“Jesus Christ Is Without Boarders!”
If you are steeped in the word, then there is surely that one verse or verses which speak to you in your situation as if it was intentionally written for you. If somebody interprets it otherwise it makes you identify with the interpretation although it shatters your preconception.
The Ethiopian eunuch for whichever reason happened to have been reading a passage of scripture that spoke to him as if it was written for him. “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,…In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.” (Is.53:3ff). He probably saw himself being addressed by the passage. He was a eunuch, castrated against his choice. Even though he was “an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians,” he could not have descendants because he had been castrated. He was a humiliated human being, deprived of justice. No doubt he travelled all the way as a proselyte or Gentile God-fearer to go worship in Jerusalem.
Philip asked him a question which is applicable to us today: “Do you understand what you are reading?” In a typical African style a genuine answer to this question must be with another question, “How can I unless someone explains to me?”
He went further to ask Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?”
He probably wanted it to be someone else and he being that someone! When Philip explained the goodnews about Jesus to him he at once identified with Jesus. Like him, Jesus was humiliated and denied justice. Above all, like him Jesus died childless. No doubt that at the first opportunity of water he asked to be baptized; which Philip did. And the eunuch went on his way rejoicing! (Acts 8:26-40).
He had all the reasons to rejoice. He was the first African Christian. He was the first African evangelist. He was not the only humiliated person for whom justice was denied. Even the Son of God too was denied justice, was humiliated and died without descendants!
Jesus Christ is without boarders. In Jesus Christ the “scum of the earth” have assurance of also being in God’s presence. Even to a woman who was married five times and was cohabiting, and despised Samaritans Jesus offers free water that whoever drinks will never thirst again (Jn.4:1-15). The world may reject you but God through Christ embraces everybody. But he exhorts: “Go and sin no more!”
Read the word of God always and what you don’t understand, seek for clarification. And may your union with Christ fill you with great joy so that you should go on your way rejoicing.
Sunday prayer: Thank you Lord that though humiliated and denied justice you have found me worthy in Jesus Christ. Amen!
Have a blessed Sunday! Peace be with you!
“The Omniscient, Omnipotent And Omnipresent God!”
“The Omniscient, Omnipotent And Omnipresent God!”(Job 38:12-21).There is this pun where the teacher picked an average student to answer the question, “When did the First