" And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And He said,unto me, I Am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.." Acts 22:8
One of the statements that Jesus often calls himself is I AM. He uses it and speaks it because HE IS GOD'S SON. Jesus never did anything off the cuff.
Paul went to Jerusalem. Many of those he won to the Lord on his missionary journeys were with him. He knew the church at Jerusalem was in good hands, but he knew they were in a struggle being in that place. He wanted to go back to where it began. Years ago he had volunteered to persecute the church right there in Jerusalem. He was a formidable enemy, the greatest weapon against Christianity. As Saul, he thought Jesus was a fraud like so many others who would get a group going. People knew him; they remembered his efforts to bring Christianity down. He was sent from this city to arrest those who believed in Jesus. He was the one who held the garments of those who stoned Stephen. Still he wanted so much to talk to them and share his story of salvation. All who saw Paul knew that he indeed was the Saul who persecuted them all those years ago. After getting permission from the Captain of the army to speak, Paul began the greatest story of his life.
He told them he was on his way to Damascus to arrest Christians. He told them he saw a bright light; he also heard a voice which said, Saul, why are you persecuting me? Saul responded by asking "who art thou Lord?" More often that I should I have to ask the Lord to show himself to me. Here Saul was; he knew this was something bigger than he knew. Overcoming Christianity felt good to him but his world went bright then very dark. In a moment's time he was on the ground and his life changed forever. This voice was not like the voice he used to others. It simply asked "Saul, Saul why persecutest thou me?" Jesus spoke I AM. He spoke in Hebrew to Saul by the use of this very word. They are the very words God used when he spoke to Moses from the burning bush. When Moses asked who he should say sent him he was told "I AM that I AM."
Jesus identified himself as the "I AM." This is the only name God uses. HE IS. All that God says he is, HE IS. He is I AM THAT I AM. God can back up what he says. He is the ALL in ALL. When Saul heard those words he knew the God of glory spoke. Saul's second question what would would you have me do?" He didn't argue with the Lord. He fully understood what Jesus said and what he should do. He was led to Damascus and from there everything changed. He became exactly the opposite of who he was. He served Jesus faithfully. He witnessed to the rich and poor, the lowly, the highest. In his last letter Paul wrote to Timothy "I have fought a good fight. I have finished my course."
What was it in that voice that made a change in Saul?
Before Abraham was born I AM.
I AM the Good Shepherd and know my sheep.
I AM the Light of the world; you won't walk in darkness.
I AM the Door; walk in and out and find rest.
I AM the Way, the Truth, the Life; all who come to me will go to heaven.
I AM the Resurrection; he spoke at Lazarus' tomb. You will live again.
Jesus identified himself with the Father in a particular way. Knowing God, he knew his body would rise again. He knew we needed one bigger than we are. We needed a Door that Satan can't enter. We were hungry and needed to be fed the Bread of Life. He knew in our darkness we would need Light. And in all this HE IS JESUS of NAZARETH.
Saul's very argument had been against Christianity was against Jesus. He knew Jesus was not educated. He knew Jesus was a carpenter's son. Saul was noble; he was trained and educated by the best. He couldn't understand why people followed Jesus around. He was from Nazareth. Nothing good ever came from this little nothing town. Jesus said he was the Son of God yet he couldn't save himself on the cross. God would never die. Perhaps Saul had studied the hill of Calvary and thought this was nothing. He was crucified and the disciples stole his body. Afterwards his disciples got back together. He told those he arrested that you can't expect me to believe this man was the Messiah.
So what did Jesus day in response to Saul's question "who are you, Lord? Saul heard
I AM–the God of heaven. He could identify with that. The voice didn't stop there. He said "
I AM JESUS OF NAZARETH!" Saul's life had been so complicated; he had gone to great lengths to destroy Christians. Nothing was ever the same after he heard the words "
I AM JESUS OF NAZARETH."
To the crowd in Jerusalem, Paul said I was wrong; all of you were right. That's why he went there. The name that is used in every way known today, even in vain, will put us all to our knees. Yes, he is the Savior. Yes, he is I AM. Yes, remember his words I AM JESUS OF NAZARETH.
The first time Jesus witnessed was in Nazareth. The first persecution was in Nazareth when Jesus was rejected in his own hometown. No matter how impossible things seem I have assurance that if I speak the name of Jesus I can make it. I can be a witness. Of all the ways we need him, don't forget. Never fail to trust him as Jesus of Nazareth. Go forward in Jesus' name. There is work to do in Jesus' name. Just like Peter told the lame man at the gate of the temple–in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth–rise up and walk. All in the name of Jesus, the man from Nazareth.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 