NOVEMBER 22, 2024
This week we heard a great story demonstrating that the mission of the church is accomplished as the Holy Spirit empowers witnesses to introduce Jesus Christ to the whole world. God orchestrated a miraculous series of events to bring the good news about Jesus to one man, the Ethiopian eunuch. Let’s read again how he responds:
“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. And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.”
Acts 8:35-39
Philip, the witness empowered by the Spirit, proclaims the good news that Jesus fulfills Isaiah’s prophecy as the one pierced for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities, punished for our peace, and wounded for our healing (Isaiah 53:5). And the Ethiopian eunuch believes!
Ephesians gives a stunning picture of the transformation that takes place the moment the Ethiopian eunuch, and everyone else, believes:
“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do…
remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ…
He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.”
Ephesians 2:4-10, 12-13, 17-20
When we first met him on the desert road, the Ethiopian eunuch was dead in sin, separated from Christ, excluded from citizenship with God’s people, a foreigner to God’s promises, without hope and without God in the world. The moment he believes the good news about Jesus, he is alive in Christ, raised and seated with Him, brought near to God by His blood, at peace with God, able to access the Father by the Spirit, a fellow citizen with God’s people, and a member of God’s household! This is not just good news! It is great news! Amazing news! He has countless reasons to rejoice!
And now, the seeker becomes the witness and Jesus’ mission continues as more and more people have the opportunity to hear the good news about Jesus and believe! Tradition tells us that the Ethiopian eunuch becomes a missionary to his country.* And so the gospel goes to “the ends of the earth!”
But the mission is far from accomplished! God is still seeking individuals to believe the good news about Jesus! The Spirit is still empowering believers to tell billions of unreached people about Him so they can experience this transformation! Will you join the mission? You never know whom God might place in your path today!
*Fernando, NIV Application Commentary on Acts
Questions for reflection and discussion:
- Who are you in this story?
- Are you the follower of Jesus with good news to share?
- What can you do today to more actively share this news with others?
- Are you a seeker wanting to understand why the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus is good news for you?
- Will you read Isaiah 53 (NIV) and then ask someone who knows Jesus why this is good news?
If you decide to believe the good news about Jesus and trust Him to be your Savior, please let someone know about your decision: a friend or someone at Wheaton Bible Church. Or check out this additional resource: https://peacewithgod.net/.
Church Reading Plan:
- Today, November 22: Jonah 1; Luke 6
- Saturday, November 23: Jonah 2; Luke 7
- Sunday, November 24: Jonah 3; Luke 8