He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul! Why do you persecute me?" "Who are you Lord?" he asked. "I am Jesus …" Acts 9:4-5, GNT

 

Often when dignitaries or famous people are interviewed, they will be asked if there is any one person, from the past or present, that they would like to meet. It is always interesting to hear who they choose. Some say they would like to meet a political figure, others a famous scientist, a legendary person from the musical world, a famous film star or a sportsperson.

 

Asking myself this question, the first name that came up was Jesus. Maybe not such a good idea,.If I meet Jesus now in person, what would he look like – like the historical Jesus of 2000 years ago, or maybe like the picture in my children’s Bible? Another picture I have in my mind of Jesus is from the book of Revelation. I think it would be better for me to wait until I can meet him in person once I arrive in heaven.

 

Nobody ever asked Saul if he wanted to meet Jesus. On the contrary, Saul was persecuting the church of Jesus and a meeting with Jesus was probably the last thing he wanted. When it did happen on the road to Damascus, he immediately knew that he was in contact with the Lord, but he was very uncertain of what was happening. “Who are you Lord?” he asked. “I am Jesus …” he was told. Nothing more was necessary. Saul immediately knew who Jesus was.

 

This one extraordinary meeting completely changed Saul, and this change was represented in the changing of his name to Paul. His whole life was radically transformed and this meeting had a profound influence on the growth of the church of Jesus Christ in the world. We cannot meet Jesus in person while we are on earth and there may not be a light shining on us like with Paul, but fortunately, we can meet him in the spirit and our lives are just as radically changed by this encounter.

 

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for wanting to meet me as you have done with Paul. Amen

 

 

Hy het op die grond geval en 'n stem vir hom hoor sê: "Saul, Saul, waarom vervolg jy My?" "Wie is U Here" vra hy toe. "Ek is Jesus", antwoord Hy. Handelinge 9:4-5a, 1983-vertaling

 

Wanneer daar onderhoude met bekende of beroemde mense gevoer word, is een van die vrae dikwels watter persoon uit die geskiedenis hulle graag sal wil ontmoet. Dit is nogal baie interessant om te hoor wie hulle kies. Sommige kies politieke figure uit die geskiedenis, ander weer 'n beroemde wetenskaplike. Nog ander kies 'n musieklegende, 'n beroemde filmster of sportlegende.

 

Toe ek vir myself die vraag vra, het ek dadelik aan Jesus gedink, maar gou besef dat dit nie vir my 'n goeie keuse sou wees nie. As ek Jesus nou fisies moet ontmoet, sal dit in die gestalte van die historiese Jesus van 2000 jaar gelede wees of sal dit die Jesus van my Kinderbybel prentjie wees? Dalk die Een wat in Openbaring uitgebeeld word? Vir 'n aangesig tot aangesig ontmoeting sal ek liewers wil wag totdat ek Hom eendag in sy hemelwoning ontmoet.

 

Vir Saul was 'n ontmoeting met Jesus seker die heel laaste ding wat hy verwag of begeer het. Hy was immers die groot vervolger van Jesus se kerk. Toe dit wel plaasvind, het hy dadelik geweet dat hy hier met die Here te doen het, maar tog was hy ook totaal onseker wat dit beteken. “Wie is U Here” vra hy. “Ek is Jesus”, kom die antwoord. Niks verder was nodig nie. Paulus het onmiddellik geweet wie dit is wat hom hier op die pad na Damaskus kom ontmoet het.

 

Hierdie een besondere ontmoeting het nie net Paulus se lewe radikaal verander nie, dit het ook 'n geweldige groot invloed op die groei van die kerk van Jesus in die wêreld gehad. Ons ontmoeting met Jesus is dalk nie nou al van aangesig tot aangesig, of deur 'n lig wat uit die hemel skyn nie, maar dit keer ook ons lewens radikaal om en help om die evangelie in die wêreld sigbaar te maak.

 

Gebed: Here Jesus, baie dankie dat U van u kant af, soos met Paulus, ook daarna gesoek het om my te ontmoet. Amen