JOURNEY THRU THE BIBLE — DAY 7
January 9, 2020
Genesis 9-10 / Matthew 9 / Ezra 9 / Acts 9
THOUGHTS ON ACTS 7
As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”
5 “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked.
And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting…” —Acts 9:3-5 NLT
“I am Jesus, the One you’re hunting down…” —MSG
In Acts 9, Saul was persecuting and hunting down Christians. He was passionate and zealous, fully believing He was actually doing God’s Word. He was on God’s Team. He was God’s hitman. At least that’s what He thought.
But when Jesus literally stopped him in his tracks with a bright light and an audible voice, Jesus spoke these words: “Saul. Saul” (v 4). He mentioned his name twice because He wanted Saul’s full attention.
Then Jesus asked an amazing question: “What are you persecuting me?” (v 4)
Saul was baffled. Evidently, he understood that what was happening was supernatural and extraordinary, because he responded, “Who are you, lord?”
In other places (1 Cor 9:1; 15:8; Gal 1:16; Acts 9:27), Saul indicates that when all of this occurred he saw more than a bright light, he actually saw the risen Christ.
“Who are you, lord?”
Jesus identified Himself very specifically: “I am JESUS,” (v 5) but then Jesus added these stunning words… He said them a second time, maybe to illustrate their importance? “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting.” (v 5)
BOOM!
In other words, “Saul, I know you think you’re doing something good by hunting down, throwing in jail and wreaking havoc among this fledgling group of people who follow me (8:1b-3). You actually think you’re being zealous for God — doing Him a favor. But I am God. I am the Jesus, the risen or Messiah, and when you persecute and harm them, you are persecuting and harming ME.”
Again, this is stunning. It is humbling.
Jesus takes the persecution and mistreatment of believers very personally. To persecute them is to persecute Him.
The prophet Zechariah said it like this:
“…whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye…” —Zechariah 2:8 NIV
The NLT reads, “Anyone who harms you harms my most precious possession.”
Jesus always stands in solidarity with believers who are being hurt, wounded, hunted down, persecuted and mistreated, even when that mistreatment comes at the hands of those who think they are doing God’s business.
For instance, in Acts 7, at the murder of Stephen (by a religious crowd), Jesus literally stood to welcome this champion of the faith home (See Acts 7:55-58).
He stood as if to say, “I see you, Stephen! I see your courage and conviction… I’m with you even in this moment… The religious crowd may not be applauding you, but I’m applauding. In fact, I’m giving you standing ovation… ‘Well done, good and faithful servant… Come on, home!’”
So many practical applications flow from this reality:
- When we share gossip about another member of the body of Christ, we are sharing gossip about Jesus.
- When we use words to slander another member of Jesus’ body and family, we are slandering Him.
- When we share unfounded accusations against members of the body of Christ, we are accusing Him.
- When we wound other members of the body of Christ with our attitudes, words and actions, we are wounding Him.
- When Christians in other countries are put to death for their faith in Christ, Jesus stands in solidarity with those modern day heroes of the faith.
- And, sometimes we can convince ourselves that we are doing God’s business, even when we do the most hurtful things to people made in His very image.
We never lock eyes with a person that doesn’t matter to the heart of God. If they matter to Him, they must matter to you and me.
“Anyone who harms you harms my most precious possession…” —Zech 2:8
None of us would willingly or knowingly gossip about, slander, criticize, accuse, spread rumor and innuendo, or hurt or wound Jesus, but too many Christians do this regularly to other believers and never give it a second thought. We do harm to His “most precious possession.” It’s unthinkable.
Jesus loves His people and to persecute, hunt down or bring harm to one of them, is to persecute, hunt down or bring harm to Him.
Father, help me to remember this principle and to refuse to give in to the tactics of the evil one in wounding, harming and maiming the members of the body of Christ — your Church — that You purchased with the precious blood of Jesus Christ (Acts 20:28). Amen.