Encountering the Messiah

“Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. Acts 9:5 (NLT)

Around 40 AD, a proud Jew – a member of the tribe of Benjamin, a Pharisee and son of a Pharisee, a keen student of the Torah, a zealot, philosopher – walks along the busy highway. His name is Saul of Tarsus. He hardly notices the traders, their carts piled high with goods, hurrying along the road to get to the emerging metropolis of the day, Damascus. His mind is set like flint on his mission. His mission to round up new believers of a sect called The Way and bring them to Jerusalem in chains. The blasphemers that Gamaliel, his teacher, had warned him about.

As he thinks about the look of satisfaction on the faces of his fellow Pharisees and the Sanhedrin, a mysterious, bright light suddenly appears, blinding him, forcing him to the ground. As he lies on the ground, he hears a voice saying to him, “Saul! Why are you persecuting me?” He is bewildered and asks, “Who are you, Lord?” Immediately the voice replies, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” As Saul gets up, trying to adjust to normal daylight, he realises that he can’t see.

Saul believed that he was doing what every Jew devoted to God, to Adonai, should. He believed his devotion to Adonai meant following the letter of the Jewish law. He didn’t consider that what Isaiah, Zechariah, Hosea and others foretold about the long-awaited Messiah had come to pass until his encounter with the Son of the living God.

The Rich and Transformed Life

We, like Saul, can become so focused on what we’ve learnt about God. About Adonai. Our understanding of who God is becomes clouded by who others say He is. We become satisfied with “crumbs” from the master’s table and ignore the lavish feast of fine food that He has set before us. We ignore the invitation to come. To come and take a seat at His banqueting table.

Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Isaiah 55:1 (NIV)

When we accept his invitation to come. To feast. To eat the richest fare without cost. To feed on His Word. To speak to Him. To incline our ears as He speaks to us, we will, like Saul, encounter the true Messiah, the Son of the living God. We will encounter Jesus Christ who paid the price for us so that we can freely delight in what He wants to give us – food that leads to a rich and transformed life. A life that is satisfied in Christ alone.

Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labour on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare. Isaiah 55:2 (NIV)

Reflection:

Think about the crumbs you may have been eating instead of the rich food that Jesus has for you.

Prayer:

Forgive me, Lord, for being satisfied with the crumbs from Your table. I accept Your invitation to come to Your feast. To fill my mind with Your Word. To take time to pray and to hear Your voice. Help me be satisfied in You alone. In Jesus’ name, amen.