Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” 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. This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading:
“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,
and as a lamb before its 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, “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.
Acts 8:26-40
Let’s hop in the chariot of the Ethiopian Eunuch in Acts 8. He made the extensive trek to Jerusalem to worship and was on his way back, reading the book of Isaiah. He appeared to be right where he needed to be, traveling to worship, and studying the Word. Yet, he didn’t understand what he was reading or how to make sense of the Scripture right in front of him. In verse 31 he essentially says, “How will I understand unless someone tells me what on earth this means?” (That’s Danielle’s 2015 version, by the way.)
I wonder if he was a bit frustrated. Like, he felt like he was doing all that he could - yet he was missing something. Something wasn’t adding up. He was seeking good religion. He had made the sacrifices and traveled a great distance to worship. He was reading Scripture, trying to understand. He was doing his part. Yet, he was still confused, still searching.
I don’t know about you but I often feel like that Ethiopian Eunuch may have felt. I feel like I am doing all the right things. I am reading the devotions and going to church on Sunday. I feel like I’m doing my part. Yet, a situation just isn’t adding up. My conviction isn’t matching up with my lifestyle. I lack clarity. In these times I find myself frustrated, just wanting to say something like the Ethiopian Eunuch did, “Can someone please just help me out here?!”
God saw this man and sent Philip to help him to understand, but what could Philip possibly say to help him see what he was missing, and to help him understand that all the efforts, all the labors of his religion were in vain without this one missing piece?
“Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus.” Acts 8:35
Jesus.
The name Jesus can turn a world rightside up before you even realize you are upside down. It’s the name that resolves the problem and satisfies the longing. The name that reveals that, just like the eunuch, I can do, go, and try, but without Jesus, it all just makes no sense.
The truth is, we can do good deeds, read our devotions, make ‘good’ decisions, and go to church without ever truly considering Jesus. We can appear perfectly loyal to our beliefs, sacrifice for the cause, and go out of our way to worship, without remembering Jesus.
Eventually, though, we will see, nothing adds up without Him. All our efforts are useless when we don’t put the focus on Him. We will constantly be in a state of confusion and helplessness until we understand that it is all about Jesus.
December, the month that we specifically celebrate the birth of Christ, is literally right around the corner. Take a second to evaluate the areas in your life that have no trace of Jesus.
Is there a specific aspect of your life that you are really struggling with? Surrender this area to the control of Jesus.
Are you are so busy doing things for Him, that you forgot to actually have a relationship with Him? Refocus on the Lord and orient your life around Jesus again.
Or maybe your Christmas tree is up, the decor is all over your house, you had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and you have gotten a head-start on your Christmas shopping, but Jesus has been the last thing on your mind. Hints of Jesus’ birth may be close for tradition’s sake, but your heart and mind could be far from him. Ask Him to set your sights back on Him.
It is dangerously easy to forget Jesus in the midst of our do-gooding, our Christmas celebrations, our random crises and our everyday lives. Let’s remember that this season is for Him, to celebrate Him. Let’s remember that all of life exists for Jesus.
“For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.” Romans 11:36
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