The Ethiopian Treasurer (Acts 8:39)

This sermon was preached on New Year's Day, 2011

We are all familiar with the story of the Ethiopian eunuch. This incident has been the source of many discussions. Was he the first African convert? Perhaps, but I suspect he was a Jew or a proselyte to the Jewish faith, given that he had just attended a Jewish feast. Was he sprinkled or immersed? I know what I think, but you can imagine the situation yourself. Was he the founder of the Abyssinian church, one that has an ancient pedigree? If he was, he would be very distressed at some of their beliefs. Each of these questions are interesting and no doubt we can think of others.

One detail that we do know is how he faced the future after he and Philip separated – he went on his way rejoicing. Something had happened to him which changed his outlook. The incident itself does not seem to have lasted very long, perhaps not even an hour, but its effects did. Many things did not change, but he was a changed man.

There are several lessons that we can learn from him. But I want us to focus on two features. First, what was he like before he met Philip and why did he not have joy then? We will think briefly about six details in connection to his lack of joy, and each of these details may resonate with you. Second, we will consider what he was like when he left Philip and look at five reasons for the great change in his outlook.

Where real joy is not found

First, he was not rejoicing because he had been given the opportunity of travelling to another country. Perhaps his journey to Jerusalem had been the trip of a lifetime. Maybe he had looked forward to it for years. It could be that he was there on official business and took the opportunity to visit the religious sites in Israel that were dear to him. Yet it is obvious that his travels to other countries had not brightened his heart.

Second, he was not rejoicing because he had been to a large religious convention. He had been to a religious feast in Jerusalem and had mingled with the large numbers who had converged there from all over the world. Perhaps he had gone to it with great expectations, imagining to himself that he was going to meet with those who claimed to worship the true God. But he left the feast as empty as he arrived.

Third, he was not rejoicing because he had had the Bible in his hands (it is very important to read the Bible, but mere reading of it is not sufficient). The reason for his lack of joy in this connection is obvious – he did not understand what he was reading. The passage was Isaiah 53, one which clearly speaks about the sufferings of the Messiah, and if we had been there we would have said to ourselves, ‘He has turned to the passage which will explain everything to him.’ But there he was, reading Isaiah 53, and not understanding what the prophet was saying. And he did not have joy.

Fourth, he was not rejoicing because he was returning to familiar surroundings. True he was on his home and soon he would see faces he recognised and be in situations he was comfortable in. Yet as he made his way closer to home, his heart was not getting any happier. Much as he appreciated his home surroundings, they could not meet the needs of his heart.

Fifth, he was not rejoicing because he was going back to work. He had a very important job, the equivalent of George Osborne today, except that the eunuch did not have any calculators or computers to help him. Nevertheless he had a role in society that was very important and no doubt brought him a measure of fulfilment. He had reached the top of the ladder, but his position did not fill his heart with joy previously, and he knew that when he returned, his work would not provide him with any satisfaction.

Sixth, he was not rejoicing because he had the prospect of meeting with very important people. After all, he would rub shoulders with royalty. If he had a diary to fill in for the next few months, imagine the list of names from the high and mighty that he could insert. Life would have seemed very exciting as he mixed with the celebrities of his day. Yet that long list of famous people did not fill his heart with joy.

This man seemed to be on the right path for a happy life. He had status, he had a spirituality, he had success in life, but he did not have real joy. Despite his status, spirituality and success, he knew that unless something dramatic happened the one word that described his life was sad.

The Ethiopian treasurer is very like many people today at the onset of another year. They have their intentions, perhaps accompanied by aspirations of doing better. Yet they also sense within their hearts a longing for something different, something that would change them inwardly and give a different quality to their life. What they need is a source of joy. Perhaps you are like him.

How he became a happy man

Several suggestions can be given. First, he discovered that while he had been searching for God, God had been working to bring salvation right to him at the best time and in the best place. The Ethiopian had seen his royal ruler organise many meetings, but she had never arranged one so exactly right as the one God arranged for the eunuch in the desert. It is wonderful to realise the amazing ability of God to bring a person into a situation in which he is face to face with the answer to an empty heart. The Ethiopian was like the spiritually blind whom God leads in a way that they are not conscious of. As far as the eunuch was concerned, the important place was somewhere in Israel; but as far as God was concerned, the important place was near an oasis in the desert. Lots of providential activities led the man to that place, and surely he must have worked out that the Lord who led him there would continue to lead him into the future, and therefore he went on his way rejoicing.

Second, he discovered, through understanding the Bible, the meaning of the mission of Jesus. Philip gave to the eunuch the key that would enable him to open the caskets of treasures hidden in the Old Testament (I don’t suppose the eunuch ever handled a book from the New Testament and probably did not realise until he got to heaven that his story was in it). And seeing who Jesus was and what Jesus did for sinners filled the eunuch’s heart with joy. He was forgiven of his sins beside the oasis. Burdens that he carried were now gone. His heart was freed from chains and he was full of joy.

Third, he was now aware that he possessed a greater name than the one that was given to him through his contacts with Candace. We can imagine him saying for years to those who asked him about his identity, ‘I belong to the service of Queen Candace.’ But there at the oasis in the desert, he took on another identifying name when he was baptised. He then made his way along the road rejoicing that he now belonged to the Triune God and was going to serve in that capacity from now on. It often takes the individual who has tasted the best that earth affords to show conclusively that the path of grace is better. The Ethiopian very quickly realised that there was a higher life than living in the palace of the Queen of Ethiopia.

Fourth, the eunuch was aware that he was no longer alone. No doubt Philip explained to him about the work of the Holy Spirit – the heavenly Comforter who comes alongside those who trust in Jesus and helps them on their journeys through life. The joy that the Ethiopian had was part of the fruit of the Spirit, and we can assume that the other parts, such as love and peace, were also there. Luke tells us that the Spirit took Philip away, but that does not mean that the Spirit left the eunuch.

Fifth, the Ethiopian eunuch was rejoicing because he had good news to share with his people back home. He had discovered a relationship which he did not, indeed should not, need to keep to himself. No matter how beneficial his decisions as treasurer were for the people, he now had a message of grace that would give them hope for this life and beyond. I don't suppose he journeyed too far before passing on the message about Jesus.

In one way, we are like the eunuch and that is we are taking the next steps into the future. But are we going on our way rejoicing? Perhaps we imagine true joy will come from an earthly fountain, but it will not – each will turn out to be a broken cistern. Yet we can imitate the eunuch and take the same path as he did – the path of joy that comes from being found by God, of understanding the mission of Jesus, of appreciating the significance of having his name on us, and of experiencing the ongoing help of the Spirit. Which path will we walk on in 2011?