Scales

Acts 9:1-20
The Conversion of Saul
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https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%209%3A1-20&version=NRSVUE
 
In last week’s scripture, the word “seen” helped us to understand the importance of seeing the Risen Lord and being seen by him in order to believe. In this week’s scripture, we explore Saul’s inability to see, his sudden blindness on the road to Damascus, and what role this played in his conversion.

Saul was an ardent persecutor of the early disciples. The Risen Christ appeared to Saul in the form of a bright light that blinded him and caused him to fall to the ground. He didn’t see Jesus, but he heard him ask, “Why do you persecute me?” (v.4). Saul didn’t know Jesus’ voice and asked, “Who are you?” (v.5). The others who were with Saul didn’t see Jesus either, but heard Jesus’ voice. Jesus identified himself, and then told Saul to “get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do” (v.6).

Saul blindly followed Jesus’ instructions, and while in the city, he prayed and received a vision about Ananias healing him. Jesus gave Ananias a vision as well to look for Saul to heal his blindness. Although Ananias questioned Jesus’ instructions at first, he found Saul, and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit” (v.17).

Saul had “something like scales” over his eyes that prevented him from seeing who Jesus was or understanding who Jesus is. It wasn’t the revelation of Jesus that caused the scales to form. Saul was already blind. He was blind with rage when he persecuted Jesus’ followers. God’s glory on the road was the beginning of Saul learning how to see. While he was still blind physically, Jesus gave him a spiritual vision to see that Jesus is the Son of God and that he would be healed by the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus’ light healed his blindness and allowed him to see others through his eyes.  

The scales over his eyes probably resembled a fish’s scales which are opaque and would not allow light to pass through. A similar traditional Jewish story told about the healing of Tobit’s eyes when scales or films fell from his eyes. A flaky film might not cause complete blindness, but it would make it hard to see clearly.

Saul was a staunch Pharisee whose rigid views about God and tradition caused him to not see Jesus clearly. After Jesus’ death and resurrection, he double-downed to actively persecute and remove any trace of Jesus or his followers to prove his understanding of God was the only “right” one. His refusal to change and his self-righteousness were the scales that caused his blindness. The light of Christ removed the spiritual scales from his eyes, so he could see the truth about Jesus.

We all have scales or a flaky film covering our eyes, preventing us to see the truth. It could be our refusal to change or self-righteousness like Saul’s, or it could be anger, grief, or addictions. It could be deeper ‘isms that cause us to persecute others. Jesus wants to remove our scales to let the light in and to help us to see more clearly and truthfully. What scales are preventing you to see? How can you remove the scales from your eyes?
 
Reflection Questions:
Have you heard Jesus’ voice before but wasn’t able to see him in your situation?
Has he ever given you instructions like “Get up” and “Go”? Do you follow them like Saul?
How did this cause you to see?
 
Pray: Risen Lord, appear to us this day and show us the scales that need to fall from our eyes. Help us to see you fully and truthfully.
 
Act: Remove the scales that cause you to persecute others.
 
*New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America.