“I Am Jesus” Changes Everything for paper

I would like you to remember a time in your life when who you were and where you were headed changed. Something happened that altered the trajectory of your life. The apostle Paul, as a young man known by his Hebrew name, Saul, certainly could name such a time. Saul wanted to eradicate the church. He starts wreaking havoc on those who follow the way of Jesus shortly after Christ’s resurrection. He’s bound and determined to find every last Christian and have them thrown into jail or murdered.

Then comes the defining moment of his life. He’s traveling to Damascus, papers in hand to arrest anyone who claims Jesus as Lord and Savior. Suddenly the blinding light flashes, and Saul comes face to face with Jesus: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” Saul can only ask, “Who are you, Lord?” Now Saul will hear words that will change him forever. “I am Jesus.” Imagine how those words must have stung when Saul heard him. “I am Jesus,” the voice continues, “whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”

Saul cannot see. He has to be led into Damascus. For three days, he remembers all that he has done to ravage the church. For three days, “I am Jesus” penetrates every thought and feeling and bone in his body. It will be the defining moment of his life. Now the Old Testament comes alive like never before as he realizes the prophecies have been fulfilled in Jesus. Now he knows everything is about to change. He couldn’t yet know just how, but the Lord is soon to let him know.

Ananias arrives. He lays his hands on Saul. Eyesight restored. Filled with the Holy Spirit, as he is baptized into the death and resurrection of Jesus. He eats. He is strengthened by food and, perhaps even more, by the welcome from Ananias. From someone who once feared him and whom he had hated, Saul hears another blessed word: “Brother.” Ananias calls him a brother in the faith, a fellow follower of Jesus. Saul has joined the church.

Just listen to what has changed. From writing letters to arrest believers to writing letters upon which the church has relied on and will rely on until Jesus comes back again. From one who brought such suffering to the church, he will now suffer for the name of Jesus. From one who arrested believers, he will now be arrested time and again. From one who was so zealous to liquidate the church, he now starts churches in city after city. From one who has depended on what he did and his family background to be right with God, he now depends solely on Christ for his righteousness in the sight of God. The list could go on. But those words changed everything for Saul. “I am Jesus.” Paul, as we better remember him now, met the resurrected Jesus, alive and glorified, and everything changed.

Now, none of us will have that same dramatic experience that Paul had. But we are changed by the risen Jesus just the same. Here’s how.

Paul needed forgiveness. He needed to repent. He needed faith. He needed Jesus. Paul knew Jesus had died for the sins of the whole world. But he doesn’t stop there. He also proclaims what more Jesus did for him—and what Jesus, risen from the dead, does for us too. “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you” (Rom 8:11). Just like Paul, we need to repent. We need faith. We need forgiveness. We need Jesus. every day.

These words are from Jesus, not me. Imagine him saying to you, “I am Jesus. There is therefore now no condemnation for you because you are in me.” You need Jesus, risen from the dead, to forgive you. And remember, Jesus forgave Paul, who’d tried to destroy the church, and no longer condemned him. He forgives you for whatever haunts your life, whatever you heartily confess in repentance. Blessed words. “I am Jesus. Risen from the dead. I do not condemn you. You are mine forever.” That changes everything, for now we stand righteous in God’s eyes.

What happened to Paul happens to us. Not quite as dramatically, but Jesus comes to each one of us and says, “I am Jesus. I am your brother. You need not fear what you have done. You are forgiven. You are covered by my righteousness. No condemnation. Just an eternity with all your brothers and sisters and the whole host of heaven, because – I am Jesus”

Blessings.