A Life Transformed
Philip was preaching in Samaria when God directed him to a wilderness road, where he encountered an Ethiopian eunuch who asked Philip a very pertinent question because he could not understand what he was reading. Philip explained to him the gospel of Jesus which is the centre of the message of salvation.
Nothing of Jesus fitted into human categories. It surprised humanity in everything and that is understandable because He is a root from dry ground (Isaiah 53:2). Jesus had no beauty that we should desire. The final straw was his death upon the cross which was a scandal to the Pharisees. They mocked him and for them this was proof of being an impostor. For the Greeks it was shame and utter foolishness because for them a saving act must be taught. For them a Saviour dying in weakness was foolishness hence the Apostle Paul confirmed to the Corinthians "For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified." (1Cor2:2)
Jesus Christ came into the world to bear the full force of the problem of human sin against a holy God. His entire life, from boyhood to the cross, was characterised by the anguish of facing and dealing with sin and death so that His people could be forgiven.
This story reminds us that the good news will not travel to the ends of the earth primarily because of focus groups, strategic plans, and demographic analyses. It will do so because individuals will gladly carry it there, because they recognise that it speaks to them no matter who they are or how others measure them. Those individuals recognise that the good news acknowledges their worth and dignity. The good news thwarts the prejudices that religions and societies keep falling into.
Once the man was baptised, he went away rejoicing. In Jesus, situations change. Boundaries evaporate. Walls disappear. He was declared worthy. He had a new identity and was a new creature.
The most important lesson we can learn from Philip's life is that the Gospel is for everyone: The Gospel of Jesus Christ is for anyone willing to receive it. Ask God to create opportunities for you to share the faith and lead people to Christ
| Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Go south to the road--the desert road--that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. The Spirit told Philip, "Go to that chariot and stay near it." Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. "Do you understand what you are reading?" Philip asked. "How can I," he said, "unless someone explains it to me?" So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: "He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth." The eunuch asked Philip, "Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?" Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. As they travelled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptised?" And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptised him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. (Acts8:26-39) |
Bukelwa Hans married to Howard , ministering in Gqeberha Central Cape Presbytery
