Saul experienced going from blinded eyes to spiritual sight. Saul, who we know as the Apostle Paul, experienced this when Jesus revealed Himself to him. As a devout Pharisee, Saul was a very religious man, yet he was spiritually blind to who Jesus was, which led to his persecuting believers. Then one day, Jesus met Saul on the road to Damascus and revealed to Him who He was. We can deceive ourselves into thinking we have faith because we have biblical knowledge. Although biblical knowledge is valuable, what is important is having a relationship with Jesus.
In God’s mercy, as Saul neared Damascus, a heavenly light shone around him. He fell, hearing a voice say, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?” Saul asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The voice replied, “I am Jesus, whom you persecute! Get up, go into the city, and you will be told what to do.” The men with Saul heard the voice but saw no one, remaining speechless.[1]
Acts 9: 8 Saul picked himself up off the ground, but when he opened his eyes he was blind. So his companions led him by the hand to Damascus. 9 He remained there blind for three days and did not eat or drink. [2] Saul’s physical blindness now mirrored his spiritual state. In seasons of spiritual transition, God often intervenes to reveal our need for Him.
Surrender Your darkness to Receive His Light
This moment in Saul’s life parallels the broader biblical narrative in which God uses unlikely individuals to fulfill His mission. The Apostle Paul is a great hero of the Bible, but at the time of his calling, he was not well-known. In John 8:12, Jesus declared Himself the Light of the World. Later, on the road to Damascus, He confronted Saul and revealed that His light can penetrate even the darkest heart—bringing salvation and transformation.
This encounter disrupted Saul’s self-image, both physically and spiritually. So far in Acts, Saul has been portrayed as competent and independent, but in this humbling moment, he has to rely on others. This period of humility will prompt Saul to surrender to the Lord and start a new chapter in his life. This is when Saul became Paul.
Transitioning to Spiritual Sight
Following Saul’s encounter with Jesus, he was blind for three days. This gave him time to reflect on his life. He realized that despite his zeal for God, his recent activity of arresting Christians had been in direct opposition to God. The voice from heaven revealed to him that in persecuting Christians, he was actually persecuting Jesus. During his blindness, Paul probably reflected on the prophecies about the coming Messiah and was led to see that Jesus fulfilled them.
Periods of disruption—such as loss, failure, illness, and disappointment—can be used by God to slow us down so we can truly understand. When life interrupts our plans, instead of resisting, we can ask, “Lord, what are You showing me?” Often, our most profound spiritual insights occur through uncomfortable pauses. To learn more about transitioning from blinded eyes to spiritual sight, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/transition-follows-transformation
[1] Summary of Acts 9:3-7 from the Holy Bible
[2] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Ac 9:8–9). Tyndale House Publishers.