You need Jesus

Key Verse: ACTS 8:35, “Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.” (KJV)

The Books of Acts 8 begins with the story of persecution against the Church at Jerusalem led by Saul and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.

These persecuted Christians spread out to the Judean villages like dandelion seeds and sowed the gospel there.

Afterward, Philip went into Samaria and multitudes of Samaritans accepted Christ.

Philip was doing a great work in Samaria, but the Spirit of God sent him for the next mission to Gaza, the desert land to meet the man known as the Ethiopian eunuch.

One wonders why God interrupted Philip in a place where he was making a great impact to a desert land.

“And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert” (Acts 8:26).

On the road from Jerusalem to Gaza, he met the Ethiopian eunuch, a high official of Queen Candace of Ethiopia who was returning from Jerusalem where he went to worship.

The Bible describes the man from Ethiopia as “who had the charge of all her treasure” meaning being the Treasurer of Queen Candace of Ethiopia, he was very wealthy.

The man of Ethiopia was also described as “an eunuch” meaning an unproductive person.

He was a religious man who always travelled to Jerusalem to worship, yet he did not know Jesus. He was an educated man, yet lacked understanding of whom Jesus is.

He was returning from worship at Jerusalem and was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Prophet Isaiah, when Philip met him. Philip asked him, “Understandest thou what thou readest? (Acts 8:31).

The eunuch replied and said how could he understand, if no one taught him.

It is interesting to note that the eunuch had hunger for God and then came the question: Do you hunger for God?

The Bible says in Mathew 5:6, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.”

The eunuch had a faulty understanding, and was always arriving at a wrong conclusion.

He couldn’t trust his own process of understanding and he needed someone to guide him, thus, he was in dire need of Jesus.

Jesus was lacking in his life and that was the missing link in his life. He had gone on a spiritual pilgrimage without encountering Christ.

Today, so many people have been attending church for years; yet have not had Damascus road experience just like Saul had on his way to Damascus.

God had to stop Philip from Samaria to go and attend to the eunuch in the desert.

The Ethiopian eunuch asked Philip the second question saying, “I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this?

Of himself, or of some other man?” (Acts 8:34) In other words, he was asking Philip, to who is this message addressed?

The Bible says in Acts 8:35, “Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.”

I can imagine Philip saying to the eunuch, “You have knowledge without understanding and involved in church activity without being Born Again. Therefore, you need Jesus.”

Jesus is the answer – in everything we teach, Jesus should be at the foundation.

The Bible says that after Philip preached Jesus to the eunuch and he accepted Jesus as his Personal Saviour, he went on his way rejoicing.

What a great joy! That will be your testimony, if you confess your sins and accept Jesus today into your life.

Today’s Nugget: Jesus is the answer

Prayer: Jesus, I accept you as my Lord & Personal Saviour today in Jesus Name, Amen.