Damascus Road

Common English Bible Chapter 9

9 Meanwhile, Saul was still spewing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest, 2 seeking letters to the synagogues in Damascus. If he found persons who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, these letters would authorize him to take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 During the journey, as he approached Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven encircled him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice asking him, “Saul, Saul, why are you harassing me?”

5 Saul asked, “Who are you, Lord?”

“I am Jesus, whom you are harassing,” came the reply. 6 “Now get up and enter the city. You will be told what you must do.”

7 Those traveling with him stood there speechless; they heard the voice but saw no one. 8 After they picked Saul up from the ground, he opened his eyes but he couldn’t see. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind and neither ate nor drank anything.

10 In Damascus there was a certain disciple named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, “Ananias!”

He answered, “Yes, Lord.”

11 The Lord instructed him, “Go to Judas’ house on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias enter and put his hands on him to restore his sight.”

13 Ananias countered, “Lord, I have heard many reports about this man. People say he has done horrible things to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 He’s here with authority from the chief priests to arrest everyone who calls on your name.”

15 The Lord replied, “Go! This man is the agent I have chosen to carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and Israelites. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.”

17 Ananias went to the house. He placed his hands on Saul and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord sent me—Jesus, who appeared to you on the way as you were coming here. He sent me so that you could see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Instantly, flakes fell from Saul’s eyes and he could see again. He got up and was baptized. 19 After eating, he regained his strength.

He stayed with the disciples in Damascus for several days. 20 Right away, he began to preach about Jesus in the synagogues. “He is God’s Son,” he declared.

Introduction- Conversion Stories

Have you ever listened to someone who has an awesome conversion story?

Usually these come at like a big conference or event where someone is sharing their faith.

They’ll talk about how bad they were before they met Jesus

I used to be a big time partier.

I used to do a lot of drugs.

I used to be a Baltimore Ravens fan.

And then they have some sort of dramatic experience with Jesus.

I was almost in a car crash and I saw my life pass before my eyes.

I got super sick and spent a lot of time in the hospital.

I climbed up a mountain and it was so beautiful and an orchestra was playing in the background.

That’s all wonderful and great.

But that’s not my story with Jesus, and I don’t think it’s many people’s story with Jesus.

In my story, I was baptized the day I was born since I had to have surgery.

I literally don’t have a day in my life where I can say I wasn’t claimed by Christ.

I can’t remember not being a part of a church.

I can’t remember not having Jesus in my life.

And I think that’s the majority of stories in the room, isn’t it?

And so today we have to be careful, because we’re going to study a pretty dramatic conversion story.

But there ought to be a few question on our minds as we look at this story:

What does this story have to say to us about the Holy Spirit?

What does this story have to say to us about the nature of repentance, of turning around?

And who exactly are the characters in this story?

Bible Breakdown- Three Characters

Saul

Confusing as this might be, this is Saul, who will eventually become Paul, the man who wrote most of the New Testament.

Name changes in the Bible usually happen when someone has an encounter with Jesus, and this is no different.

It’s not long after our story that Saul becomes Paul.

Religious Leader and Roman Citizen

In a lot of ways, Saul was straddling the line between two warring factions.

Paul was a Pharisee.

So in other words he was a Jew.

He was a highly respected Jew.

He was a leader in the religion.

And

Saul was also a Roman Citizen.

This means that he was on the in crowd

He had impressed the right people, and had his green card stamped.

It was said that a Roman citizen could wanter the world unafraid of being harmed with just the words “Civius Romanus” I am a Roman Citizen.

The idea was that if you messed with one Roman, you messed with all of them, including their superior military.

Some how, Saul is carrying a dual citizen’s card.

Spewing Out Murderous Threats

As a citizen of both, Saul is setting out to put a stop to something that is a threat to both.

The Way…wait hold up...

Did you know that the early church didn’t call themselves Christians?

A Christian is a kind of adjective, isn’t it?

Christian Music

Christian Movies

Christian Box Cutters (Yeah, I really saw that once)

But someone who follows the Way, that’s a verb.

You follow the Way when you walk in the footsteps of Jesus.

You follow the Way when you do what Jesus does.

You follow the Way when you are in tune with what Jesus asks of us.

I like that a little bit!

But anyway…the Way is a threat to both side’s of Saul’s identity.

The Way is a threat to the Romans

The Way is a threat to the Roman government because it dares to insist that Jesus is Lord, not Caesar.

The Way is a threat to the Roman government because it dares to insist that love is the strongest power, not the spear.

The Way is a threat to the Roman government because it dares to insist that everyone belongs, and that citizenship is for everyone.

And the Way is a threat to the Jewish authorities.

The Way is a threat to the Jewish authorities because it might suggest that their power is not absolute.

The Way is a threat to the Jewish authorities because it says mixing with the Roman politics of the day is a bad idea.

The Way is a threat to the Jewish authorities because it denies their rigid adherence to the law in favor of the Grace of God.

So Saul is out to kill everyone.

He’s getting arrest warrants to make sure that everyone falls in line.

Jesus literally stops him in his steps

Jesus steps in to Saul’s life, and drastically and dramatically causes him to repent.

He literally does a u-turn in the middle of the road.

I Once Was Blind but Now I See

And Saul is going to have to do this with some help.

When you are blind, particularly way back in the 1st century, your only hope of survival is to rely on someone else.

Your friends have to lead you around.

You need help getting dressed.

You need help eating.

I think it’s interesting that Jesus causes someone who was at the top of society’s food chain to rely on his neighbors for a little while.

Saul’s conversion story sure is interesting, and has a lot to teach us.

But…he’s not the only character in this story, is he?

Ananias

A Certain Disciple?

When you come across the phrase “a certain...” something, then you know that it’s just a normal everyday average something.

To hear that we have a certain disciple is Luke’s way of telling you that if you haven’t heard of this guy Ananias, you’re in good company.

He’s not one of the famous ones.

He’s not made a name for himself.

He’s not on the marquee.

He’s just…a certain disciple.

But…he knows some stuff.

He knows this Saul guy

Saul apparently in his campaign to rid the world of followers of The Way has made quite a name for himself.

Ananias has heard about this guy.

He knows Saul is dangerous.

He knows Saul is a threat.

He knows that Saul is not to be trusted.

But as this certain disciple is in his house praying, Jesus shows up and speaks to him.

Jesus says you need to go and find Saul.

Jesus says Ananias has been chosen to bring him in to the fold.

Jesus says Ananias is a vehicle for healing.

You can imagine Ananias’ hesitation, can’t you?

What if I go and he hasn’t responded to this vision yet?

What if he arrests me?

What if he kills me?

But, for being just a “certain disciple,” Ananias is listening well to Jesus.

He begins with belonging- Brother Saul

I am impressed with so much of what Ananias did in this story.

I am impressed with how he listened to Jesus.

I am impressed with his obediance to just get up and go.

I am impressed with his boldness, to be unafraid to go.

But most of all?

I’m impressed with how he started this conversation.

Brother Saul.

Brothers and sisters are in the in crowd.

Brothers and sisters are part of the pack.

Brothers and sisters belong

Someone should make that one of their church’s values.

But what’s so impressive about this is that Ananias requires nothing of Saul first.

Saul doesn’t need to prove he’s changed.

Saul doesn’t need to flash an ID badge

Saul doesn’t need to share a statement of faith.

Ananias starts with the assumption that if Saul is loved by Jesus, then Saul is deserving of love.

I wonder how different our world would be if we acted this way.

So of course we have Saul and we have Ananias in this story, but...

I would argue that neither of them is the main character in this story:

Jesus

Jesus sure knows how to deal with each person in this story in their own way, doesn’t he?

The Way Jesus Talks to Saul- Tough and Aggressive

Flannery O’Connor had a great line about this one:

Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary: Year C, Volume 2 Pastoral Perspective

“I reckon the Lord knew that the only way to make a Christian out of that one was to knock him off his horse.”

Sometimes, that’s what’s required isn’t it?

Some times we are so stuck in our own ways, so blind to how we’re getting it wrong, that Jesus takes some drastic measures.

A friend of mine once used to call it God’s 2x4s.

As in, that’s what will hit you upside the head when you need a wake up call.

Jesus knows that this is what Saul needs in this moment.

But Jesus also knows that this isn’t what everyone needs!

The Way Jesus Talks to Ananias- Sweet, and almost friendly.

Look at the way Jesus talks to Ananias.

He does not rebuke Ananias for his hesitations.

He does not get frustrated.

He leaves the 2x4 in the closet.

Instead, he just quietly explains what’s going on, and hopes that Ananias’ faith will do the rest.

For Jesus to get this across, Ananias needs to be quiet.

He needs to be still.

He needs to listen.

Their Conversion Stories aren’t about what they did.

This story is entirely about what Jesus is doing.

Saul doesn’t do anything on the Damascus Road, Jesus does everything.

Ananias doesn’t do anything but be obedient to what Jesus is already doing.

The church isn’t dependent on it’s own action.

We just follow the Way when it’s presented to us.

We listen when Jesus calls

We participate in what Jesus is already doing in the world.

Apprentices

Welcome Our Story, No Matter What it Is

I was hanging out with some friends this week.

We were talking about fashion trends that were in style back in the day, that have come back around.

My friend suggested that if he had worn tall socks the way so many people around us were that day, he would have been beaten up in grade school.

At which point, I grabbed my phone and quickly scrolled to find this beauty...

Look, that’s part of my story!

I was a nerd when I was small.

I was a nerd when I got bigger.

Heck, I’m still a nerd.

So many of the people I know that are struggling with their faith are struggling because they have a hard time owning their story.

And maybe being nerdy is too light an example.

Maybe your past has abuse.

Maybe your past has drug use.

Maybe your past has failure.

Maybe your past has something else that you dare not mention.

Or...

Maybe your story is much tamer.

Maybe you’ve always been a good church goer.

Maybe you don’t remember a time when you haven’t been on the Way.

Maybe your life is marked by quiet listening.

As Saul and Ananias have shown us this week, Jesus can work through both stories.

Own that!

Beware not to assume one size fits all

But!

We have to be careful not to assume that OUR story is THE story.

If you are the kind of person that Jesus had to knock off their horse to get their attention, that’s great.

But don’t assume that’s the only way Jesus gets folks attention.

If you are the kind of person who quietly listens to what Jesus has to say, that’s great!

But don’t assume that he speaks the same way to everyone.

If you’ve grown up with Church speaking to you in a certain style and liturgy to worship, that’s great.

Don’t assume our children or their children’s generations will respond to the same worship style and liturgy.

When it comes to Jesus and how he works in and through us, it is very much not one size fits all.

Always be willing to turn around on The Damascus Road

Whatever our story is, we have to be open to the idea that it gets off track from time to time.

Before Jesus met him on the Damascus Road, Saul would have told you that he was arresting and murdering all those people because of his devotion to God.

We have to recognize that we all fall away from time to time.

We all make mistakes.

We all fail.

We all need grace.

And that’s why we gather around this table.

We gather to taste and see that God is good.

We gather to remind each other that we need to turn around from time to time.

We gather, because we were given the title of Brother or Sister long before we could ever do anything on our own.

And so my friends, let’s prepare our hearts for the table today.