Seeing Jesus

READ Acts 25–28

This morning I sang, “Open the eyes of my heart Lord, I want to see You . . . .” and made that a prayer for today’s reading. The gospel is in these chapters where His name is said; however, I could see Him in the events described, in the providence or protective care of Paul and the people with him.

The first incident was the plans of the Roman governor, Festus who unwittingly kept Paul from being ambushed and killed:

Now three days after Festus had arrived in the province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews laid out their case against Paul, and they urged him, asking as a favor against Paul that he summon him to Jerusalem—because they were planning an ambush to kill him on the way. Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea and that he himself intended to go there shortly. “So,” said he, “let the men of authority among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them bring charges against him.” (Acts 25:1–5)

The next was Paul’s determination to be tried in Rome by Caesar, even though that particular person persecuted Christians. This got him through another interview by Agrippa, a ‘king’ who, along with Festus, agreed Paul was not guilty of anything punishable by death. Surely the Spirit of God was involved in that decision. Leaders such as these had no problem killing the innocent Jesus. Why not Paul? But Jesus’ death and Paul’s protection were both in God’s plan. Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.” (Acts 26:32) God was in that decision too.

Paul’s trip to Rome reads like the perfect storm, only unlike the movie of that name, everyone survived. In the drama of their voyage, Paul took every opportunity to speak truth and glorify God. Jesus was with him, protecting him and giving him boldness to say whatever He put on Paul’s heart. Even the Cohort in charge of this prisoner “treated Paul kindly and gave him leave to go to his friends and be cared for.” That was a God-thing also.

The time for sailing was not good. Paul said, “Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.” (Acts 27:10) But no one paid attention to him. At first this does not seem like the hand of God, but it did give Him opportunity to show His power; even a severe storm and shipwreck could not stop His will from being done.

Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss. Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. But we must run aground on some island.” (Acts 27:21–26)

The Lord was with Paul, even sending an angel to assure him that the delays would not stop His plan. Paul urged the others on the ship to eat saying: “For it will give you strength, for not a hair is to perish from the head of any of you.” And he took bread, and gave thanks to God in the presence of all he broke it and began to eat. Then they all were encouraged and ate some food themselves. (Acts 27:34–36)

After a time of good treatment in Malta, he arrived in Rome “Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who guarded him.” (Acts 28:16) He called the local Jewish leaders who said they had not heard anything from Jerusalem about him, but they did want to hear from Paul, so he told them about Jesus and some believed.

Paul “lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.” (Acts 28:30–31) This was the providence of God, working out the plan He had for this man.

He is the same God now as He was then, able to work out His plan for each of His people. This is a great assurance. Who knows what lies ahead? Will it be happy days or many trials? Either way, what God plans will happen and in it, He will be with me, with all who trust in Him, even when our trust lags or when others mock us and refuse to listen. Jesus said, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” He is the only one who never says goodbye — and the life I have from Him is eternal.