The Vine: April 29, 2024
“Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the Vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing”
This is a weekly reflection on the previous week’s sermon text. Each week there will be a devotional related to the scripture for the week, along with questions for reflection/discussion, as well as prayer. Feel free to make this a part of your individual spiritual growth throughout the week or utilize in small group settings (growth groups, Sunday school, etc.)
“Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” So he got up and went. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning home, seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to this chariot and join it.” So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” He replied, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him. Now the passage of scripture that he was reading was this: “Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and like a lamb silent before its shearer, so he does not open his mouth. In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.”
The eunuch asked Philip, “About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or someone else?” Then Philip began to speak, and starting with scripture, he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus. As they were going along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?” He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he was passing through the region, he proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
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This is a great story with so many lessons, not the least of which is about belonging. We talk often about what it means to belong, believe, and become. In belonging we understand that we are all children of God and that God loved and claimed us long before we were even aware of God. In believing we say yes to God’s “Yes” to us in Christ. Then considering our belonging and believing we are free to become all that God wants us to be. As Paul said so well in Ephesians 2:9, “For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.”
Our story today is about a eunuch and his encounter with one of the early followers of Christ named Philip. So, who were eunuchs? Eunuchs were castrated males who served in royal courts for a variety of reasons – administrative duties, guarding the harem, etc. In Deuteronomy the law was clear that eunuchs were not allowed in worship and were often cast to the side in society. Just imagine what the eunuch in our story thought when Philip approached him, and not only began a conversation, but sat alongside him in the chariot discussing scripture. It’s not beyond the realm of possibility that the eunuch had been turned away from worship in the past.
The eunuch felt not only acceptance from Philip, but also experienced in Philip someone who cared deeply enough about him to guide him in his faith in Christ. One of the pivotal moments in this story occurred when the eunuch said to Philip, “Look, here is some water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?” The obvious answer to the question was, “Nothing!” Nothing prevented the eunuch from baptized into the Christian faith. That is a great lesson for all of us to remember. No matter what others might think of us or what has happened in our past, God’s grace and salvation in Christ is always available for those who will receive it.
Questions for Reflection:
Philip was guided by the Holy Spirit to approach the eunuch. What does this story teach us about the role of the Holy Spirit guiding us to opportunities for witness and service?
The eunuch did not understand the scripture he was reading in the chariot. He needed someone like Philip to guide him. How have you experienced Christian community in helping you understand and interpret the Bible?
The Ethiopian eunuch was a foreigner and a eunuch, both categories that could have marginalized him from religious practices. What does his acceptance and baptism into the Christian faith signify about the inclusive nature of the early Church?
After being baptized, the eunuch went away rejoicing. How have you experienced joy in your faith in Christ?
prayer:
Gracious God, we thank you for accepting us as your children and helping us grow in our faith in Christ. Each day we are becoming more and more of who you created us to be, and we thank you for the gift of your Holy Spirit to help us along the way. May we be open to your guiding when it comes to sharing our faith in Christ with others and helping others see that they too belong to you. Amen.
In Christ,
Brad
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