Why Do You Persecute Me?

Why Do You Persecute Me?

Acts 9:1-4

I noticed a meme recently, shared by a fairly prominent minister (Joel Beeke, but that doesn’t matter). What grabbed my attention (and got me to thinking), was what the meme actually said: it read, “How we treat the church is how we treat Jesus, for the church is His body.”

Of course, the fact that the Church is the Body of Christ is beyond a Biblical doubt:

*1 Corinthians 12:12-27: Explains that just as a body has many parts, the church has many members functioning as one body under Christ.

*Ephesians 1:22-23: tells us God placed all things under Christ's feet and appointed him head over all things for the church, "which is his body".

*Romans 12:4-5: Mentions that though we are many, we are "one body in Christ".

*Colossians 1:18, 24: Identifies Christ as the head of the body, the church.

*Ephesians 5:23: Explicitly says, "Christ is the head of the church, his body".

Could it be True, that the way we treat the Church is the way we treat Jesus, in light of the church being the Body of Christ? I can’t help but wonder if that’s true of me? Is it true of us? Do I treat Jesus the way I treat the church, and vice versa? Do I have the same commitment, the same love... do I offer the same attention, the same loyalty; and conversely, do I show the same lack of commitment, and loyalty? Or am I quick to try and separate the two?

Saul earnestly believed he was serving God. He was armed with authority and conviction, as he set out for Damascus to arrest followers of “The Way” (the earliest term for followers of Jesus). Yet, along the Road to Damascus, something extraordinary happened. Jesus appeared to Saul, in dramatic fashion... stopping him dead in his tracks... with a question that exposed the deepest reality of Saul’s heart: “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

Notice that Jesus did not ask: He didn’t say “Saul, why are you persecuting my people”... Jesus certainly could have asked that question, but he didn’t. He did not ask, “Saul, why are do you persecute my followers... my disciples... my church?” He said, “Why do you persecute me?”

It turns out that Christ so identifies with His people, his church that every wound inflicted upon us is felt by Him. And that should humble us all, no doubt! We should drop to our knees in profound adoration for the grace of Christ (that gives us more than we deserve) and the mercy of Christ (that keeps us from what we DO deserve). What a comfort Luke give us here in the book of Acts! That every believer who suffers for Christ’s sake is held in the Father’s care. No tear escapes His notice. No insult goes unheard. No act of faithfulness is ever ignored.

Of course, the question also reveals something else. Saul was sincere, but he was sincerely wrong. Zeal without submission to Christ is never enough. Religious activity, conventional morality, and passionate conviction cannot and will not redeem any of us. We must come face-to-face with the risen Christ, acknowledging Him not merely as a good teacher or a great prophet, but as our Savior and our King.

The grace of Christ shines brightly in our lesson today. Jesus could have struck Saul down in judgment... Jesus could have condemned Saul for his acts of violence against His Church. Instead, He convicted Saul... He called him by name... and completely transformed Saul’s life! The persecutor became a preacher; the Pharisee became a missionary. The enemy became an apostle. Saul became Paul. But then, that’s the transformational power of sovereign grace.

John Calvin observed that God’s grace is displayed most gloriously when He conquers those who were once His fiercest opponents. God’s not intimidated by the proud, He’s not fearful of opposition, and His grace is not limited by our lack of belief! Saul’s conversion is proof beyond any doubt that there’s no heart, no life, no soul, beyond the reach of God’s mercy. The same Lord who captured Saul on the Road to Damascus is still calling the lost and broken to Himself today.

If you belong to Christ, remember that He walks with you in every trial. If you’ve wandered from Him, hear His voice calling you back. And if you’re praying for someone who seems far from God, do not lose hope. The God specializes in accomplishing what seems impossible. There’s an abundance of Assurance in these words from our scripture lesson today!

But also, heed the warning here; if you’re a child of God in Christ, you’re part of His Body, His Church. And you and I are to care for, and encourage the fellowship of Believers with every gifting and grace at our disposal. When we do so, we’re not just caring for ourselves... we’re treating Jesus, and the Church He died to save, with the devoted loyalty that comes from being a follower of Christ!

We should be immensely grateful that Christ knows His Church (each of us) so intimately and completely that He calls our suffering His own. We should be awe struck by His grace... to the point that we treasure it above all else!

May the power of Christ’s Spirit keep us humble, and obedient to His Word, as we wholly devote our lives to Him. And may Christ help each of us to trust that no one is beyond the reach of His saving power: as our lives bear witness to the transforming grace of the risen Christ.

Amen.