A lot of people think they know Jesus. But what they’ve really seen is… church hurt. Hypocrisy. Misused authority. They’ve seen the damage that a church or people have done, not the Deliverer. So now they’re stuck—still curious about God, but afraid to trust again. They’ve seen dysfunction and damage done in the name of the church or “the Lord.” So now, there’s this tension. Deep down, people want to know who God is—they want to know Jesus in a real, personal way. But they’re stuck, in their own perception, instead of what the Bible reveals to us about who Jesus is.
Seeing Jesus Changes Everything- Our Past, Our Perspective, and Our Purpose
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They’re unsure of how to move forward… or who they can even trust to guide them. Let me try and give a picture of what I mean.
When my kids were younger, I was fortunate to spend a lot of time with them in the various sports teams they were involved with. I wasn’t the head coach—I was the assistant to the assistant… and probably the loudest guy in the stands.
In one basketball game, my son and his team were playing in a tight and tense game, and I noticed every time they shot a three-pointer, the other team would crash into them in midair. No foul. Over and over. I finally looked at the ref and said, “Man, are you seriously not going to call that?” Towards the end of the game, with it still being a back-and-forth game, my son shot the ball again, got hit midair again… and I looked at my son straight in the eye and said something I shouldn’t have: “Foul that kid as hard as you can.”
I didn’t realize the whole bench heard me. The whole crowd heard me. And my son? He did exactly what I said. It started a mess. I had to apologize to the other coaches, to the players… and I realized something really important:
I let my personal perspective get in the way. I allowed something else to dictate my mindset, my emotions, my words, and even how I reacted to a Little League basketball game. I reacted out of frustration and concern that my son was not being given what I thought was a fair call, not wisdom. And now, if you asked someone else to tell the same story? They’d tell it from their side, with different details, and a totally different view.
This is exactly what was happening in Acts 9 with a man named Saul. He thought he knew who Jesus was—but he hadn’t really seen Jesus. Saul thought he was protecting the things of God. But in reality, his heart was full of hate. He was tearing families apart, throwing believers in jail, even standing while a man named Stephen was killed for his faith, and cheering it on. He had a perspective, a view of Jesus and His followers that was completely off. But then something happened that changed everything.
Maybe you’re like Saul—zealous, capable, successful, but missing the truth about Jesus. You’ve heard of Him, maybe even talked about Him… but have you seen Him?
Jesus is Alive- and He Still Opens Blind Eyes
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This is what Easter is all about.
Yes—Jesus died. But He didn’t stay dead.
He rose from the grave, He appeared to people, He taught them, and He revealed God’s heart to them.
And He sent them out to tell the world:
There’s forgiveness.
There’s eternal life.
And there’s life right now—a new way of seeing and living.
Seeing Jesus Changes Everything
Acts 9:1-9
Until We Surrender Completely, We Will Not See Clearly
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This is what Easter is all about.
Not just the empty tomb—but the living Jesus showing up in people’s lives, in our life. Not just forgiveness for the world, but a Savior who knows your name and calls you into something new. Saul hits the ground. Blinded by the light. Overwhelmed by glory.
And Jesus asks him, “Why are you persecuting Me?”
It’s the same question Jesus might be asking some of us today:
Why are you fighting Me?
Why are you running from Me?
Why are you holding on to bitterness or control or fear instead of trusting Me?
“Today I am frustrated with God because…”
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Observing Instead of Judging
Acts 9:10-19
We Can’t See God’s Work in Our Life When We Have Already Made Up Our Mind
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“I have a hidden wound, and I deeply want God to…”
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There are Times the Healing We Need Comes from the Person that We Are Avoiding
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You Might Be the Ananias Someone is Praying For
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A Changed Life See Things Differently
Acts 9:20-22
When We Allow Jesus to Change Our Hearts, He Also Changes Our Vision
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Our Greatest Mess Can Become God’s Loudest Message of Hope
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He told his story again in Acts 22 to an angry mob. He told it again before King Agrippa in Acts 26. He told it to the churches he wrote to in letters we still read today. You can hear it in Romans 1:15, 1 Corinthians 15:8-10, Galatians 1:11-24, Philippians 3:4-11, and 1 Timothy 1:12-17—his life was transformed by Jesus, and he never stopped talking about it.
When your life has been changed by Jesus, you can’t help but see things differently.
So here’s the challenge:
Have you put on blinders so that you are not seeing God in your life?
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“I am frustrated with God about…”
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“I have a hidden wound and I deeply want God to…”
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Are you open to the Ananias moments in your life—the ones that require courage, grace, and trust?
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What would change if you started to see yourself the way God sees you?
Before we close, I want to give you a moment to respond. Maybe as you’ve listened today, God’s been speaking directly to your heart. Maybe you’ve realized it’s time to take that next step—whether it’s saying yes to Jesus for the first time, coming back to Him, or simply choosing to go deeper in your walk with Him.
If that’s you, I want to encourage you—don’t leave here without responding. If you’re ready to make a decision today, would you do something bold and simple? Just raise your hand where you are—right now. It’s just a sign between you, me, and God that something is stirring in your heart.
And if you’re not ready to raise your hand, that’s okay. You can also let us know by filling out a connection card before you leave. There’s a spot where you can mark the decision you’ve made today. Whether it’s salvation, baptism, or a desire to talk with someone about your faith, we want to walk with you.
Because here’s what we believe: your decision matters, and you don’t have to take the next step alone.
