8:34 So the eunuch
answered Philip and said, “I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of
himself or of some other man?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning
at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. 36 Now as they went down the road,
they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders
me from being baptized?”
37 Then Philip said,
“If you believe with all your heart, you may.”
And he answered and
said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
38 So he commanded the
chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the
water, and he baptized him. 39 Now when they came up out of the water, the
Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and
he went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing
through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea.
Man I love this story. I love the simplicity of it. I love
God's passion for this one searching man. I love Philip's willingness to share
Jesus with anyone, anywhere, anytime. I love the prerequisite for the eunuchs
baptism. As soon as he realizes who Jesus is and what He has done he
immediately wants to be baptised. As soon as he sees water he csn no longer contain
himself. Not sure what the process is he asks Philip. These men have never met
until this day. Philip doesn't know him. Lead by the Spirit of God Philip asks
the only question that matters. "Do you believe with all your heart? If
you do you may."
The man who's name we never find out says "I do. I
believe Jesus Christ (Messiah) is the Son of God."
Without hesitation Philip leads him down into the water and
after sealing his new relationship with Jesus in the waters of baptism Philip
is caught away and the Eunuch returns home.
This story speaks to me of how we tend to over complicate
things. We want to make sure couples are ready to get married and that
individuals are ready to get baptised. We forget that the foundation is not
preparedness but belief and commitment. Two committed people who believe in
marriage will far out last another couple who is perhaps prepared but lacks
that belief in two becoming one for life. No one knows when they enter any
relationship what the future holds. When I read Hebrews 11 two things become
crystal clear. One is that the men and women of faith described there are in
two distinct groups. Some by faith had lives of great victory. The others faced
great opposition, some imprisonment, and some death. By worldly standards they
were soundly defeated. The other clear truth is that no two of them walked
identical paths.
For a brief time Philip and the Eunuch walked together. It's
highly likely they never saw each other again. It's also a guarantee that their
walks with Jesus were very different. We are not told how either of their
earthly journeys ended. It matters not really. When Jesus' voice booms through
our galaxy like the sound of a trumpet and the dead who went to sleep believing
He would return hear His voice both of them will wake up. Both of them will see
the face of the One who died for them. Their faith will be rewarded and they
will go Home.
It's really so simple. "I believe Jesus is the Christ,
the Messiah, the Son of God and I will follow wherever He leads me."
If this is what you believe nothing hinders you from being
baptised.
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