The Conversion of Saul

Introduction

In this sermon on the conversion of Saul, Revd. Mark Fletcher traces how a violent persecutor met the risen Christ on the road to Damascus. Acts 9 shows Saul to Paul transformed — humbled, blinded, then called as Christ’s chosen instrument to the nations. It is a study in pride undone by grace, and it leaves us with one question: what are we called to be?

On this day, nearly 60 years ago, the first ever live international satellite broadcast took place. Over 24 countries and an audience of something like half a billion people were watching. And it was the largest television audience by a distance to that date. And it featured a band, a little-known four-piece band from Liverpool. What was their name? Oh yes, the Beatles, who were at the very height of their fame. And for this really significant event, the Beatles wrote a song. And it was a song which was kind of simple, recognising the sort of international nature of the audience, but also which conveyed something of that which they thought mattered the most. The sort of essence of what they were about. It was called, All You Need Is Love.

And for all of our cultures, cynicism and materialism, who can disagree with that sentiment? The idea of love as the most important thing, the sort of pre-eminent virtue, is really essential. I think it’s something that we hold. It’s something that we hold dear. But you know that ideas like this are not universal. They have not always existed. And they don’t find their origin in, I don’t know, science, or the Enlightenment, or even in classical philosophy. They come into being at a certain point in history. And our story today is a critical moment. Because it’s the turning point in the life of the one who would go on to be the greatest advocate of ideas like this. The one who would write, now these three things remain. Faith, hope, and love. And the greatest of these is love.

But you know, I think that what is most striking about St. Paul, isn’t the bridge between the two. It’s not the brilliance of his thinking, or the clarity and incisiveness of his ideas. It’s who he was before he encountered Jesus. And so we’re going to hear once more the story of how Saul became Paul. If you were with us last week, we met Saul for the first time in Acts 7. He was standing there, looking on at the dreadful event, which was the sacrifice. The stoning of Stephen. We know that he was a young Pharisee, an ambitious and impressive one at that. He is intellectually exceptional. And I think physically he must have been fairly intimidating too. It’s clear that the early Christians were really afraid of him. And now here, at the beginning of chapter 9, we meet him again. And what an introduction it is. It begins, verse 1, Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples.

And I think probably before we go any further, the first question has to be, how does this happen? How does this happen to sincerely religious people? How can it be that so often in history, religion becomes synonymous with extremism and even violence? I think Paul is a sort of case in point for this. And if I was to say something about him, I think there are two observations. The first is this. Paul, despite all of his sincerity, has a view of God which is far too small. He thinks that the God who created the universe somehow needs him, Paul, to defend him. It’s the sort of most extreme version of that thing that we talk about, sort of acting in your own strength. Paul is trying to do God’s work for him using any means necessary.

And then secondly, I would say, I don’t think it’s actually about God at all. I think it is all about Paul. It’s his ego and his desire to impose his view of the world on others. And frankly, he is furious. He is furious that someone should challenge his ideas. Paul is essentially an arrogant young man attempting to impose his view of the world and of God on everybody else. And so, it takes the most dramatic of events to change this arrogant young man. You heard the story. You probably know it. Paul is… Saul is travelling to Damascus in Syria. He is going to be there to root out these heretical Christian ideas from the Jewish community there. It’s a journey on foot of about six days. I’m struck that the route that he would have had to take is very interesting. Because it’s along the River Jordan, along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, through the Judean wilderness. He’s sort of walking in the footsteps of Jesus, isn’t he? And then, as he’s almost arrived at his destination, verse 3, As he neared Damascus, a light from heaven flashed around him, and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? What a moment this is. What on earth is going on? We actually still use this phrase, don’t we? We talk about road to Damascus experiences for those kind of life-changing realisations. And of course, this is it. This is the original. This is the original. This is the event which will change this young man forever. He replies, who are you, Lord? And he hears the answer, I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. And I think that what is really significant here isn’t simply the kind of powerful encounter that he has, but the implications of this. The realisation of his mistake and what the truth is. Because this dramatic encounter with the risen and ascended Christ means that all of his assumptions and his prejudice and convictions need to crumble. Paul has got things terribly, terribly wrong. And the one whose disciples Paul is persecuting is actually the one that Paul had been longing for throughout his whole life. The long-promised Messiah. And it isn’t just Jesus’ disciples that Saul is persecuting. It’s Jesus himself. Paul is literally on the wrong side of history.

I also think that what this means is that Saul’s view of God has been terribly wrong. Because you know that Christianity shows us this astonishing idea, this astonishing view of God. A God who doesn’t force his will on people, who doesn’t need to be defended, but instead chooses the path of love and service and humility and even suffering. The God who chooses the way of the cross. So much that is done wrong in the name of religion is because people refuse to do it the same way that God does it. To walk in the steps of Jesus. To take up the cross. What happens next? Verse 7. The men travelling with Saul stood there speechless. They heard the sound but they didn’t see anyone. Saul got up from the ground but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. And so they led him by the hand to Damascus. And for three days he was blind and did not eat or drink anything. Three days of darkness. Three days alone. Does anybody see any symbolism there?

Paul literally descends into the dark. Almost into death itself. Everything that Paul has ever known is turned upside down. He is figuratively buried with Christ. And then after three days when Ananias arrives there’s a lovely phrase. Because it says, He got up and he was baptised. And that word, he got up, is he rose. It’s the same word as for the resurrection. It’s anaste. And so this is Paul’s resurrection moment.

And Jesus has a very specific purpose for him. But something has to happen first. And that is that he needs to be humbled. You know very often the greatest obstacle to faith in Jesus is not our doubts or our sins. But our pride. And Saul’s pride is very great indeed. But for him to say that Jesus is Lord is to say, I am not. To relinquish my furious efforts at being in control. Saul has had to die to himself in order to find the new life that Christ has for him. But as he does that, Christ will make something exceptional of him.

My last question though I suppose is why? Why this man? Why this most unlikely and frankly unpleasant character is going to become the apostle of Jesus Christ to the nations? And we’re not the only people asking that question. Because you might have heard, did you hear Ananias said the same thing? He said in verse 13, Lord I have heard from many about this man and how evil, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. Ananias is saying surely some mistake. Surely there is somebody better than Paul. Why isn’t it Peter or John or one of the other disciples? Now I don’t think we can answer that for sure. But I think what we do know is that something is shifting here. Something is changing. There’s a new direction happening in the story. And the good news of Jesus which up to this point has been largely a sort of parochial affair within the borders of Israel. A focus specifically on the ancient people of God. Jesus himself you remember very rarely spoke to anybody. Outside of those boundaries. But now that is changing. And as Jesus says to Ananias in verse 15, go. This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and the people of Israel. And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name. The gospel is going global. It is to be spread. Spread across the world. And that will mean confronting the greatest and most powerful empire the world has ever seen. Paul will face up to kings and princes and rulers. And all of his strengths are required. His fearlessness. His remarkable mind. His deep understanding of scripture. His willingness to speak truth to power. All of these things are going to be essential in the coming years. The thing that is really clear is from the moment of Paul’s encounter with the risen Christ. His calling becomes clear. And it is rooted in all of his gifts and his background and his education. It is based on the very foundation of who he is. His character. His courage. And his vision. These are the things which are going to make him a great apostle. But his human methods need to be challenged and changed. He needs to learn the way of Christ. As he will later say. He needs to learn that Christ’s grace is sufficient for me. His power is made perfect in weakness. You see his character is essential. But his methods have to change. God is going to use who he is. And show him how to do it better. And he will be transformed into something. Someone astonishing. Paul was Christ’s chosen instrument to proclaim his name across the world. And so my final question is. Well what about you? We still have this calling to speak the good news in this desperate world. To speak truth to power. To challenge injustice. We still have this calling to declare a better kingdom. To speak of Jesus as Lord. And you are not called to be Paul. But you are absolutely called to bring your gifts. And character. And the resources that you have. To use for the kingdom of God. Yes you need to be humbled. Yes there are human methods that you need to unlearn. And you need to be humble. And just like Paul. There is pride that needs to be put away. But God has made you who you are. And has given you gifts. That you are called to use for good. For his kingdom. What are you called to be? What talents and gifts has God given you. That you need to use for his glory. All of us. Can be used for this kingdom. And if Paul. The worst of all sinners as he described himself. Has such a crucial role. Then you have a role too. And it will be rooted in who God has made you to be. What does it look like to offer yourself to Christ. And to be put to work for his service.

Amen.