THE WEIGHT OF SCALES
Acts 9:1-19
Chan Willis – C.P.C.
April 25, 2010
“The Weight of Scales”
Acts 9:1-19
This story is about Saul, that great persecutor of the Christian faith, who would go on to be known as Paul, the great promoter of the Christian faith. It is commonly referred to as the “Damascus Road Experience.” This phrase, “D.R.E.” has become a part of our common vernacular— an expression that refers to a dramatic, life-changing event. One that involves a complete ‘turn-around’ in the person’s life, in which he/she given a new ‘vision’… seeing things in a whole different light.
Certainly Saul’s life took a very dramatic, 180* ‘turn’ on that road that lead to Damascus. A ‘vision’ that came to him in a much different ‘light.’ For this was a man who had grown to despise Christians… his hatred for followers of Christ was no more evident than in the order he gave for the stoning to death of the faithful Christian martyr Stephen. Out on that road in the middle of nowhere Saul would have a very ‘close encounter’ with much different sort of ‘extra-terrestrial’… the very One who he so vehemently persecuted… Jesus Christ.
What makes Saul’s bitterness toward Christianity even more noteworthy is that he was not an enemy of religion. He was not a pagan, non-believer, but rather a VERY devout follower of YHWH, the One True God of Israel. You may recall the words he would later use to describe himself in Philippians 3: “circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews… as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.” If there was ever a ‘pillar of the synagogue,’ a charter Session member, a church Elder without equal, it was Paul. But this Jesus… this troublemaker from Nazareth… was not, in Saul’s mind, the same as HIS God. Jesus was different. He taught a different way than the Book of the Law. He talked about turning the other cheek. He spoke of loving your neighbor as yourself. He hung out with lepers, tax collectors, and prostitutes. He was a threat to the familiar, established ways of God-followers like Saul. And what is the natural, human response to that which threatens our familiar, tried-and-true ways of doing things? How do we so often react to that which challenges ‘the way we’ve always done it?’ To reject… to destroy… to wipe away as though it never existed.
It was just such a purpose of destruction that placed Saul on that Damascus Road that fateful day. He was traveling to the Syrian capital in order to take as prisoners those ‘rebels’ who, in the words of Acts, “belonged to the Way.” If you read the passage, you may have noticed that the word “Way” is capitalized. This is most likely in reference to those words that Jesus used to describe Himself in John 14, when Thomas (you know, doubting Thomas!) questioned Jesus as to how they could know how to get to the ‘place where He was going.’ (i.e. heaven!) Jesus said to his troubled disciple, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (This would be another ‘Quiver Quote’… you know, those words of Scripture that should be a part of the ‘quiver’ of Bible verses for all Christians.)
Several places in Acts references are made to “the Way”… all of them in which the name “Jesus” could be easily inserted. I couldn’t help but think about our missionary friends the Tebboths, and the messages that they send back to the U.S. from North Africa. Messages in which words such as “Jesus,” “God,” and “prayer” have to be disguised in such as way as to not be detected by those hostile to the Christian faith that might be monitoring their communications. 21st C. persecutors not too unlike our 1st C. Saul.
On ‘the way’ to hunt down followers of ‘the Way,’ we know that God had another plan in mind for Saul. For there on that road he encounters the Living Lord. Blinded by the light of God’s presence, Saul is confronted by Jesus, who questions him as to why he is persecuting his Lord. And that he should go to the city where he will be told to do. So Saul’s companions lead their sightless friend to Damascus.
It is there that a faithful Christian named Ananias awaits them. He also has had a vision from God… one that is equally troubling. Ananias is commanded by God to go and lay hands on Saul to restore his sight. Of course, Ananias knows just who Saul is, and wants no part of going to him. If he does, he knows the fate that will befall him—imprisonment, torment, even death. But the Lord doesn’t let him off the hook… his response is quite clear: “Go!” And Ananias does.
At the house where Saul was staying, Ananias enters in, places his hands upon Saul, and says to him “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road…has sent me so that you might see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Then the Scriptures say that “Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again.” And that he then “got up and was baptized,” had some food and regained his strength.
Now, as I read these closing words of Saul’s conversion experience, for some strange, bizarre reason, the word “scales” jumped out at me. Why ‘scales’? I get that Saul was ‘blinded’ by that brilliant light, and that his vision was restored by God, through His servant Ananias. But what is the importance of those “scales”? Why not just simply say that ‘his eyes were opened,’ or that ‘his sight was restored’? What’s the deal with the ‘scales?’
It caused me to think about what the word ‘scales’ means. The two that come to mind would be 1) an instrument used to determine the weight of an object, and 2) the outside layer of a fish that we most often scrape off before consuming. And actually, the two are related. The word scale comes from the Germanic root skel, or “shell.” The earliest weighing devices were balances that used shells to hold the objects. And with regards to fish, those outside coverings… both in structure and function… are like ‘shells.’
And so, since I don’t think that a weight measuring device fell from Saul’s eyes, it must refer to a shell-like object. Something hard, difficult to penetrate… that which would block out everything from one’s sight. Think about taking 2 seashells and placing them over your eyes. Sure wouldn’t be able to see much, would you?
Saul’s vision of who Jesus was, and how important He was, was obscured. There was something hard, impenetrable, over his eyes… not so much his physical ones, but the ‘eyes of his heart.’ In the course of that blinding encounter with God… and the subsequent healing accomplished through Ananias… Saul would have experienced what he later would lay before the church at Ephesus: “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be opened, in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you.” (Eph 1:18)
Those ‘scales’ over the eyes of Saul’s heart could have been any number of things. His prideful belief that his understanding of God was the right one, period… come ‘hell or high water.’ (or, ‘come flashing light and blindness!’) Or, that to alter his belief would be to somehow dishonor God… to the point of overzealous destruction of those who would attempt to change those beliefs. Or, perhaps he was just plain scared to think that he didn’t know all the answers. Whatever the reasons may have been, the fact remains that Saul’s blindness was more than physical… it was a spiritual blindness to the reality of Jesus Christ as Lord of all.
Friends, there are two aspects of these vision-hindering scales we would do well to remember. First, that there are a lot of ‘Sauls’ out there. Indeed, there may well be some right here. Those who have let their own pride, or fear, inhibit their ability to see the living Lord, Jesus Christ, as a REAL part of their lives. Even very steadfast believers in God can fail to be open to the leading of God’s Spirit in looking at different ways to help grow God’s earthly kingdom of believers in Christ. Pride in that their way is the only way. Fear that maybe they don’t have all the answers.
I believe that one reason we have had such a positive response to the book study of Crazy Love is because we KNOW that we don’t have all the answers! That there is indeed a hunger and thirst to experience afresh the reality of Jesus Christ as Lord of all. This book reminds us all of how ‘crazy in love’ our God is with us… and we need to take off the ‘scales’ of our everyday lives to see just how much love He has for us. So that we can more fully demonstrate our love for our Savior Jesus Christ. And if you are not participating in this Wed. night program, it’s not too late! Brother Rick Rowan has that ‘book of love’ waiting for you right after the service!
Secondly, we need to remember the example of Ananias. A faithful believer who was yet fearful of how someone who was clearly hostile to his Christian faith would react to him. Despite those fears, Ananias was yet obedient. SO trusting in God’s providence that he would even go so far as to call Saul, this feared enemy of followers of Christ, “Brother”!
My challenge to you… and to myself… is how I am being called to make a difference in the life of someone else. How many people do we know that have those ‘scales’ over their eyes, unable to see Christ right there, holding His hand out for them to grasp, because we have not first extended our hand to them? It may be the ‘scale’ of pain and bitterness from loss in their life. It may be the ‘scale’ of not having food to eat, or a safe and secure place to live. It may be the ‘scale’ of disillusionment with ‘organized religion.’ It may be the ‘scale’ of complacency and satisfaction with the pleasures that this world has to offer. Ours is not always to know what obstacles to faith that others are dealing with. Ours is only to be obedient to God’s call for us to “Go.”
Remember, most all of us are not called to faith in the dramatic way that Paul was. Certainly he was given very unique purposes and abilities. Jesus doesn’t necessarily come in a blinding light… a “D.R.E.” Sometimes God uses simple servants like Ananias… faithful believers like you and me… to bring a message of healing and hope with something as simple as a touch…
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