What am I talking about?

I am talking about this: Is the message of Jesus easy to understand?

Lets read a passage in the Bible to get an example and see what it says:

AC 8:26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Go south to the road--the desert road--that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." 27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. 29 The Spirit told Philip, "Go to that chariot and stay near it."

God wants us to learn about him so he creates opportunities for us to learn as you can see in verse 29.

He sent Philips just for this guy.

AC 8:30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. "Do you understand what you are reading?" Philip asked. 31 "How can I," he said, "unless someone explains it to me?" So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

The Ethiopian new he needed help and he wasn't just an average Joe either. If you remember from verse 27, he was in charge of the Ethiopians queens treasury. I am sure she didn't put just anybody in that position. But guess what, he still needed help.

Do we ever think we need help? If we don't we should.

A lot of people are Self-righteous and think they know it all. That is a dangerous place to be.

Lets see what the eunuch was reading:

AC 8:32 The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: "He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. 33 In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth."

Would this make sense to you if you read this? Lets read more of it in Isaiah.

ISA 53:7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken.

Does that help you to understand? Do you know what it is the prophet was talking about?

The Ethiopian did not understand and I am sure that the first time you read this, you didn't understand it either. You may still not understand it.

AC 8:34 The eunuch asked Philip, "Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?" 35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

The Ethiopian had sense enough to ask and Philip explained everything to him. Phillip made sure the Ethiopian understood everything.

So lets see what happens:

AC 8:36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?" 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.

So what happened? With proper explanation and an open mind this man wanted to give his live to Jesus. It took understanding for the Ethiopian to want to do this.

Without that most people stay confused. Dazed and confused.


Conclusion:

It takes two things to believe "The Good News": One explanation and two an open mind.

If you want explanation and have an open mind, we sure would like to help you make a decision for Jesus and if you already have, we would like to help you get closer to him.


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Is it easy to understand the "Good News"?