Salvation in Samaria Acts 8:5-13

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1 Salvation in Samaria Acts 8:5-13 I wonder why, oh why I dawdle so Upon this beaten path where no seeds grow And heat s a furnace blast against my face. Siroccos sweep the clouds away like snow, And yet Gerazim s lost in the embrace Of shrouds of mist and haze that would erase All wisdom of the ritual and rite And wonder of that hallowed, hollow place. Still, whitened waves of wheat seem bold and bright In expectation of the reign of Light. But I still shuffle slow, as if coerced To venture from my ugly, inner night Into that Day where all regret s reversed And Living Water slakes the deepest thirst. It was mid-afternoon. A searing sirocco wind rustled fields of ripe wheat like waves of the sea. And in the distance, the heat warped and wrinkled the powder blue heights of Mount Gerazim. A woman walked the beaten footpath out of town and across the valley alone. It was an inhospitable time to get water. But better the heat and a blistering sun than the scorn and sneers, the icy stares and razor tongues of the other women. Once the woman had been attractive and alluring. But no more. Hard drinking, hard living and a hard heart had cracked and creaked her voice. Her skin was no longer soft. Her eyes were bagged. And her face was bony, haggard and etched with lines. The woman did not like the soundless heat. But at least she would be alone, she thought. Any other day she would have been right about that. But that day she had an eternal appointment. And never again would there be a reason to walk to the well alone. You remember the story. Jesus sat resting and waiting in the shade beside the ancient limestones of Jacob s well. The Savior knew the woman was coming. He knew all about her forlorn, footloose life of lust, too. But Jesus also knew something she did not. He knew this was the dawn of a brand new life for her. God s Son spent some precious time talking with that Samaritan women. Then she ran back through the heat to tell her neighbors. Our Lord spent two golden days with them. And when the Master finally left, no one had any doubt....we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world. John 4:42 Salvation came to Samaria that day. But after Jesus left them, Samaria seems neglected. The Lord would not even let his disciples speak to them when He sent them out by pairs.

2 But God had not forgotten about the people of Samaria. So when Saul started persecuting Christians at Jerusalem, the Spirit sent Philip, one of the deacons, to Samaria. The Gospel and Prejudice When Saul started savaging the saints at Jerusalem, believers scattered to Jewish towns and cities all over Judea and Galilee. All but Philip the deacon. He did what no one else would. Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming Christ to them. Verse 5 It was a bold move for the young deacon. For many generations, Jews and Samaritans had waged a war of attrition and animosity. Judea on the south and Galilee on the north were separated by Samaria. However, although they lived in close quarters, they were walled off from one another by old wars and ugly wounds. It began long ago when Assyria overran the northern kingdom of Israel. The conquering army deported many of the inhabitants, members of the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, to outposts in Babylon and Assyria. At the same time, the Assyrians settled refugees from other conquered kingdoms in Israel. And over time, God s people intermarried with their new pagan neighbors. So it was not long until faith in the living God had mongrelized with pagan religions. Yes, they did build a grand temple on the heights of Mount Gerazim. But their faith was worlds away from the pattern laid down by Moses in God s Word. Still, when Nehemiah was busy rebuilding the temple, the Samaritans offered to help. But the Jews flatly refused. The people of Samaria considered that a rude slap in the face. And that was not the only sore point. Jews in Judea and Galilee would have absolutely nothing to do with Samaritans. For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. John 4:9 That was the thorn in the Master s parable of the wounded man on the road to Jericho. Both a priest and a Levite passed on by. Only a godly Samaritan was willing to help the man. Jews strictly avoided Samaritans. So when Galileans journeyed south to Jerusalem for feasts, they traveled the long way around. Crossing the Jordan south of the Sea of Galilee, they followed the trade route along the eastern banks of the river. Then near Jericho they re-crossed the river and walked the dusty road up to Jerusalem. That really was the long way around. It was a much shorter trip to simply travel south through Samaria. But that was not only disgusting to the Jews. It was also dangerous. Samaritans sometimes attacked companies of Jews. The history of Jews and Samaritans is more than dusty details. It is the record of a wound that was never allowed to heal. Jews disdained and denigrated Samaritans. And the people of Samaria distrusted and disliked Jews. So none of the new Christians at Jerusalem ever had any dealings whatsoever with Samaritans. All they knew about those people was what ugly stereotypes and old stories taught them. That is why it is indeed remarkable that Philip chose to journey to a city in Samaria. He could have easily escaped persecution in scores of Jewish cities. But he did go to any of them. Instead, he settled in a city in Samaria. While the apostles remained in Jerusalem and other

3 believers scattered across Judea and Galilee, Philip went to the ancient enemies of his people. And he went there for a specific, spiritual reason. He remembered what the Redeemer said just before He rose up into the sky to return to His father....you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth. Acts 1:8 That is why Philip went to a city in Samaria. And at the marketplace and in open plazas, he started telling people about Jesus. Philip is a model of mature faith in Christ for every Christian. He willingly abandoned old animosities he had been taught as well as every shred of personal prejudice. So we do not have to wonder if the young deacon was close to Christ. The love he had for people he once hated proves he had been transformed into the likeness of the Lord Jesus. This is the farthest thing from an old, out of date issue. Prejudice still lingers in the hearts of many believers. And that is a tragedy. There is no room for prejudice in the hearts of the Savior s servants. Christ s blood binds us all together in His love. He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, Ephesians 2:14 So we dare not nurture hostility and hatred for anyone who is different. Walls of prejudice based upon racial, economic or social differences must melt away when we come to Christ in faith. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28 Philip understood what we must learn. We are all sinners. And we all need the same thing. Salvation through faith in Jesus Christ! The Gospel and Power For two wonderful days, our Lord beamed the light of His love into the hearts of Samaritans at Sychar. Then He left. And for several years no one came to teach them spiritual truths about the power of Christ s death and resurrection. So when Philip started telling people how they could be saved by trusting in Jesus, he received a warm welcome. The crowds with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs which he was performing. Verse 6 People crowded around to hear what Philip had to say. They remembered stories they had heard about Jesus visit to Sychar and the lives that were changed then. Still, it is significant that those Samaritans were interested most of all in what the young Jew had to say. After all, he also performed miracles and worked wonders. For in the case of many who had unclean spirits, they were coming out of them shouting with a loud voice; and many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed. So there was much rejoicing in that city. Verse 7-8 The miracles Philip performed were more than showmanship. He worked wonders at God s command for important reasons. First, there were no New Testament scriptures to verify that the Gospel Philip preached was pure and powerful. So just as He did with the apostles, God delivered demoniacs and healed the lame as His stamp of approval on the message Philip preached. Those miracles were signs the

4 message was true and well worth believing. Also, by healing helpless paralytics, the Savior showed the Samaritans how much He loved them. And by casting out demons, the Holy Spirit demonstrated Christ s eternal power over the devil. Still, seeing miracles was nothing new to the Samaritans. For long years, the Savior s servants had not come to Samaria. But Satan s servants did. And one of them was named Simon. Now there was a man named Simon, who formerly was practicing magic in the city and astonishing the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great; and they all, from smallest to greatest, were giving attention to him, saying, This man is what is called the Great Power of God. And they were giving him attention because he had for a long time astonished them with his magic arts. Verses 9-11 Simon s miracles were more sleight of hand and trickery than real wonders. But in one narrow sense, his purpose was the same. He wanted people to listen to him. But while Philip wanted people to honor and obey God, Simon s motives were all selfish. Also, Philip never claimed to be anything more than a simple servant of God. But not Simon, he proudly promoted himself, bragging and boasting that he was someone great. And that is a clear sign that someone is not really serving the Savior. If anyone tries to make people think he is someone special, he is utterly out of step with our meek and lowly Lord. When John the Baptist s disciples had dwindled down to a handful, the desert preacher was not discouraged. Instead, he explained to his few remaining followers, he was pleased....this joy of mine has been made full. He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3:29-3 We simply cannot promote ourselves and also promote Jesus. It will always be one of the other. Also, Simon wanted people to heap honor on him. And so they did. They praised the old magician, calling him the Great Power of God. And that pleased Simon. But it should not have. And we must never seek or savor praise, honor and glory from men, either. If we really are serving the Redeemer who shed His blood and laid down His life for us, we must always strive to bring honor to Him. Never to ourselves. The Gospel and Profession The people of Samaria had seen miracles before. But since the Savior walked down the donkey trail north to Galilee, they had not heard a message that filled them with such light and life. In fact, the message the young Jew proclaimed was so solid and sure, Samaritans eagerly believed it. But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike. Verse 12 Philip proclaimed a three part message. He began with the good news: the Gospel. He told Samaritans that Jesus was God s sinless Son. He also told them that the Lord laid down His life as the full and final payment for all their sins. And if those Samaritans would simply confess their sins and trust in Christ s blood, they could be cleansed of all their sins. Then and now, that really is glorious good news. Philip also told the people of Samaria how our Redeemer rose up from His garden grave, never again to die. Jesus is not only a Savior, the deacon explained. He is also Christ the King, Victor over death, despair, and even the devil himself.

5 So just as they needed to trust in Jesus as their Savior, they also needed to submit to Him as their Commander, Captain and King. And that means willingly receiving Christ as Lord. Finally, Philip told the Samaritans about the Name of Jesus Christ. He taught the people of Samaria what the Savior said Himself. There is infinite unlimited power in His holy name. All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Matthew 28:18 The Samaritans were a lot like us. Many of them struggled with painful memories, with grinding guilt, deep depression and despair. But by trusting utterly and only in the power of Jesus Name, they could be delivered from such slavery. And so can we. The Samaritans listened to what the young deacon said. And they believed his message. Simon listened too, but not with the same eagerness. Nevertheless, on a bare bones, intellectual level, he believed the facts that Philip proclaimed. So when great crowds of Samaritans followed Philip to the river, Simon joined them. And when they proudly professed their faith in Jesus as both Messiah and Master, the old magician echoed their words. He even sloshed out into the stream to be baptized. Even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed. Verse 13 For all appearances, Simon was saved just as other Samaritans were. But his faith was nothing at all like theirs. Simon was not really interested in what Philip said. He was enthralled by what the deacon did. Indeed, he was mesmerized by the power he saw flowing through Philip. So as the young Jew moved about to preach to more people in Samaria, Simon followed him. But he followed with his eyes not his ears. He did not follow out of a hunger to hear God s Word. No, Simon was amazed and motivated by the powerful miracles he saw the young man work. And he was willing to do anything he had to just to obtain that power. We cannot say whether Simon was really saved or not. All we can do is examine the fruits of his life. And what Simon did after he was baptized calls his conversion into question. And therein lies a lesson for us today. It makes little difference that Simon did a great deal that was good and godly. Yes, he heard and understood that Jesus is God s Son who died on the cross, shedding His blood for his sin. The old magician also heard that the Redeemer rose up from His grave. And Simon believed those facts. But perhaps that is where he stopped. He never really put what he believed into practice. When he confessed his sins, he was less than sincere. And never for a moment did he really commit his life to Christ as his King. Being baptized is a way to profess our faith in Jesus Christ. But Simon s baptism was little more than a midday bath. Baptism alone is not sufficient. It is not enough to know and believe the Gospel, either. We must sincerely turn from our sins and trust Christ s blood to deliver us. And seeing signs will not do that. The roots of our faith must go deeper than pretense and profession. It must be built on faith in the infallible Word of God.