Acts 8:26-40
Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. 27 And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” 30 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this:
“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter
and like a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he opens not his mouth.
33 In his humiliation justice was denied him.
Who can describe his generation?
For his life is taken away from the earth.”34 And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. 36 And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” 38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
Isaiah 53 is one of my favorite Bible passages. Written 750 years before Jesus’ birth, Isaiah predicts Jesus’ virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14); proclaims him to be the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace, (Isaiah 9); and gives witness to the vicarious suffering of Jesus, and his redeeming love.
When Philip is directed to join the chariot in which the officer of Candice’s court is reading, he discovers that he is reading from the 53rd chapter of the prophet Isaiah. All Scripture is inspired by God to be sure. But not all Scripture speaks so powerfully and profoundly of Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection as does Isaiah 53.
The passage which the Ethiopian is reading point (only) to Jesus’ death. A wider view of Isaiah 53 fills in so much in regard to Jesus’ death. His suffering brought us salvation (“by his stripes we are healed” 53:5). He was subjected to that which we deserved (“the LORD laid on him the iniquity of us all” 53:6).
One of my favorites is the chiastic construction, describing Jesus’ death and burial (“they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death,” 53:9). This is a favorite because of the crossing of Jesus’ death between two criminals and his burial in Joseph of Arimathea‘s tomb. It’s all one thing: Jesus’ death and burial. And that one thing had Jesus impacting the fullest spectrum of saints and sinners.
This is such good news. I need never worry about whether Jesus’ death can touch someone’s life – rich or poor, wicked or godly. Jesus died for all. I don’t consider myself particularly rich or criminal. Most who read the blog would identify with my self-assessment. But I am happy to join the rich or poor, criminal or saint in repentant faith at the foot of the cross. Will you join me there?
David Bahn - Reflections 
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