“The Ethiopian Eunuch”

Acts 8:26-40

Pastor Tom Johnson, May 3, 2015

Ethiopians have a rich and ancient history with Israel dating back when the Queen of Sheba travels to see the greatness of Solomon, the King of Israel (1 Kin 10). But they are not Hebrews. They are foreigners who must come into the people of God as outsiders through instruction and ritual—including circumcision. But there is little hope for Eunuchs. They are ceremonially and permanently unclean—forbidden by the law to enter the Temple. There is nothing a eunuch can do to reverse how these males were born or what the authorities did to young boys. To be Ethiopian and to be a eunuch is to have two counts against you. The Ethiopian goes on a very long journey to Jerusalem but still unable to enter the Temple. He is on his way home on a desert road going south toward Gaza. He still has a long journey ahead. He probably will follow the Mediterranean coast to Egypt and then go down the Nile River to his home in Ethiopia.

Philip had just witnessed his companion Stephen being stoned to death because of his faith in Jesus. Believers are scattered all over Judea and Samaria. Saul is persecuting and ravaging believers. Philip is one of those scattered into Samaria and preaching the Gospel as he went. That’s when God calls Philip to go even farther into foreign territory—into a remote place. God simply calls him to go south into the wilderness. He doesn’t say why or who or if he will meet anyone there. Just go. And away Philip goes.

The Ethiopian is a gentleman and a scholar. He takes care of the queen of Ethiopia’s treasury. He wastes no time on his journey. He reads Scripture—a scroll from Isaiah. Why is the Eunuch reading Isaiah? Perhaps it is because Isaiah is the one prophet who speaks of a time when Eunuchs will no longer call themselves a dry tree but will have an inheritance in the house of God (Isa 56:3-5).

Two believers on two different journeys. Philip is answering his call into the wilderness even though his mission is vague and uncertain. The Ethiopian is answering his call into the Scripture even though its meaning is vague and uncertain. They are two sojourners on two similar, but distinct, paths about to intersect. When Philip sees the Ethiopian in his chariot, God calls him to go and walk alongside him. God calls Philip to accompany the Ethiopian on his journey. Philip hears the Ethiopian reading aloud from Isaiah and asks him if he understands. “And how can I,” the Ethiopian says, “unless someone guides me?” And so the Ethiopian invites Philip into the chariot to take a seat right next to him. They are now true companions on a spiritual journey. Philip is now called by both God and the Ethiopian. Philip has the privilege of leading a new friend into the joy of discovery.

The Ethiopian learns how reading Scripture is an encounter with the living Word. The Bible’s message is relevant to us now and for each generation of pilgrims after us. What the prophet Isaiah wrote down hundreds of years before speaks clearly of the suffering and resurrected Jesus—the One who is, who was, and who is to come. This passage from Isaiah chapters 52 and 53 speaks of the suffering Servant of God—the sacrificial Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. This Scripture is the starting point of a life-transforming conversation. Philip would have shared how this Jesus of Nazareth suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified like a common criminal, but was the innocent and perfect Lamb of God. This troubling truth would be followed by good and encouraging news. He would share how Jesus rose again on the third day to bring us the “portion”—the inheritance of an eternal kingdom that Isaiah talks about—the forgiveness of sins and eternal life.

This is also our mission as the Body of Christ—to lead people to a helpful, healing, and redemptive understanding of Jesus in the Scripture—and to do so through conversation, making a new friend, and becoming a companion on life’s journey. The Ethiopian is not called to journey alone. He is humble and courageous enough to admit that. He knows the story of our first parents Adam and Eve. He knows that when God created Adam, he said, “It is not good for the man to be alone.” God brings Eve into Adam’s life. God brings Philip to the Ethiopian. You know the saying: even the Lone Ranger had Tanto, a faithful and caring friend. They certainly would talk about Baptism. Because when the Ethiopian sees a body of water he asks what prevents him from being baptized. “I was excluded from the Temple because of my ethnicity and my physical body. But there is nothing to keep me from the water, the Spirit, and the adoption into God’s Family now, is there? So he is baptized.

And so this story should challenge us to look around for empty seats in the chariots that daily pass us by—whether they be in our pews, buses, trains, park benches, or lunch tables. How can you and I be a friend, an encouragement, and a companion along the way? Today, we have water in our font. What prevents us from baptizing Roger Park this morning? What obstacle is there from him being adopted into our family and assuring him, his parents, his family, and his sponsors that he is a royal son of the living God. What prevents us from seeing the fullness of the promise of the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Nothing. Nothing will separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus! It is a joy and privilege to be in this chariot together. We all get to be Philips and Ethiopians to each other. We get to celebrate what God is doing in the world through us through the power of the resurrected Christ. This first convert from the heart of Africa reminds us that black lives indeed matter to God. And even better than that: all lives matter to God. And in Holy the Word and gift of Baptism we are not only companions for life’s journey together; we are completely forgiven. We are fully accepted. And we are truly family.