RESPONSE TOTHE GOSPEL
RESPONSE TO THE GOSPEL
Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this: “Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth. In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.” And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. —Acts 8:32-38
The Ethiopian eunuch had invited Philip to join him in the chariot to explain what the eunuch was reading from Isaiah 53. Philip joined him and started to answer the eunuch’s question— “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” The portion of Isaiah the eunuch had been reading said, “Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth. In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.”
It was from these few verses that the Holy Spirit was using in the eunuch’s life to give Philip the opportunity to start from there, from that point of Isaiah, to explain how these verses were speaking about Jesus. Jesus was—
- Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter— He did not resist
- Like a lamb before its shearer is silent— He was compliant
- So he opens not his mouth— He did not complain
- In his humiliation— The Creator allowed His creation to disgrace Him
- Justice was denied him— He was known to be innocent/blameless
- Who can describe his generation— What His generation had done to Him
- For his life is taken away from the earth— He was killed
This is what the eunuch was reading and Philip explained how it was speaking about Jesus. The conversation must have included that those who believe are to follow our Lord in baptism because after Philip explained “the good news about Jesus,” the eunuch wanted to be baptized. “And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.” Baptism is the outward witness of the inward change. Yes, the eunuch had believed and “went on his way rejoicing.”
Those our Father draws to Jesus will be open to His Word at some point in their lives. How many years had the eunuch lived? We are not told His age, but he was older. Yet, regardless of how many years he had lived, the right time to “hear” the gospel came. Let us pray that our Lord helps us to be sensitive to those who are at the “right time” to hear the gospel and respond. Yes, we sow and water along the way, but then there are those who are “ripe for harvest.”
We need to be careful in sharing the gospel. God can use all kinds of angles for people sharing the gospel, but beware of thinking the gospel has to be shared the same way with everyone or that their response will happen only in a certain way to be saved. Let’s just consider the eunuch’s response…
- He did not raise his hand
- He did not walk an aisle
- He did not close his eyes
- He did not say a “sinner’s prayer”
Instead, the eunuch…
- Pointed out the water they were near
- Asked if there was anything preventing him from being baptized
- Commanded the chariot to be stopped
- When down into the water with Philip
- Was baptized by Philip
- Did not see Philip again
- Went on his way rejoicing
We never know how our Lord will use us when we share the gospel. Let us do so by the power of God’s Holy Spirit and in the authority of God’s Son. Yes, Dear Father, may this be so! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yBzIt_z8oY