Acts 8:36-39 And as they went on their way, they came to a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water… I. THE CAUSES OF THIS ETHIOPIAN'S JOY. 1. He had heard the best of all news. 2. He had seen the most glorious of all sights (Isaiah 35:1, 2, 5, 6). He saw the glory of the wisdom of God, of the power of God, of the holiness of God, of the justice of God, of the faithfulness of God, of the grace and mercy of God, manifested in the salvation of men; therefore "he went on his way rejoicing." 3. He had found the richest of all treasures. He could say, with an air of spiritual pleasure, as the two disciples did (John 1:41) I have found Him of whom Moses and the prophets wrote; I have found riches Of goodness, riches of grace, riches of glory, unsearchable riches, a kingdom that cannot be moved, a crown of life, a crown of righteousness, and a crown of glory that fadeth not away. 4. He had attained to the greatest of all honours. He was made a servant of the King of heaven; and some suppose that from this time henceforth he became a preacher of the gospel of His kingdom. Nay, "not only a servant, but a son; a son of God, by faith in Jesus Christ. If a son, then an heir; an heir of God, and a joint-heir with Christ." 5. He had got his title-deeds to heaven and eternal glory ratified and sealed. 6. He was blessed with all spiritual blessings, and had obtained the most glorious prospects for time and for eternity. II. THE NATURE OF THIS JOY. 1. The Holy Spirit is the author of this joy. It is planted in the heart by the power of the Spirit, it is drawn forth into exercise by His Divine agency. 2. The knowledge of our interest in Christ and God as our reconciled God in Him is the source and spring of this joy. 3. All the tribulations to which the people of the Lord are subjected in this present state cannot extinguish this joy. 4. The Word and ordinances of God are the means of communicating joy to the souls of the people of the Lord, and they are the means of feeding this joy. 5. The Christian himself, when in the highest raptures of spiritual pleasures, cannot fully describe the excellence of this joy. 6. This joy is perfected at death, and prolonged to all the endless ages of eternity. III. INFERENCES. 1. Learn that pure and undefiled religion is not a melancholy thing. 2. That the Lord knoweth them that are His. 3. From this subject at large see the danger of returning home from the ordinances of God without your proper errand. 4. From this subject learn that men may wait long on God in the ordinances of His grace before they meet with Jesus. The man who gets a saving sight of Christ, though not till the last day of the feast, though not till the time of the preaching of the last sermon, the presenting of the last prayer, the singing of the last praise, the pronouncing of the blessing — nay, though not till he be on the road to his habitation, he will nevertheless go on his way rejoicing. 5. Is there a broken-hearted believer, under painful apprehension, that though he has been seeking Jesus, he has not found Him, and now saying, in the bitterness of his soul, I must go on my way sorrowing? Godly sorrow is not only consistent, but is inseparably connected with this joy in the Lord (Isaiah 29:19). (John Jardine.) Parallel Verses KJV: And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? |
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