Paul the Apostle, formally known as Saul of Tarsus a Pharisee, and a murderer of the followers of Christ. When on the road to Damascus, himself was converted to be a follower of Christ. Paul is one of greatest advocate for our Lord and savior Jesus consider the founder of Christianity. He is the major figure within the early Christian movement and played a crucial role in spreading the gospel to the Gentiles (non-Jews). Also considered one of the greatest religious leaders of all time because his books in the Bible has a enormous influence on Christianity. He wrote thirteen books out of twenty-seven in the New Testament and started more than a dozen churches.

I couldn’t help but wonder, why was Paul chosen for such a task and not one of Jesus’s disciples? He was not one who loved and cared about Jesus and his mission, but an adversary. Paul, I should say is more like a police, prosecutor and judge because to make sure people upholds the religious laws and traditions as written, he prosecuted and killed anyone who didn’t and was a threat to it, as were Jesus and those who followed him. Paul was a man of Faith, but was fighting on the wrong side of it by believing his human perspective of God was the truth and only way.

The Holy Spirit, revealer of God truth says, “Paul like Judas was betraying God in what he was doing to the followers of Christ. What happened to Paul on the way to Damascus is the proof of the resurrection power of Jesus. When people say things like, “if Jesus was truly the one, the Messiah, then the end of all suffering we go through because of sin would have come to an end and we should be living in peace and joy now, not still suffering and death.” It seems like nothing had changed when so much has, through Jesus. We all now have access whereas before we didn’t to draw closer to God, we also know we don’t have to fear death anymore, and so much more. Paul became the manifestation of the promises of God to man. Kingdom rule (law) free will no longer exist as it did before. What’s happened was spiritual, not for the natural understand when realizing Saul wasn’t given a choice to change. He was reborn, not by water, but by the light, fire and the Holy Ghost (Jesus) according to Matthew 3:11 Baptized and became Paul the Apostle, Acts 9:1-19 On the road to Damascus, Saul as he was known died.

Jesus showed us here with Paul what he’d said on the cross to the Father, “forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Because we truly don’t! So for all us sinners, God do recognize and understand we’re inadequate, can’t help ourselves in the wrongs that we do. When I envisioned Paul encounter with Jesus, like Adam and Eve in the Garden naked, I saw Paul naked and ashamed also knowing he’s done wrong. But this time instead of animal skin to cover him up Jesus covers him with his spirit. “Doesn’t this makes you cry?” It is not something you can see, have the fear someone can remove from you or it can be lost, but the most powerful covering we can ever receive. This enabled Paul to be so great at all he’s done. It made Paul (man), for the first time after Jesus resurrection carrying the weight of his own sins, (Matthew 16: 24) “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Unlike Jesus who carried the sins of the world. Paul suffer and went through many things and face them head on with dignity, without wavering for his sins. For this reason we must understand when asking, “why do bad things happen to the good people?” People, we are not good, we all sin and has fallen short and have to pay the price. And like Paul, just because we read of him being and doing good deads, didn’t mean he’s always been good. If his past was not disclosed to us, even at his own confessions in the Bible we’d be so ignorant in believing him to be perfect like Jesus. He transformed completely and became a man of divinity. Just as Jesus was one with the Father to fulfill His will, Paul also through Jesus and we today must likewise, be one and continue to fulfill our Father will.

Paul encounter with Jesus is proof that as a man or woman we no longer could use the excuse the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Jesus resurrection has strengthened the flesh to walk hand and hand in one accord with the spirit. According to Paul himself who wrote 1Timothy 6:12 “Fight the good fight of Faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.