MEANING OF THE CROSS

ACTS 8:26–40

Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him

(Acts 8:35).

To understand the Gospel, you must understand the meaning of the Cross. This is evident from Acts 8:26–40 where Philip met the Ethiopian eunuch. This rather important official was reading from the prophet Isaiah. At the same time, the Spirit told Philip to overtake his chariot and speak with him: “So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ And he said, ‘How can I, unless someone guides me?’ And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him.” The passage that he was reading was from Isaiah 53: “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so He opened not His mouth.…” Philip explained to the perplexed man that the prophet was speaking of Jesus Christ. The account in Acts says, “Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him.”

Many people who witnessed the crucifixion of Christ understood the event in different ways. Caiaphas understood it to be an act of political expediency. Pilate saw it as a religious squabble amongst Jewish leaders. Mary saw it as the painful death of her Son. The disciples saw it as the execution of their beloved Leader. The crowd saw it as just punishment. One of the thieves understood it to be the punishment of an innocent Man. The centurion understood, as so many didn’t, that it was the death of God’s Son. The interpretations varied, and unless we have someone to guide us, we will miss the significance of the Atonement. This was the goal of the apostles: to explain the meaning of the Cross and to spread the Good News.

Philip explained to the Ethiopian, using Isaiah 53, that Jesus was the Suffering Servant, the fulfillment of prophecy, the One who bore the penalty of sin for His people. He alone is our satisfaction, our substitute, and our Redeemer. Without Him there is no salvation. After hearing Philip’s explanations and instruction, the man understood this and turned his life over to Christ. If we want to see lasting change come to people’s lives, we must “preach Jesus to them.” They must believe the Gospel to be saved, and in doing so, grasp the importance of the sacrifice of Christ for them.

CORAM DEO

Lamentations 1–2

Hebrews 7

Read Isaiah 53. Read the entire chapter and think about it as you read; see if it doesn’t present in a striking way the atoning work of Christ. Then when you are finished with that, read Psalm 22. Jesus obviously had it in mind on the cross. Read this Psalm carefully, closely, and slowly. Pray for depth of understanding.

For further study: Ps. 22 • Isa. 53

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