stand on your feet. and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”
The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. When Saul got up from the ground, he opened his eyes but 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.
So what was Jesus really like on this day?
Compassionate- Jesus reached out to the torturer and murder of His followers.
Bold- Shined a light brighter than the sun, designed to put a halt to Saul.
Confrontive- Jesus made Saul face his sin’s connection to the risen LORD.
Challenging- Jesus had a plan for Saul, apostle to the Gentiles.
Disciplinarian- Jesus struck Saul with blindness, getting his attention.
Saul did not need a cuddly, teddy bear, warm fuzzy Jesus that day. He needed the Jesus that he encountered on the Damascus road. More than likely, you and I don’t need a cuddly, teddy bear, warm fuzzy Jesus either. It may be what we want, but almost never what we need. How about we ask Father to bless us with who/what we need and at the same time help us burn our wants. If we aren’t burdened with a pile of wants, we can race after what we need. God bless.
Mike “Pawdad” Sublett, Pastor @ Hi-Land Christian Church, Pampa, Texas 79065, 630-730-8015
