Good News for All People
Have you ever been waiting for good news? I think about those who are going in for surgery, recovering, pregnant, or waiting for a job, a raise, an opportunity, or an award. Or maybe you haven’t always been actively waiting or looking, but have you ever longed for good news? Something just to go your way, maybe your not even sure what it is. I think about those times in our lives when we feel stuck, overworked, without purpose, lonely or isolated. It would seem as if there are a lot of times and reasons why we are waiting for good news. Today, we are reminded that we often need someone to come and share real Good News with us, to show us the good news that actually affects our lives, so that we too might also be filled with rejoicing.
When I look at the world, I actually see a fair amount of people sharing good news, but the reality of that good news is that it is not always effective or lasting. The raptors winning does not go that far or deep. Someone getting a raise doesn’t usually help the person that doesn’t have a job. One person’s recovery doesn’t mean another’s recovery. It doesn’t mean this stuff isn’t good news, it just means that it isn’t the best news that truly changes reality.
We as Christians are called to share the best news, the news that can affect every heart and change our lives forever. We should be way more excited to share this news than any other because it can be good for everyone. In the midst of persecution, as the early church is literally forced out into the world, they are filled with rejoicing. Why? Because they know and can share real good news. Remember these weren’t the twelve apostles that went out, they remained in Jerusalem. It was the others, regular people who may have never met or known Jesus. People that likely had only come to faith months prior, not even years. In the midst of persecution, they share the immense good news they have come to know.
Let's take a step back for a second because you might remember at the end of the gospel of Matthew that Jesus tells us to go out into the world making disciples and baptizing in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Yet, up to this point, the apostles and disciples haven’t left Jerusalem. They have done some amazing work and built a pretty godly community and yet they are missing a part of their calling. It takes the apostles first sharing the work, even if it is just feeding at first, and then the disciple’s persecution as they were literally forced out of Jerusalem, for them to begin this work of sharing God’s hope in the world. We might be a very different church than that early one, but I think a similar problem plagues us. The majority of us may be comfortable sharing faith in limited contexts: maybe this church, maybe with some close friends or family if that. We too need to be moved out. What would it take to move you out into the world to share this good news that lives in you? What would it take for us to share the living water or the food that lasts, rather than that which parishes? Let's face it, we have shared that which parishes way more often.
Two other important things are happening here:
1st) As the disciples move out sharing God in Christ, what we see is that God comes with them and moves among the people.
This might seem less significant to us because we are used to the idea of God being present, but remember that the temple in Jerusalem was often recognized as the place where God’s presence dwelt.
The importance of God’s presence in the temple was the reason why 100s of thousands would come to Jerusalem at major festivals and why I believe the Ethiopian eunuch did as well. As Jesus said to the Samaritan woman at the well, the Samaritan’s do not know God, because they did not come to him. They thought he was ontop of a mountain.
At this point, we can only imagine what it would have meant for the Samaritans that God came to them or for this Ethiopian man. These people probably felt quite isolated from God and God’s people, yet there was God coming after them. For them, this was not an everyday occurrence, this was the greatest king, celebrity, honorable and respected person, and more coming to their door. This would be one of the greatest gifts and we see them responding as such.
2nd) As God moves out with his disciples, it isn’t just to those that already know him that he goes to. He moves out purposefully to other nations and those in those nations that are searching and longing for his presence. Jesus Christ was now inviting all people into the family of God. That would have felt revolutionary. There is more though because this is not just God coming to another nation, this is God coming to isolated, excluded, and different people, a magician and a eunuch. People that would have often been shunned or outside of religious life. The good news of God’s presence and Kingdom are meant for everyone and it is truly effective for all people.
Again, we might not see this as too significant, but in the disciple's Roman world oftentimes those that were different were killed or rejected or shunned. Actually, sometimes in the Roman world, all you needed to be was not strong enough or skilled enough or born in the wrong place to be shunned or cast out, or killed. Here suddenly, the Lord over everything was willing to come and invite everyone in. Those from other nations and those that may not fit the mold. It takes a while for this to really stick, but this becomes the base for modern morals and equity. We should know God is the source of a true love for all.
I want to take my last bit of time to look at why Jesus is such good news that can affect all people.
Well to start with, this is the good news that allows the disciples to hold onto joy and hope, even in the midst of their being persecuted, imprisoned, and forced out of their homes and city. Horrible things that could bring anyone down. So why are they so filled with joy? Well, they heard, believed, and saw that God had and will work through the worst suffering, and the lowest position, and bring about redemption and even greater life. Of course, this is the reality of Jesus’ death and resurrection, but we can also see God’s redeeming the worst situation easily in the story of Joseph or Moses or the disciples at Pentecost or even the redemption in our own lives. I don’t know if we believe as much in this good news, even though we have seen it. Do we believe in the privilege of suffering for Christ so that we and others will see more as these early disciples did? If we did, I think that would change how we lived and shared the good news.
Next, we see that it was good news to the Samaritans and this magician. As Philip shared the good news in Samaria it was accompanied by healings and exorcisms. We can understand how these acts would have been good news, but we must remember that everyone was filled with joy. It was not just a few that were connected to these people. The joy was all-encompassing because these healings and exorcisms meant more. The healings were showing that the God who can do all things, has come to heal every part of us. The exorcisms were showing that we have no reason to be afraid of even the worst things that can take hold and it shows us that we don’t have to be imprisoned by anything because God is with us.
It might have started with healings and exorcisms, but it would lead to them following God and committing their lives to him in baptism. They longed for a lifelong relationship with God that means more than these things and so they were willing to commit themselves to him.
Simon thought this meant more power. He probably thought God would lead him to greater magic, greater acknowledgment, and greater riches. He was not completely wrong, but he was looking for it in the wrong places and still expected it to function like the culture we created (he only saw a limited good news). It was very important that Peter challenged him and that he repented, but he was still missing that personal relationship with God that changes lives.
The Ethiopian eunuch was on his way back from the temple in Jerusalem, obviously hoping for some kind of real encounter and closeness. On the way back, he was reading over the words of Isaiah which talk about suffering, sacrifice, and the loss of family and heritage. You can imagine how a eunuch would relate to these words. How might he have longed for family, or for a purpose for his suffering and loss? Here were words that he associated with and through Philip, those words lead to a real encounter and understanding of God’s love. This is already good news, but it also leads to a purpose for his suffering and an embrace into a greater family. Jesus himself had no physical children and yet his children were great, many, and growing. That Ethiopian eunuch would have no children, but he would bring that faith back to Ethiopia and would have a greater family than he could have ever expected.
How does this good news meet you where you are? How is it truly the best news for you. This is good news for everyone no matter where you are from or what your situation is. It is good news that already is effectively changing our lives and communities for the better. It is good news that leads to hope, brings life, and redeems everything, even in the worst situations. We need to believe in its power and significance so that when we move out we can share what is truly good news for everyone, so that they might see it too. AMEN
9:30am Discussion
Who here likes sharing Good News?
What do you think the best news you could share would be? (Without fundamentally changing people or the world?)
Acts 8:1-4: In the midst of persecution, why do you think these disciples could still share the word of God as good news?
5-8: Why do you think these Samaritans would respond with rejoicing?
8-25: Why did Peter respond to Simon in this way? Why was Jesus not good news for him, yet?
25-40: Why did the Ethiopian respond with rejoicing?
How could this news of Jesus be the best news for us?
Readings: Acts 8:1-25, Acts 8:26-40
Acts 8:1-25
Vs 1 - Why did Saul approve of the killing? Why does it matter to them and to us?
Why did the persecution break out against the church? What did people hold against them?
Was this a result of what Stephen said or did? Or what they did to him? (Similar to in for an inch in for a pound?)
Why were the apostles able to stay?
Who were the others?
What was the result of their being spread throughout all of Judea and Samaria? (look ahead vs. 4-5)
Vs. 2 - Who were these Godly men? Why did they mourn deeply?
Why is it important how they buried Stephen?
Vs. 3 - How could Saul destroy the church? And why would he? How does he have the authority to take them and put them into prison?
Why was he so diligent and mathematical about his search? Why would he go into houses? Why would he take both men and women?
Does this relate at all to modern resistance to the church/faith?
Vs. 4 - How did God use their scattering? Why do you think these new disciples were empowered/able to proclaim God’s word?
Does scattered in this context mean isolated? Are we ever really alone in our faith?
Vs. 5 - Where did Philip appear before this in Acts? What was the task/role given to him? - What does this tell us about every ministry of faith?
What is significant about Philip going to Samaria? (Remember Samaria practiced a different kind of Judaism, believing God should be worshipped on the mountain instead of the temple and were often isolated for it)
Vs. 6 - Why did they pay more attention to Philip? Why are his words and signs significant?
How should we respond to such words and signs? Are we watching for them?
Vs. 7 - What do the signs of exorcism, and healing mean/point to?
Vs. 8 - Why would Philip’s appearance and work lead to great joy?
Why didn’t it lead to joy for all those Jesus spoke to? Or for Stephen and the disciples? What does this tell us about our receptivity to the gospel?
Vs. 9 - What did this sorcery look like? Was there real power behind it or was it trickery? Where did the power come from?
Why would he need to boast? Why would he?
Vs. 10-11 - We see here a bit of a comparison between Philip and Simon. What is the difference?
What did Simon’s actions point to? Why was he called the power of God?
Vs. 12-13 - What does it mean that they then started following Jesus instead? What does their baptism mean?
Why is it significant that even Simon started following and was astonished?
Vs. 14 - How did they hear about what was happening?
Why would they send Peter and John?
Vs.15-17 - Why had they not yet received the Holy Spirit? Why in this context is baptism not enough? Was it important that the apostles do this work?
Vs. 18-19 - Why did Simon think this was something that could be bought?
Vs. 20-23 - What does Peter see in Simon?
Why was his heart not right before God? What was his wickedness?
Vs. 24 - Why is Simon so afraid? Why are both Peter’s statement and Simon’s response important? What is Simon’s response lacking?
Vs. 25 - Why did Peter and John go back to Jerusalem? What did they do on the way?
How can our work as Christians often be on the journey and not just the destination? What can we do to help this work along the way?
Acts 8:26-40
Vs. 26 - Why would an angel speak to Philip? Is it possible an angel has spoken to you and you never perceived it?
Vs 27 - What was significant about the person Philip met along the way? What does God leading Philip to this man mean about/for the gospel?
Why would an Ethiopian come all the way to Jerusalem to worship?
Vs. 28 - How would the Jewish faith and Isaiah’s work make it all the way to Ethiopia?
Vs. 29 - Why would Philip need this extra prompting?
Vs. 30 - Why would Philip run?
Why was Philip’s question a good place to start? How might understanding be a good place for us or others to start?
Vs. 31 - How is the Ethiopian’s response significant to the gospel and our sharing of faith?
Why is it an appropriate response?
Vs. 32-33 - Why might this passage be significant to the Ethiopian Eunuch?
Why would someone not open their mouth when led to slaughter?
Vs. 34-35 - Who was Isaiah talking about? Why was this significant to Isaiah too? (Remember Isaiah was a prophet who witnessed to Jerusalem turning away from God, their exile in Babylon and Assyria and God’s promise of redemption)
What is the gospel/good news of Jesus to you? How does this passage relate?
Vs. 36-37 - Why would the Eunuch want to be baptized? Why was it so important that he wanted it done right away?
Would/should anything stand in the way of his being baptized? Why are their responses important?
Vs. 38-39 What does it mean that the chariot had been moving this whole time? What would this have done for Philip? What does this tell us about our faith journey with others?
Why would the Spirit take away Philip as the Eunuch comes out of the water?
Why did the Ethiopians go on rejoicing?
Vs. 40 - Why is this extra detail about where Philip appeared and preached important?
