Acts 8:32-35

The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture (from Isaiah 53): “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 (a Christian), “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.

The eunuch, an Ethiopian man, was leaving Jerusalem and heading home. He decided to do some Bible study on the way. Like a lot of people, he started reading the Bible and it didn’t make sense. (Who hasn’t been there before???)

Jesus knew this was going to happen, so he sent Philip to be on that same road at that very moment to lend assistance. Philip tells the eunuch that the person he is reading about in Isaiah 53 is none other than Jesus who recently died, rose from the dead and ascended into heaven.

Philip most likely told the eunuch that Jesus loved him too and wanted to be in relationship with him.

This man’s heart was so moved by that message that the minute he saw some water, he asked Philip to baptize him. (That was his way of saying “yes” to what Jesus was offering.) And that is exactly what happened, the man was baptized and welcomed into the family of faith.

It is simple. Jesus reached out to the Ethiopian eunuch through the scriptures (Isaiah 53) and Philip. When that man received what Jesus offered (a relationship, forgiveness and eternal life) he responded by being baptized.

The Ethiopian Eunuch said yes to what Jesus offered to him (and to all of us). He said, “yes” when most of the world says “no”.

He responded to the gift that was offered. That is how we live our lives as Christians. We respond to the gift already given in Christ Jesus.

This is true the first time the gift of faith is offered and it is true if you’ve been a lifelong Christian, all of life is a lived response to the grace of Jesus.

The first time is an invitation to respond!

We are reminded of the words of Saint Paul, “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” Romans 10:17

The man heard the message of God’s love in Jesus through both the Bible and Philip’s words.

That is how we share the good news of God’s love… by speaking. We tell others that Jesus loves them. We respond to God’s grace in our life by sharing Jesus with others. That is our response!

If we never open our mouths and speak the name of Jesus, others will never hear.

Saint Paul knows this!

How, then, can anyone call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have never heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? Romans 10:14

I pray the grace of Jesus has moved you to respond to what you have been given!!! Keep saying “yes” to Jesus and keep responding in love!

God bless,
Pr. Ben