The Power of the Cross
Scripture Reading — Acts 9:1-19
“Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
—Acts 9:4
Our family was part of a mission trip to Bangalore, India. When we arrived at Bengaluru International Airport, we were greeted by a number of young men, one of whom was Pastor Mark. We soon heard Pastor Mark’s story.
He was born into a Hindu family and had a deep hatred toward Christians. One time, as Christians were playing the Jesus film in a village, he went in and slashed the screen. On other occasions, when Christian speakers came to town, he heckled them at the meetings.
Then one day Mark met Jesus, and everything changed.
Mark’s family was angry about his conversion. They tied him to a tree for a week and demanded that he return to his Hindu beliefs. But Mark was steadfast in his newfound faith. Today he is married and has a daughter. They are all believers in Jesus, sharing about the Redeemer’s power and love.
Saul had an anti-Christian spirit too. He made “murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples.” He led raids to put them in prison for following Christ. But Jesus met him on the road and asked, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
Saul’s and Mark’s actions were against Jesus himself, but they were both transformed by his power. Have you met Jesus? Has your life been transformed in that way?
Jesus, thank you for your transforming power. We pray that the Marks and Sauls in our lives may meet you and find new life in your name. Amen.
About the author — John Kuperus
Since he was young, John Kuperus has had a passion that everyone would know Jesus. Spreading the good news that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15) is very important to him. To be better equipped for missions, John attended Reformed Bible College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He applied these skills with marketplace evangelism in a business he started in Sussex, New Jersey. This calling continued to follow him, so John attended seminary and became a minister in the Christian Reformed Church, serving a church in Ontario for eight years. Currently he serves as a missionary for Youth with a Mission (YWAM). He witnesses Jesus changing lives as people walk out of the darkness into the light. John is married to Helen, and they have seven children.
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