Two nations in disarray over the Gulf issue – here the King of Kings forever and for all, settling the ultimate gap issue with mankind whom He redeems…
Post by the Husband
“And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’” (Acts 22:8)
Jesus identified with us at the Cross as He bore our sin upon Himself.
That the Son of God would die in our place to forgive our sins is an incredible mystery that we could think about all.of.our.lifetimes – and still be in amazement!
The gulf was huge, the gap uncrossable.
The King of Glory identifying with us – dust. And still we rebelled.
His identification with us didn’t stop there. Here in his exchange with Saul of Tarsus, he says, “I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.“.
Here he identifies with his Body, the Church that had just been born.
Here he identifies with believers who were persecuted.
And He takes our side. He protects His body.
Jesus not only saves us, but continues to stand on our behalf. He continues to advocate for us.
He could have said, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth and those people you persecuted are my followers and I love them so much’. No, He takes it a step further and says ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting’.
He takes it personally and identifies with His body in a way that we become a part of who He is.
Isn’t that amazing?
Perhaps the closest example I can think of in human terms would be if my wife was treated badly. It would be worse for me than if I was being badly treated.
Jesus loves His Bride so much that from the very beginning of her existence, draws a line in the sand, to say that if we treat Her badly, we’re treating Him badly.
So this Saul, who becomes Paul, eventually realises the magnitude of what this ‘Divine Identification’ is all about. Some time later, this same man who had been on the wrong side before, is forever changed and pronounces: “if God is for us, who can be against us?“.
He knew that with God on our side, the gulf issue is forever settled.