Heinrich Mueller
Gestapo chief. Architect of the Holocaust. A callous member of the Nazi Party.
Under his leadership, thousands upon thousands Jews were executed and now lie in mass graves.
I can only imagine the fear that struck the hearts of the Jews when they heard his name. A name that is synonymous with torture and murder. A man who sat down with other like minded individuals and planned the extinction of their people. Cold. Unbending. Godless.
Saul of Tarsus
A Hebrew. A Pharisee. A Roman citizen. A man with authority.
A persecutor.
Like Mueller, convinced that his opinions were justified, he was given carte blanche to eradicate the growth of Christianity. He demonstrated his heart condition when, with the cloaks of the murderers draped across his feet, he approved the brutal stoning of Stephen. Stephen became the first martyr for Christ Jesus.
These two men were the embodiment of fear, if you were the target in their site.
Although Saul was bent on eradicating christianity, I doubt you have the same visceral response to remembering what he did as opposed to what the Hell Spawn Mueller was given authority to do. Perhaps that is due to books, museums, pictures and documentaries recounting the events, often voiced by survivors who lived through the horrors. A recent history that still has open wounds.
Without the aid of the various mediums, and with the knowledge of the amazing conversion and subsequent evangelical miracle of Saul to Paul, there is the possibility that you may miss the story within the story.
If Heinrich Muller came to your town, and you were a Jew, I doubt your instinct would be to have coffee with him and try to convert him to Judaism. Same goes for Saul. I think one would be hard pressed to find a christian, despite their new found love, bold enough to whisper openly about Jesus while the sandals of Saul scuffed along the dirt roads through their streets.
But what if God pulled you out of the shadows and asked you to pray for him personally?
Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” and he said, “Here I am, Lord.”… Acts 9:10
At this point Ananias does not know that His Lord was going to send him to have a face to face with the Mueller of his times. By all intents and purposes this was a bad idea. But before this potentially fatal plan was presented two things had to be established first.
- Jesus called Ananias by name.- He knows him. He knows his capabilities. His fears. His devotion. His love.
- Ananias was ready for whatever He was called to do.- Because Jesus was His Lord. (someone or something having power, authority, or influence; a master or ruler)
Here I am, Lord.
The story goes on to reveal that Jesus wants Ananias to go find Saul, who has been blinded by Jesus himself, and then lay prayerful hands on him , so that he can see again.
At this point it was Ananias’ civic duty to remind his Lord that Saul was an evil man (vs.13.) I would even conjecture that Ananias even thought what a victory it would be for God to allow him to slit his throat-especially since Jesus made Saul so vulnerable. I mean, he could be a hero and Christians would be safe-win win.
But Jesus was about the business of redemption.
Jesus went on to lay out the plan, not at all shaken by Ananias’ moment of questioning, and revealed His heart to use Saul as an “instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel (vs.15.) “ He also let it be clear that Saul, soon to be Paul, would not escape consequences.
“For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name. (vs.16)”
Maybe, just maybe, Jesus added that last part to ease the flesh rising up in Ananias. The need that is within all of us that longs for justice. I don’t know. All I know is that Ananias got up and obeyed Jesus. Why?
Because he heard the personal calling of his Lord.
With vulnerability in his own flesh, yet confidence in the One speaking, he set out to “have coffee with Mueller.”
His trust, boldness and obedience led the way to revival amongst Gentiles. To the second half of the Bible. To us. He did not allow fear to be his Lord; he did his part despite his hesitation. Nor did he try to step into a different role.
Here I am, Lord.
Sidenote: In James 1:2 Paul says, “count it all joy when you fall into various trials…”
Redemption.
