The Gospel Illustrated: The Ethiopian Eunuch
Introduction: In our last two lessons we have explored how we should be thinking and responding when the scriptures refer to the “gospel.” We have had a narrow view of the Lord’s purpose for us by thinking that the Lord is just trying to “get us saved.” This has often caused huge mistakes in how the gospel message is taught, so much so that there has been an inordinate emphasis on getting a person to baptism. Please do not misunderstand. As we will see in this text, Philip’s teaching brings the eunuch to the point that he requests baptism. The concern we should have is not whether baptism is important and necessary – it certainly is – but the greater importance is what should be taught in order to bring a person to desire to be united with death, burial, and resurrection of Christ in the water of baptism.
In other words, the Lord was not simply interested in forgiveness, but in disciples who promote and live out his kingdom values.
“Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise from the end of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that fills it, the coastlands and their inhabitants. Let the desert and its cities lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar inhabits; let the habitants of Sela sing for joy, let them shout from the top of the mountains. Let them give glory to the LORD, and declare his praise in the coastlands. The LORD goes out like a mighty man, like a man of war he stirs up his zeal; he cries out, he shouts aloud, he shows himself mighty against his foes.”
49:6-7 “And now the Lord says…It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth. Thus says the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One, to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nation, the servant of rulers: “Kings shall see and arise; princes, and they shall prostrate themselves; because of the LORD, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.” 52:7-10 “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns.’ The voice of your watchmen—they lift up their voice; together they sing for joy; for eye to eye they see the return of the LORD to Zion. Break forth together into singing, you waste places of Jerusalem, for the LORD has comforted his people; he has redeemed Jerusalem. The LORD has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.” When you look at these texts and consider the message as the Ethiopian would have heard it, what would stand out? The return of the Lord to Zion so that they can again see the glory of the Lord just as his glory had filled the temple.The Lord will come and bring justice and righteousness. He will give sight to the blind and release the prisoners. To do this, he will go out like a mighty man, mighty against his foes.When the Lord comes he will bring good news of peace, happiness, and salvation because he is the one who reigns, nor sinful, mortal man.Again, he will return to Zion. He will bare his holy arm, and all the earth will see the salvation of the Lord.Philip’s Explanation of Isaiah 53 I can just imagine Philip saying, “How is the Lord going to bare his holy arm? How is he be like a mighty man destroying his enemies and bringing peace, happiness, and salvation to his people?” Then, we can see Philip directing the eunuch back to the text he was just reading (53:7-8). The way the Lord exhibited his strength was by offering himself as a sacrificial Lamb, God’s Lamb that would redeem the people. In fact (vs. 4-5), “he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; by his wounds we are healed.” You will notice that the prophecy emphasizes that he did not resist, indicating that his death was intentional so that he could be “stricken for the transgression of my people.” In fact, (vs. 10), it was the will of the Lord that he be made “an offering for guilt.” All the while, Philip would have been comparing the prophecy to the story of Jesus.But then Philip would have given the eunuch cause to leap for joy. In the middle of verse 10, Philip would have pointed the eunuch to the victory statement: “…when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied.” And then you can hear Philip relate the story of the resurrection. He appeared to the twelve and spent 40 days with them. He appeared to his brothers and they believed. He appeared to over 500 brethren at once, most of whom are still alive. Then Philip would have added one more reason to shout for joy. Do you see the word “offspring” in verse 10? Yes, his resurrection is producing offspring. Philip’s InvitationAs the eunuch pondered the “offspring” promise, Philip would then urged the eunuch to read further.54:1-3 Yes, it is not just Israel God is saving. He is bringing the nations into Israel so that they also can become his people.54:11-13 And look! The good news is more than sins forgiven, God is building a mighty kingdom, a permanent kingdom, and a beautiful kingdom. Everyone it it will be taught by the Lord, and it will be a kingdom of peace and righteousness. Then Philip would have urged him to read just a little further into chapter 55. It is the invitation of the Messiah himself. Come and drink water and eat food that will truly satisfy. It is not bought with money. If you will listen diligently to the Lord, give up your thoughts and ways for his thoughts and ways, he will make a covenant with you and give you his steadfast and sure love for David.Then 55:12-13. All of God’s creation will leap for joy and you will not longer be like a thorn and a brier, you will “make a name for the Lord, an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”One more thing Philip would have surely shown the eunuch from Isaiah. In having him read 56:3-5, it is hard to imagine the look on this foreigners face: “Let not the eunuch say, ‘Behold, I am a dry tree’… I will give in my house and within my walls a monument and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off.”
Just listen to Philip…”Hey, my friend, you also can be an adopted son into the household of God. You will no longer be an outsider. And most importantly, you will bear offspring, have a legacy, and your children will have an everlasting name that shall not be cut off.”
Then to bring the gospel message to its completion, Philip may have reminded the eunuch of the Passover and the Red Sea crossing that freed Israel. Following that, the last words of Jesus before his left the earth in the Great Commission. This is offered to all nations…”Repent, therefore and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” At that moment the eunuch said, “Look, 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.” Conclusion: If you haven’t done this, you just heard what the eunuch heard. Why are you waiting?
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