April 6 - A Picture Of Jesus.

Acts 8:35
“Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.”
 
We are not told exactly what Philip said in preaching Jesus unto the Eunuch that day; but we are told from what Scripture he began.
 
Isaiah 53:7-8
“He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.”
 
Throughout Isaiah 53, there are many references to our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Read through the entire chapter today, looking for Him.
 
He is that tender plant.
He is the root out of a dry ground.
He was despised and rejected of men.
He was and is acquainted with our grief.
 
Isaiah 53:4
“Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.”
 
He is the only One that has truly borne our griefs.
He carried our sorrows.
 
Isaiah 53:5
“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”
 
Jesus was wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities. 
It was our chastisement that was upon Him that day on Calvary.
 
It is with His stripes we are healed, because each stripe He received brought forth His precious blood. 
 
Ephesians 1:7
“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”
As Philip and the Eunuch went on their way, they came unto a certain water. The Eunuch asked what hindered him from being baptized. 
 
Philip’s answer is removed from many of the modern translations today:
Acts 8:37
“And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
 
It is our belief in Who Jesus is, and what He did for us that brings salvation. 
Baptism is the outward expression of what has taken place inside of us. 
It is a picture of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
 
Baptism identifies us as believers in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 
Baptism pictures what we remember and celebrate during the week of Easter.
 
He came. 
He died.
He was buried.
He is risen. 
For us. 
 
 
Bible Reading:
Joshua 2-3   |    Acts 8