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The Risen Christ by Dr. D. James Kennedy

“Now it happened, as I journeyed and came near Damascus at about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me.” Acts 22:6

Consider the resurrection of Jesus in the conversion of Saul of Tarsus, who became Paul, the apostle. By seeing the risen Christ, Saul knew in an instant, Christianity was true after all.

In that instant on the road to Damascus, the whole world of Saul, the Pharisee, was changed. He had believed quite emphatically that with the ignominious death of Jesus the “Imposter” upon a cross, the true God had conquered, and the end of that life was sealed forever. He believed that Jesus was exposed for the fraud that He was, and God had put His seal upon the truth of the religion of the Jews.

Now, suddenly, everything was turned topsy-turvy. God had obviously raised Jesus from the dead, for He was alive and He was glorified. He was evidently the Son of God as He had said, raised from the dead. He was, indeed, the Living Messiah, as He had claimed. Paul’s world was completely changed. In that brief moment, the life of Saul was transformed. Now he knew the truth.

Paul had believed, like so many persecutors of the church, that he was doing God a favor. He believed that the Christians were wrong and that he was doing God’s will. Then Jesus revealed Himself, and in an instant Saul realized he was wrong.

The resurrection of Christ changes everything.

Lord Jesus, we praise You that although You died for the sake of our trespasses and sins, You were made alive by Your Father. We praise You that in an instant You can change the hearts of even the most antagonistic of souls.

BY GOD’S STRENGTH, WE CAN SEE LIFE THROUGH THE GRID OF THE RESURRECTION.