‘바울의 자기변호는 복음 그 자체였다’
본문 관찰과 묵상
바울은 정오에 해보다 더 밝은 빛 속에서 부활하신 예수님의 음성을 들었다. 예수님은 자신을 택하여 예수를 만난것과 앞으로 볼것에 대한 종과 증인으로 삼았다고 했다. 유대인과 이방인에게 고난 당하고 죽고 부활하신 예수님께 돌아와 회개하라고 한 것으로 유대인은 자신을 죽이려 했다고 변호하였다.
QT를 통하여 듣는 주님의 음성
바울의 자신을 위한 변론은 복음 그 자체였다. 예수를 핍박하던 자를 예수님이 만나 회개시키고 믿게함으로 유대인과 이방인에게 바울이 체험한 예수를 증거하라고 했다. 이것이 복음의 핵심이다. 예수 만난자가 예수 전한다.
결단과 적용
인격적으로 부활하신 예수를 만나지 못한사람은 인격적으로 예수님을 전하지 못한다. 지식적으로 형이상학적으로 예수님을 전할 뿐이다. 생명이 생명을 낳는다. 나의 남은 삶도 나를 찿아오사 나의 죄를 씻어주시고 의롭다 칭하시고 사명주신 주님의 증인이 되어 살아가리라!
‘Paul’s self-defense was the gospel itself.’
Acts 26:13-23
Observation and meditation on the text
Paul experienced a light which was brighter than the Sun and heard the voice of the risen Lord Jesus. Jesus told him that he was chosen to witness how he was met by Jesus and would see him as Jesus’ servant and witness. Paul defended himself by saying that the Jews tried to kill him due to his preaching to them to repent their sins and return to the risen Jesus who was crucified by the Jews and the gentiles and resurrected by the power of the Holy Spirit.
I hear the voice of the Lord through QT
Paul’s self-defense was the gospel itself. Jesus met his persecutor and transformed Paul through repentance so that he might believe in Jesus, and in turn sent him back to witness Jesus whom he met to the Jews and the gentiles. This is the core of the gospel. Anyone who is met by Jesus becomes his witness.
Decisions and applications
If I am not met by Jesus personally, I cannot witness Jesus personally. I may share Jesus with knowledge philosophically. Only life begets life. For the rest of my life, I will keep on witnessing Jesus Christ who came to me and washed my sins by his blood and called me righteous so that I may live as his witness all the way to the end.