Have You Been With Jesus?
Peter had earlier, before Jesus’ death and resurrection, denied three times that he even knew the Lord (Luke 22:54-62). Now, after meeting the resurrected Christ, Peter was so transformed that, not only was he willing to preach the first post-resurrection public sermon (Acts 2:14-41) but in the end he died a martyr’s death crucified upside down on a wooden cross.
Peter, when questioned about healing a lame man in the name of Jesus spoke with Spirit inspired boldness (Acts 4:8). Even his enemies acknowledged that though Peter and John were unschooled, ordinary men, they were different. They had been with Jesus.
Paul of Tarsus was a Jew and a strict Pharisee. He was zealous for the Jewish faith and nationalistic in his sympathies. Paul persecuted the church and pursued Christians to death. That was until he had an unexpected encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. He was going to Damascus with the intention of arresting any Christians he found there. Suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. He fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” He answered, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting” (Acts 9:4-5). Trembling and astonished, Paul asked, “Lord, what do you want me to do?” (Acts 22:10).
Paul’s life was never the same again. He went from being the arch persecutor and destroyer of the church, to perhaps the greatest missionary church planter the world has ever known. His life was so changed by his encounter with the risen Christ that others scarcely believed what they were seeing and hearing (Acts 9:26). Paul was only accepted in the early church fellowship because Barnabas spoke for him (Acts 9:27).
A church that is changing lives will grow. But lives are only changed by an encounter with Jesus. Looking at your own life, do you think others might look at you and say, “I can tell you have been with Jesus”?
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