Acts 9:1-20 and John 21:1-19.

Today blesses us with two of the greatest calling stories in the Bible.  Those of Peter and of Paul, or Saul as he was known then.  Stories so familiar that we have read, listened, reflected and heard sermons on them many times in our lives.  With familiarity there is a danger of complacency, a real here we go again, I know what is coming next, I have heard it all before moment.

This morning, maybe we can consider Saul’s conversion on the road to Damascus a little creatively.  Perhaps we could place ourselves in his shoes and consider his profound and life changing experience on the road to Damascus that day.   If it helps you to imagine yourself journeying alongside Saul please do close your eyes, I will try to remember to tell you when to open them……!

“This man Jesus is becoming more and more of problem for us the true Jewish people.  Jesus and all his followers must be stopped before the situation escalates.  As a Pharisee whose faith is firmly rooted and grounded in scripture, it is my duty to do something about it.  I am a man of great importance and standing within my community.  I was born in Tarsus in Cilicia and educated at the feet of Gamaliel.  I have dedicated my life to following the teachings of the Torah with energy, passion and commitment. 

It is for this reason I am increasingly worried about the danger of the followers of this so called ‘Way’. I have made it my mission to identify, hunt down and arrest all those who claim to follow Jesus the Nazarene.  After all, how on earth could anyone consider anyone of any social standing and value could come from an ordinary place like Nazareth?  I have captured many of these so-called followers of the Way and they have been imprisoned, tried, punished or killed according to the severity of their crimes.  I have been tireless in pursuit of my goal; I have gained much power and recognition not only here is Israel but throughout the cities of outside of our land.  It is my hope that setting this example will ensure this sect will be eradicated once and for all.  The people need to understand that there is only one true faith, that of Judaism. 

It is in pursuit of this goal that I set out from Jerusalem to Damascus, a long, dusty journey of some 5 or 6 days with the sun beating relentlessly on my back.  I travelled with all the power and authority from the high priests.  My aim was to bring those that had been imprisoned there to face justice in Jerusalem.  I never shy away from my responsibilities as righteous Pharisee, even when I am exhausted, hungry and worn down by the endless arguments I must have I will not relent.  This is what I must do to ensure that the Jewish Law is upheld, I must hunt down all those who speak out and dare to question the true faith, the faith of Moses, of Abraham and our forefathers.

And then ‘IT’ happens……  I am walking along the road with my companions, and I am literally blinded by Light.  A light that comes blazing down from heaven, a light brighter than the sun, a light more radiant than I had ever seen before.  And then I heard a voice coming down from the heavens saying,

“Saul, Saul why are you persecuting me?” to which I answered, “Who are you Lord?”
The voice replied,
“I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.”  I replied, “ Lord what is it that you want me to do?”
And the Lord answered me,
“Arise, go to Damascus, and there you will be told about all the things that you have been ordered to do.”

It was at that point that I realised that I had been blinded by that awesome light.  I was no longer able to see anything at all.”

And open your eyes if you had them closed, phew I remembered!

Re-reading the story made me think about the significance of Saul losing his vision.  To be made blind forced the powerful, self-important and righteous man Saul to be completely dependent on the companions he was travelling with.  To be blinded made Saul stop in his tracks, he had to ask others for support and guide him every step along the road.  Saul had to accept their help and come to terms with his own humility.

Some of us closed our eyes just a few moments ago as we listened to Saul tell his story.  I wonder did it help you focus or make you feel anxious or vulnerable, were you more aware of your other senses as you did this?

To lose your sight in an instant is so very different, to be plunged from a world of light into a world of complete darkness.  We can only imagine what a terrifying place this must have been for Saul.  Perhaps we can pause to wonder how Saul felt to have the core of his faith, way of life and very being torn apart in an instant.  I wonder what he prayed and reflected on during this time.  And why did God choose to speak to him in this way? 

In our passage from Acts this morning, Annais lays his hands on Saul enabling him to be healed. The scales literally fall from his eyes symbolising his transformation.  Saul is brought from darkness into the true light of Christ.  He is then baptised symbolising God’s overwhelming ability to forgive each and every one of us.  Saul’s. sins as a persecutor of Christians are forgiven and set aside.  Saul the man who was so reliant on his own self importance and authority, is disempowered and surrenders himself to God.  He is commissioned to be sent to the Gentiles ‘to open their eyes so that they might turn from darkness to light’ (Acts 26:17-18). 

Some of us may have experienced a true Damascus road experience, many have come to faith in this way just like Paul.  I am definitely not one of them!  But there have been moments in my life when I have been challenged by God.  Times when an encounter with God has broken through and stilled me making me focus on what is really important.  I have been challenged to remain somewhere or sit with thoughts that are uncomfortable.  In remaining in that space, like Saul and accepting my vulnerability and dependence on God I have become aware of the amazing transforming power of God’s forgiveness and healing. 

And, as if the transformation of Saul into one of the most significant leaders of the Christian Church was not enough, what of Peter.  Peter the fisherman from Galilee, who has so often misunderstood Jesus, acted impulsively, said and did the wrong thing.  And yet Jesus chose him to be one of his disciples.

In Holy Week, we are reminded that Peter denied knowing Jesus three times, each time more emphatically than the last.  Peter’s fear, vulnerability and weakness in the face of adversity were not punished.  After his resurrection, Jesus appeared to Peter and asked him three times ‘do you love me’, exactly mirroring his previous three denials.  Peter affirms his love for Jesus and on each occasion he is instructed to feed and care for his sheep.  Jesus demonstrates the power of his grace, mercy and never ending forgiveness to Peter.  Peter is transformed into one of the greatest leaders of the early Church.

Jesus chose to call these two unlikely leaders of the early Church.  Saul the self-important, rigid Pharisee and Peter who acted without thinking, openly expressed his doubts and whose faith wavered.  Jesus chose them despite their imperfections, flaws and weaknesses.  Amazingly he has called each and every one of us here to follow him and participate in the mission of his Church.  Jesus accepts us all, just as we are, he alone knows the deepest desires of our hearts. 

If you were to be held in the darkness like Saul blinded on the road to Damascus, what is it that would be on your mind, what is it that you would bring to Jesus?

Or if like Peter you allowed yourself to call out to the Lord, expressing your weaknesses, shame and regret, what would you cry?

What would it be like to feel the power of God’s transformation? 

Maybe this week we could try re-entering the story of Saul and imagine our own conversation in the darkness.  I wonder what light or revelation it could bring….

Or perhaps we feel more called at this moment to cry out like Peter either on behalf of ourselves or to express our concerns about this our broken world.  I wonder how we might be changed by God’s answer…..