Scripture reading: John 21:1-19.

Sermon text: Acts 9:1-20.

Do we trust the ones we follow enough to follow them anywhere?

Over the centuries, soldiers have followed valiant leaders into the face of death more times than history can record. In 400 B.C., Xenophon led the survivors of a Greek army back home through more than 1,000 miles of hostile territory. Napoleon’s army followed him in victorious campaigns but also in his disastrous invasion of Russia. This week, one of my former history students lectured to a high school class about the Battle of Gettysburg. The students marveled that the Confederate soldiers in Pickett’s Charge would march in perfect formation across a killing zone, suffering over 50% casualties.

In today’s passages, we find 3 men who would learn to trust the One who called them to follow Him regardless of the call He would require of them. Their circumstances — both successes and failures — still speak to us and demonstrate the grace of Our Lord, the One who forgives our sins and calls us forward into unimaginable glory.

First, we need to discuss a man named Simon Peter. Simon had spent his entire life on the shores of the Sea of Galilee with his brother Andrew and his friends James and John. Together, the 4 men had built a successful fishing business. Andrew and John had left for at least a period of time to follow John the Baptist, but when John the Baptist introduced Jesus as the “Lamb of God,” both men followed Jesus instead. Andrew introduced Jesus to Simon. Jesus recognized Simon as a potential leader, and when He called Simon to follow Him in discipleship, Simon quickly emerged as the chief speaker for the disciples.

Simon, however, also possessed some less desirable traits that would hamper his leadership. Simon rarely thought ahead before speaking, leading to some uncomfortable moments with Jesus and the other disciples. Simon also demonstrated a rash side that led to a very unfortunate encounter for a servant in the Garden of Gethsemane during Jesus’ arrest. Finally, in his most shameful moment in his life, Simon denied ever knowing Jesus during Jesus’ trial at the home of the high priest.

We also see a man named Saul in the passages today. Saul seemed to rise to leadership as well. He would later refer to himself as a “Hebrew of Hebrews,” and regarding his adherence to the Mosaic Law, “blameless” (Philippians 3:5-6). Following Stephen’s martyrdom in the eighth chapter of Acts, Saul spearheaded the persecution of the Church. He imprisoned as many Christians as he could find in Jerusalem and then went abroad to stamp out the new faith as thoroughly as possible.

At some point in his persecution, however, Saul crossed the line. The high priest and his cronies didn’t like Christianity at all, but the ferocity of Saul’s persecution drove them to accept his offer to go to Damascus to arrest Christians there. Here’s a key point: The “letters” the high priest sent with Saul to Damascus would have no legal standing outside Judea. Had Saul arrested anyone in Damascus, the Roman authorities there may well have arrested him. Somehow, I doubt Saul’s arrest would have bothered the high priest in Jerusalem.

We also have another man in the passages, a disciple named Ananias. Ananias would most likely have met Saul had Saul arrived in Damascus, but neither man would have enjoyed the meeting, Ananias least of all. As a disciple of Jesus in Damascus, Ananias would have found himself on Saul’s list of criminals. Had Saul managed to talk himself out of trouble with the Romans and persuaded them to aid him in his quest, Ananias would have returned to Jerusalem to face trial as a Christian.

Three men, three different locations, three different situations — tied together by one Lord who would call all 3 to follow Him beyond their wildest thoughts.

I can’t imagine exactly how Simon Peter must have felt when he realized Jesus had risen from the dead. I can imagine the joy and celebration that coursed through Peter’s heart: Jesus is alive! Unfortunately, I can probably imagine, in some feeble way, the next thought that slammed Peter’s mind: “I have to face Jesus after I denied Him.” How would Jesus respond to Peter? Would Jesus still consider Peter worthy of discipleship?

Most of us can understand this situation better than we wish to admit. You had a dear friend, someone you can’t imagine leaving your life. For some reason that neither of you foresaw, you managed to damage the relationship with a careless action or thoughtless word. You and your friend drifted apart, but the pain still lingered. Then, some time later, you meet your friend again. The thought occurs to you (and probably the friend, too): “Will either of us mention my stupid mistake?” The pregnant pause in the meeting tells both of you that each remembers. Will either of you ask for or offer forgiveness?

In Peter’s case, Jesus hadn’t forgotten Peter’s offense. We have no record that Peter mentioned it to Jesus at all. When Jesus first asked Peter, “Do you love me,” Peter had no trouble answering, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Then, Jesus asked again: “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Most likely, Peter saw this conversation with Jesus going into very undesirable territory. “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.”

The third time Jesus asked pushed Peter over the edge. Three times: “Do you love me?” Three times: “I don’t know the man.” The English word “grieved” in John 21:17 doesn’t exactly describe Peter’s emotion; perhaps “anguish” helps. The Greek word used here describes a sorrow brought on by our own actions, so remember those times when regret compounds the anguish of your actions. You want so badly to take back what you’ve done, but none of us can turn back time; none of us can erase past actions, and only repentance and forgiveness can help replace the grief with joy.

Jesus forgave Peter. Christians know Peter best as St. Peter, the head of the Apostles on the day of Pentecost and the first Bishop of Rome. Church history tells us that St. Peter met his death in Rome during Nero’s persecution in c. A.D. 67. According to Church history, St. Peter requested that the Romans not crucify him as they had Jesus but instead crucify him upside down so that he would not be considered worthy of dying as his Lord had died for him. “Who are you, Lord?” Jesus’ words to St. Peter remind us of who He became to St. Peter that day and can become to us: “I am the one who accepts your repentance, forgives your sins, and restores our relationship. Follow me.”

Now we return to Saul. On his way to Damascus, Saul encountered the risen Lord: “Suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’” Saul’s question tells us he may have had a sinking feeling he knew to whom he spoke: “Who are you, Lord?” Then came the answer Saul most dreaded: “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” The people Saul had viciously persecuted were in the right. Jesus had risen and had fulfilled the Law Saul had so zealously kept and defended. Now, I suspect the words of Saul’s teacher Gamaliel echoed in his head: “Keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” (Acts 5:38-39). Saul’s worst fears were realized; Gamaliel was right, and Saul found himself opposing the God he had so desperately tried to placate with his zealousness.

“Who are you, Lord?” This question didn’t merely blurt itself out of Saul’s mouth. This question would come to define Saul’s life. We remember Saul best by his Roman name: Paul. Christians know him best as St. Paul, Apostle to the Gentiles. Jesus’ words to St. Paul remind us of who He became to St. Paul that day and can become to us: “I am the one who calls you to confess me as Lord, believing in my resurrection. I am the one who fulfilled the Law even you could not keep. I am the one whose love you cannot buy with all your rules, whose grace you cannot deserve even with your best efforts. I am the one who now calls you to obey the law of love, for me and for those around you. I am the one who created you for a purpose and who now calls you to fulfill that purpose. Follow me.”

Finally, we cannot forget Ananias. When Jesus appeared to Ananias with a command to go baptize Saul, Ananias responded as we often respond when we believe Jesus has asked something impossible of us: He tried to explain the situation to Jesus. “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.”

Why do we do this? Do we forget that Jesus, as God Himself, is omniscient? Jesus knew the situation with Saul in Jerusalem, and He knew why Saul had come to Damascus. When you realize Jesus has called you to do what others believe impossible, remember that Jesus knows what He’s doing.

I sense we have other reasons for trying to persuade Jesus to see things our way. Ananias realized that if he helped Saul in this situation, every Christian in Damascus would label him a traitor if Saul used him to learn the names of other Christians. Ananias may have lost friends or family in Jerusalem to Saul. Socially, among the Christians, Ananias would have found himself on the outside for helping Saul. Frankly, when Ananias heard Saul was blind, he probably thought, “Fantastic! Now he can’t read my name on the list.” Frankly, I confess that, if I were Ananias, I’d have one question of Jesus: “My Lord, why did you stop with taking his sight? Why couldn’t you have taken his life as well?” It probably bothered Ananias that Jesus would reach out to the chief enemy of the Church and offer him an opportunity to repent of his sins and come into the Body he had so fiercely attacked.

We really don’t like to reach beyond our social group to minister to others. We really don’t like to forgive those who have hurt us. We really don’t like the possibility that Jesus may forgive those who have harmed us, or that Jesus may offer a second chance to people we think are unworthy of any chance at all.

I believe that here, Jesus’ word to Ananias still resounds to us down the ages: “Go.” Ananias needed to realize that when he confessed Jesus as Lord, Jesus claimed his sole allegiance and the right to command him to go where God desired. Jesus’ words to Ananias can remind us of who He is to us: “I am the one to whom you have given your sole allegiance. I am your Lord. I alone determine who is worthy of my love, and I have died for the sins of the world, including those you think unworthy. You yourself are unworthy, but by my grace I have called you to repentance and accepted you into my family, the Church. I have already forgiven the one who hurt you; you must forgive them as well. I know why I called you, and I have a purpose in mind for the one I will call when you obey me. Follow me, and go.”

Three men; three callings; one risen Jesus, the Christ, who calls us all to confess Him as Lord, believe in His resurrection, and follow Him wherever He leads us. Today, Jesus calls you. Heed Jesus’ words and experience the joy of grace, love, and obedience: “Follow me.”