No Time Like the Present

Acts 8:34-40

The eunuch asked Philip, “About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture, he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus. As they were going along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?” He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he was passing through the region, he proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.

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Gonna hitch a ride
Head for the other side
Leave it all behind
Never change my mind
Gonna sail away
Sun lights another day
Freedom on my mind
Carry me away for the last time

"Hitch a Ride" written by Tom Scholz, recorded by Boston on their self-titled debut album.

So the Ethiopian Eunuch has discovered who Jesus is. The Eunuch is excited to learn the truth and take the truth back to his Queen and his people. Obviously, as Philip proclaimed the Good News of Jesus Christ, he told the Eunuch about baptism. I imagine Philip told him of John the Baptist. I imagine Philip told him of the Baptism of the Lord and the Spirit lighting on him like a dove. I imagine Philip told him about the baptism of other peoples.

Ritual washing is important in these cultures, and has been since before anyone can remember, but Philip must have made sure this official of the Queen of Ethiopia knew that this washing was different, wonderful, and more glorious than they could hope or imagine.

With this, the Eunuch notices the water alongside the road and asks what would prevent him from being baptized by Philip right there and right now. Philip, wonderfully does not have to take this request any further than to the Lord who lives in him by the Holy Spirit and says that there is no time like the present. They head to the water where this foreigner is baptized into the household of God.

Then suddenly and immediately after the baptism, the Spirit of the Lord snatches Philip away. The Eunuch is left by the side of the road, but what was to be done was done and the Eunuch returns to the court of the Queen rejoicing.

Talk about hitching a ride to the other side.

Philip and the Eunuch had freedom on their minds. Freedom of the word of God; the Eunuch had the word from the prophet Isaiah and Philip had the word from the Word become flesh. They both had the truth, but until now only Philip had the truth of Jesus Christ. The word was shared and the word set them on their ways. The way for both of these men changed at this moment. Philip was snatched away to a new place, the Ethiopian went to his home with the greatest gift of all.

From there Philip hitched a ride to the other side, to Azotus. The Ethiopian, he went home. In this one minute they both said yes, they said that there is no time like the present to become one in the household of God. Because they didn't hesitate, we share this glorious story.

They didn't change their minds. They left their old ways behind. The eunuch left his pagan ways behind and Philip, he left the eunuch behind. One in the dust of a chariot one in the dust of the whirlwind, they left their old ways behind. Swept away, hitching a ride on the waters of baptism.