Saul was traveling to Damascus, orders in hand to seek out any who followed in “The Way” and bring them to Jerusalem to be persecuted.
As he 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.” Acts 9:3-6
His encounter with the risen Jesus was so intense, he lost his sight and did not eat or drink for three days. After his sight was restored by the direction of Jesus and he spent a few days with the disciples in Damascus, he began to preach Jesus as the Son of God.
All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” Acts 9:21
Yes and No
The same person in body, but different.
Getting to know Jesus will do that to you.
Likewise, when Jesus began to preach in the synagogue, the people were amazed.
“Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son?” Matthew 13:54-55
Yes and No
The same person in body, but different.
When the prodigal son returned, his brother was infuriated, “You throw him a party? Wasn’t this the same one who demanded his inheritance and squandered it all?”
‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’” Luke 15:31-32
Was lost but now I’m found
Was dead but now I live
Left but I returned
Am I not the one that denied Jesus and turned away?
Yes and No
The same person in body, but different.
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