March 25, 2024
What Happened on the Road to Damascus
By Michael Youssef, Ph.D.
Read Acts 26:12-18.
On the third day, Jesus walked out of His borrowed garden tomb, alive and well. The religious tried to stop the resurrection with seals and stones and soldiers. It didn’t matter; Jesus rose from the dead all the same.
Even so, opposition to the resurrection power of Jesus continued. Religious authorities, political leaders, and others tried to silence Jesus’ followers and put a stop to the spread of the Gospel. One such enemy of Christ was a young Pharisee named Saul of Tarsus. He rose to prominence and found a measure of fame because of his hate for Christian believers who kept on proclaiming the resurrection. He intimidated the believers, imprisoned many, and even oversaw the murder of a deacon in the church at Jerusalem named Stephen.
Saul was determined to stamp out Christianity, not just in Jerusalem but across the whole region. With permission from the high priest, he pursued believers all the way to the city of Damascus in Syria—a long way away.
However, all was not as it seemed. Inside Saul of Tarsus a war was raging. In fact, his outward resistance to the resurrection can only be explained by his inward struggle. Jesus knew this, and so while Saul was traveling to Damascus, the Lord blinded the young Pharisee and spoke to him: “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads” (Acts 26:14). Saul was hurting himself with his hatred of the resurrection, so Jesus, in His mercy, stopped Saul in his tracks so that he could change course for good.
You see, prior to that divinely appointed day, Saul had wanted his religion to seal his heart from the resurrected Jesus. He had tried to fortify his heart with his false religion and religious activities. He attempted to muffle the voice of the resurrected Jesus with his good deeds. But finally, when faced with the Truth—Truth he could no longer deny—he had to submit; he had to surrender.
When Saul met the risen Christ, he couldn’t resist asking, “Who are You, Lord?” You can ask that same question, and the Lord will answer you. You will never find real peace of mind—you will never experience true freedom from sin and guilt and shame and addiction or be assured of eternity in heaven—until you submit to the risen Lord. Don’t put it off. Right now could be your Damascus Road moment!
Prayer: Jesus, I want You to be King of my life. I don’t want to fight against Your perfect will for me. Empower me by Your Spirit to live as a citizen of Your heavenly Kingdom today for Your glory and the blessing of those in my midst. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
“We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads’” (Acts 26:14).
Learn more in Dr. Michael Youssef’s sermon Stopping the Resurrection?: LISTEN NOW | WATCH NOW
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Listen to Dr. Michael Youssef on today's broadcast of Leading The Way at OnePlace.com.
Watch Dr. Michael Youssef on this week's broadcast of Leading The Way at LightSource.com.
