Unending Hope in a Risen Savior

Unending Hope in a Risen Savior

Acts 8 begins with a narrative enjambment, a continuation of the same thought that ended chapter 7 that carries over to start a new one. In this case, the verse is, “And Saul approved of their killing him.” (Acts 8:1a). The verse continues, explaining that a “great persecution” began against the church, which detonated the peaceful lives that heretofore had been described. It would be tempting to record this as a low point in church history, and if this were a creation of merely human minds and hands would very likely have been the end of Christianity, as the Pharisee Gamaliel alluded. It was he in Acts 5 that reminded the Sanhedrin when they were intent on persecuting the apostles specifically that these men and this early church had only one of two ways to go. They could fail, along with the following that had surrounded Theudas and Judas the Galilean after unsuccessful uprisings, or they could miraculously succeed. “Therefore, in the present case, I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” (Acts 5:38-39) If the church’s reaction to this persecution is proof of any one thing, it should be that the great tradition we continue today is directed by the very hand of God Himself!

  As further testament, we can cast our eyes back to Joseph, as Stephen did, to understand better how this is possible. “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” (Genesis 50:20). What Joseph was referring to then was the position and intuition that God granted him that allowed him to save thousands from the ravages of a horrible famine. What God is accomplishing here in Acts 8 and even up through today is the salvation of mankind from our own deserved punishment in Hell. Joseph’s understanding is key for us in other areas as well. Our group is called Untitled, partially to reflect our current stage of life. As students finishing school or employees in budding careers, as young adults standing at the threshold of many of life’s many milestones, we face tremendous turmoil. Very little, from living situations to relationships, to jobs, to even our faith, can seem established or stable. The bad news is this is rather typical and is not assured to ease even with time. The good news (and The Good News!!) is that even in the midst of the most trying of our many challenges, we can rest in knowing that God is still at work and that His hand still directs and guides our path.

  Benny pulled our attention to Psalm 77, which says all that needs to be said. David, during a time of crisis, cried out to God but could still find no comfort. But David did not allow his search for God to end there. Even though “I remembered you, God, and I groaned; I meditated, and my spirit grew faint. You kept my eyes from closing; I was too troubled to speak.” (Psalms 77:3-4) David’s pursuit of God did not stop in his discomfort though he was not resigned to only feeling empty. He recognized that our feelings do not equate with God’s thoughts or actions. That even under heavy emotional burdens, we must still reach out to God even if that presence is not felt. That our understanding of God’s faithfulness may help us bridge the gap until our hearts are lightened again. David turned to what he knew of God and His steadfast support, love, and help shown throughout history. David reasoned that a constant God who has proven time and time again His devotion to His people would not turn away nor leave him alone. The members of the early church understood this as well.

  Acts 8 continues from its opening verses to describe a church scattered and under persecution. While the disciples remain in Jerusalem, the church disperses. The attitude of the church, though, is the instructive point. The Jewish people had lived with the diaspora before; the latter half of the Old Testament is full of prophets and books charting their struggle for survival and their attempt to cling to their national identity, traditions, and faith. This is not reflected at all in the experiences of the early church. What we see immediately is the spread of the Gospel and the acceptance and conversion of untold thousands in cities, villages, and towns as the disciples of Christ travel to new homes. We are given an excellent example of this with Philip and his travels in Samaria. As we discussed, even the bitter enmity between the Jews and Samaritans was not enough to keep them from not only hearing but gleefully embracing Jesus.

  But as we are moving to Chapter 9 next week, I wanted to focus specifically on the latter section of Chapter 8 as there is a final proof that is written for us before we get to the conversion of Paul. It involves God sending Philip to meet a traveling Ethiopian official, and there is no end to the insight we may glean. But I’ll do my best to be brief. First, we see God, through an angel, send Philip to the middle of a desert. He complies immediately, without question, and finds a chariot carrying an important official from Ethiopia. The man, it’s also noted for us, is a eunuch. A eunuch, or castrated male servant, could have come to this position by force or even voluntarily. The appointment of court positions of trust to eunuchs was a very common practice throughout the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. (And also not antiquated as you may think, Sun Yaoting, the last imperial eunuch in service to the Chinese emperor, passed away in December of 1996!) ((Not a typo, literally Nineteen Ninety-Six.)) This procedure in Philip’s day involved crushing, cutting, or piercing to achieve the desired effect. And Philip is directed to meet this man who Scripture records for us had traveled to Jerusalem to worship and is now on his long journey back home. We are also told that other than the chariot, official regalia, and physical condition, there is something else readily noticeable about this unnamed man. He is reading from Scripture.

  This is not only notable for its distinctiveness but absolutely touching when one realizes that this man had traveled from Ethiopia to Jerusalem only to worship the Lord but was, in all likelihood, denied entrance to the very Temple he’d traveled close to 1,500 miles to visit. The same Pharisees that denied Jesus stoned Stephen and persecuted the church would have been very quick to uphold the Law as they saw it. Deuteronomy 23:1 would have excluded this man from the Temple or any congregation of the Lord. But he is here reading from Isaiah 53 and struggling to understand its prophecy about the Messiah. “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.” (Acts 8:30-31) We are then told that he was reading Isaiah 53:7-8 which concerns itself with the sacrificial nature of the Messiah. Directly before this is Isaiah 53:5-“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds, we are healed.” Is it any wonder that this man was so entranced by these passages? He begged to know whether Isaiah was speaking of himself or if he was referring to someone else. “Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.” (Acts 8:35)

 Philip met that man exactly where he was in every way possible. Unlike the rulers of the Temple, Philip did not make any demands or place any restrictions. Make special note of what happens next, “As they traveled along the road, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” (Acts 8:36) (emphasis mine). A man denied his own masculinity, any semblance or opportunity for a family of his own, and now even after a painstaking journey, the chance to worship God in His Temple is finally shown, in person, the acceptance and welcome that only comes from Jesus. We are informed that after his baptism he went on his way rejoicing, something we notice he was not doing before Philip’s arrival. No one is outside of God’s reach. No one is below His love. God directed Philip miles down a desert road to share the news of Jesus with one man. And He only knows the ripple effect that caused.

  Acts 8 begins with “And Saul approved of their killing him.” And ends with, “Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.” From the point of view of the agnostic or atheist, explain that. Why did these disparate people under threat of violence continue to tell any person with ears about the coming of the Messiah? Because He lives still. Why was the Jewish diaspora contented with tales of their past and a promise of the future, but the early church, like a brush fire, set every town in their path ablaze with the Gospel? Because they had the enduring hope of a risen Savior. The transient, meaning earthly, matters truly did not concern them. They understood that our God is eternal, meaning that His work has no end. There is no retirement plan or 401K program for disciples because our duty is never-ending. They were content to be as big a part of it as they could be but only just a part so that God alone could receive the glory. In between those verses, we saw the name of Jesus proclaimed to all, to the “lowly” Samaritans, to those of genuine hearts, to even the most cynical operators, and even to the outcast. Acts 8 stands as evidence that the Word of God has no limiting principle as to whom it applies. “Whoever has ears, let them hear,” as said by Jesus Himself. We can blame the world for not listening, but who do we blame if the church will not speak? His message is the same one the Samaritans enthusiastically accepted and the same one that gave joy to the Ethiopian man. Our duty is the same as well, keep the flame alight.

Jordan Williamson