Who did Paul realize Jesus was when Jesus appeared to him on the Damascus road?
Paul realized that Jesus was Jehovah, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The one he had hated as Jesus of Nazareth was the same divine I AM who spoke from the burning bush, so he fell to the ground blinded physically to see spiritually who Jesus really was.
Les explains that Paul had been confronted by the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Jehovah. Paul asked, “Who art thou, Lord?” or “Who art thou, Jehovah?” and Jehovah answered, “I am Jesus.” Les emphasizes that this was shocking because Paul hated and detested Jesus of Nazareth, thought He was an imposter and a blasphemer. The revelation melded him like wax, and he fell to the ground, blinded physically so he could see spiritually who Jesus really was—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Les connects this to the burning bush and to John’s Gospel, where Jesus said, “Before Abraham was, I am,” identifying Himself as the Jehovah of the Old Testament.