Ephesus, 55 AD – Hearing that Paul, the one time persecutor of The Way now turned apostle, was in Ephesus, we came to this city to find him and with hopes of talking with him. There is one thing about Paul that is instantly apparent to anyone who meets him. He never stops talking about Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified rabbi whom he and others of The Way call Christ. This same Paul, formerly known as Saul of Tarsus, was once a passionate persecutor of those who professed faith in Jesus. He even gave approval when one of these Christians, a man name Stephen, was stoned to death because of his belief. Today however it’s not only Paul’s name that has changed, but he credits the resurrected Jesus Christ with making him a changed person. He has been quoted as saying, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me (Gal 2:20 NIV)."
In a letter Paul recently wrote to Christians in Corinth, he said, "When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified (1 Cor 2:1-2 NIV)."
Paul claims that his life was forever changed and that preaching "Jesus Christ and him crucified" became an all consuming passion after he was confronted by Jesus on the road to Damascus.
But Paul doesn’t seem to be unique in this regard. Many Christians we have met claim to have been changed after confronting this risen Christ. Peter is one who comes to mind. And what about James the brother of Jesus? Like Paul, both of these men were changed when they confronted the risen Jesus. How about you? Have you confronted Christ? Has knowing Jesus compelled you to proclaim the good news?
The Christian must Teach Christ from Look at the Man by Tim Woodroof and Glen Gray
Editorial: The Good News - One Year Old
Return to Past Issues of The Good News
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Copyright © 1997 by Gerry Sturgeon
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.