Pastor's Corner: Helpless on the road
Being sick stinks … doesn’t it? We’ve all had an experience of being too sick to get out of bed, too sick to take care of ourselves, or simply too sick to do anything except just be sick. When we are in a situation of helplessness, being completely reliant upon others, whether from illness, injury, or something else is a truly humbling experience.
We’ll be continuing this week a June series on the Book of Acts. In Acts 9, we hear the story of Saul, later known as Paul, finding himself in a position of helplessness.
Saul was an enemy of the early church by seeking to imprison and murder those who followed Christ [Acts 9:1]. Saul was on the road to Damascus, seeking to arrest those in the church, when his life changed forever: “As [Saul] neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?' 'Who are you, Lord?' Saul asked. 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,' he replied. 'Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.' The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.” (Acts 9:3-9, NIV)
After Saul encountered the risen Christ on that road, he became blind, he did not eat and he did not drink. This once powerful man, had to be led by the hand like a small child. Saul became vulnerable, powerless, completely reliant upon others. While his guards helped him to the city, they were not able to cure his blindness.
For Saul to regain his sight he would be reliant upon one of his enemies, a member of the early church: “In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, 'Ananias!' 'Yes, Lord,' he answered. The Lord told him, 'Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.' 'Lord,' Ananias answered, 'I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.' But the Lord said to Ananias, 'Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.'” (Acts 9:10-15)
As Saul found himself at his most vulnerable he likely has ever been in his adult life, he finds himself at the mercy of Ananias, one of the very men Saul had wanted to see dead. Ananias receives a call from the Lord telling him that he needed to show mercy to Saul, to show grace, and Ananias has a choice to make. He can make a logical decision, for he knows the damage Saul has caused, and very possibly could cause again, or, to follow our Lord’s commandment and to heal Saul.
“Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, 'Brother Saul, the Lord — Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here — has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.' Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength.” (Acts 9:17-19)
It was through Ananias showing mercy and the gift of the Holy Spirit, which we looked at last week, that led to Saul (Paul) being one of the most prolific writers, preachers and missionaries of the early church. We’ll continue in Acts next week. Go in peace.
Rev. Dan Robertson pastors at First Presbyterian Church of Fairbury
This article originally appeared on Pontiac Daily Leader: Rev. Dan Robertson's Pastor's Corner: Helpless on the road
