1:1 Philip & the Ethiopian Eunuch
Acts 8:25-40
We’re in the middle of a min-series of one-to-ones: conversations that help people take a significant step in their Christian journey. Last week, it was Ananias’s scary 1:1 with Saul (who later become Paul, Apostle Paul). Today, it’s Philip’s 1:1 with the Ethiopian High Official.
Things had got tense for the first Christians. Saul and the religious elite were persecuting the Christ-followers. Deacon Stepen had just been stoned to death. It was all ‘kicking off’. No longer safe in Jerusalem, many of the Christians scattered far and wide (many returning to their home communities.) But, once again, though God did not create the opposition, God was able to use it for His good, this time to nudge the new Christians to go far and wide, taking with them the Gospel. As Jospeh declared:
“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”       Genesis 50:20
Philip went north, into Samaria. And very quickly, people started accepting Christ, miracles were happening, people were getting healed. Soon, he was in the middle of revival. Amazing things were happening; huge numbers were turning to Christ. This was about to get BIG. 
It wasn’t that long ago he’d been entrusted with.. ‘waiting on tables’. Serving faithfully and full-of-faith behind the scenes, to free up the Apostles in their public ministry. The criteria wasn’t just competence, it was also character, calling & charismatic gifting. Even when he was called to serving ‘back room’ role, when you’re full of the Spirit of Christ, you can’t help doing the work of Christ.
But then God interrupts his flow. Whilst it’s good that so many from Jerusalem and surrounding areas are discovering Christ, God had a much bigger plan. He wants ALL people to know him, not just those nearby, who look like, identify like us. So, God said, double-back, go south, out of Samaria, back through Jerusalem, and down towards Egypt.
On the Desert Road, Philip saw a fancy chariot, probably with outriders.
Philip was curious: what kind of person gets to ride around in such a fancy vehicle. God nudged him to go up to this person and start a conversation. Just chat. Some of you are VERY good at this. You put people at ease with your conversation.
This person was different to Philip in a number of ways:
•	Philip was Jewish. He was not Jewish
•	Philip was Middle Eastern. He was a person of colour – from Ethiopia (African)
•	Philip was a table waiter. He was a powerful Government official
•	Philip was a regular bloke. He was a Eunuch (a what? More later!)
This man was on the outside, looking in. Yet, God is already at work in his life.  Somehow, he had stumbled across Isaiah 53:
“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.”
He didn’t understand what it was about, but he was curious. And that’s a good thing! Remember, those who seek, find; those who knock, the door opens; those who ask, receive. He could tell, whatever this passage was, it seemed significant.
Just at that moment, Philip turned up. It was one of those coincidences, “chance encounters” that change us. Have you ever had those? God, the Holy Spirit, nudged Philip. Don’t wait for the right opening, create one. Go up to him. Overcome your social awkwardness and engage this stranger in conversation. Philip was learning the power of crossing the street, crossing the cultural divide. As a result, the Gospel spread to Africa. Not by “white missionaries” exporting religion and Empire, but through an African-led movement. Today, unlike in Europe, the Church is thriving in large parts of Africa.
But there’s still that ‘eunuch’ thing. Now, it’s our turn to be curious. When reading the Bible, some Christians read a reference to ‘eunuch’ and never stop to consider what a ‘eunuch’ is. Those that do stop to ask, are often satisfied to know that it’s a civic ruler, like a Chancellor of the Exchequer. But it’s a bit more than that. A eunuch was a man with no testicles. Unable to produce hormones, eunuchs were sterile and had low or non-existent sexual function. In a testosterone-charged world, those in power often saw them as non-threatening. Eunuchs - in the Greek, literally ‘bedroom guard’ - were entrusted with looking after their master’s close quarters and even his harem (safe in the knowledge they would not ‘make off’ with his women). 
Some eunuchs were promoted to ‘high office’, acting as their master’s envoy or Chief Operating Officer. eg, Potiphar (Gen.39) and Daniel (Dan.1)
But how did they get to be a eunuch? There were three possibilities:
•	they were born without testicles?
•	they were brutalised by others who cut off their testicles / their ‘manhood’ as a way of breaking their human spirit 
•	they deliberately cut off their own testicles, either to make themselves more acceptable. 
It’s why Jesus said in Matthew 19 when asked about marriage & divorce
“Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. 12 For there are eunuchs who were born that way, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others—and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.”
Whatever, eunuchs stood out as different. They were viewed with suspicion and fear by some (almost mythical-like.) There was something about their identity, sexual identity, that was distinct.
Judaism didn’t support genital castration. The Law stated
“No one who has been emasculated by crushing or cutting may enter the assembly of the Lord”    Deuteronomy.23:1.  
Eunuchs were not allowed to become priests or enter the tabernacle. This man had made the long trip from Ethiopia to Israel specifically to satisfy his curiosity and experience worship at the Temple in Jerusalem. How was he received at the Temple? Did they welcome him? Did they, directly or indirectly, exclude him? Did he feel it necessary to keep quiet about his true self, his identity as a eunuch? Did he tone down what he was wearing?
But… God doesn’t just love everyone, He loves EVERYONE: 
•	whoever they are
•	however they identify, whatever their orientation
•	those with testicles, those without testicles, and those transitioning.
Philip heard from God – and it was for this one person. God wanted Philip to drop everything and have a one-to-one with this Ethiopian eunuch. God is always pursuing the one. The Good Shepherd is never satisfied with just the majority, the 99; He wants ALL, and so goes after the one. That’s why YOU are here today, why YOU are a Christian.
But the story doesn’t end with a nice ‘everyone is special’ message - a shareable meme. Experiencing that God-directed/ Philip-ministered affirmation, led to change. The Ethiopian eunuch now understood that God had come after him, and that this had always been God’s plan. He had read it in Isaiah 53. God’s Messiah, the Christ, had come. Jesus had lived a sacrificial life, even to the point of death on a Cross. Unlike worldly kings, queens and other rulers, Jesus had come, not with power, privilege, and violence; Jesus was the suffering servant, who surrendered to death on a Cross. And not because he was defeated, emasculated at the hands of a greater power; but because He lay down His life for His people; through His sacrificial death, all (and in the Bible, ‘all’ always means ALL) might know new, eternal life, peace with God. The Resurrection was God’s vindication, death to death. No wonder the Ethiopian eunuch wanted to accept Christ. 
Repent (change your direction). This meant a change in direction, placing Christ at the centre, seeking to follow Him. The Ethiopian eunuch was still a eunuch; just now, a Christ-0following eunuch. Neither God nor Philip said, if you want to become a Christian, you need to stop being a eunuch. It was too late for that! They weren’t going to grow back! He was changing his religious affiliation, not his sexual identity.
Repent (change your direction) and be baptised. Knowing now The Christ, the Ethiopian eunuch had a new identity ‘in Christ’. The next logical step was baptism. “Here is water. What can stand in the way of me being baptised?” How many churches have denied baptism to those they labelled outsiders. How many have been denied baptism because some judged their identity or orientation to be different/ unacceptable? Neither God nor Philip could see a reason to deny this Ethiopian eunuch baptism, and neither should we.
As the Ethiopian eunuch came out of the water, the Holy Spirit filled him with joy - deep, profound, holy joy. Tragically, far too many lesbian, gay, bi and ‘trans’ people have not been left rejoicing by their encounters with Christians. It’s left them feeling judged, excluded. No wonder so many have rejected church and faith. Some that have pursued God have been forced to form their own churches where they are safe and affirmed, as God has wired them to be. Just in the same way that 60-70 years ago many of those who migrated to the UK from Empire nations, on arrival received such appalling, discriminatory treatment from churches - sometimes explicit, more often subtle and yet still deeply racist. Today, we are seeing the same happen with the treatment lesbian, gay, bi and ‘trans’ people are receiving in some churches. I am so pleased and proud to see Chester Road Baptist Church being different. We are learning what it means to be a church for ALL; to welcome, include, and affirm ALL who God loves. It's our call and profound privilege: to be more like Philip.
Who will YOU have a 1:1 with this week? 
07840 046020   DannyBrierley@ChesterRoadBaptist.org.uk