GodReflection: A Brand-New Life And Have Everything To Live For.
Just two days after Jesus’s Baptism by his cousin John the Baptist, he calls another of the young men from the village of Bethesda: the home of the two sets of brothers, Peter, Andrew, James and John. This time it is Philip, one of their friends. Remember Jesus’s is in the enrollment process of his twelve students who will spend night and day with him over the next three years to become his apostles.
These selected disciples will learn from Jesus their master teacher, what they need to know as his foundation students, who will begin to announce his good news to all nations. Little did they realize what they signed up to do.
And so once again, John the old apostles tells the story that introduces us to Phillip. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.” Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. (John 1:43-44). Philip cannot keep this to himself; he can’t wait to share it with his buddy Nathanael. From his early childhood he’s read about The Mesiah who one day God will send into the world—can you believe it? It just happened and he invited me to be one of his students!
Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip. (John 1:45).
Once more, we find ourselves back again on the mountain among 5000 men, plus the women and children. Remember it is the story of a hungry multitude who didn’t bring their sack lunches. It is time to stretch Philip’s faith-trust factor.
When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” he asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” (John 6:5-7).
Next, we encounter Philip at a party just prior to Jesus’s death. Some partying Greeks have a favor to ask of Philip. Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir”, they aid, “we would like to see Jesus.” Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Phillip in turn told Jesus. (John 12: 20-22).
Then on the occasion when Thomas was inquiring of Jesus about a map to where he was going and his return. “If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” (Philip has an idea) Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” (John 14:7-8).
Jesus radiates his love to Philip by his own thought-provoking questions to grow Philip’s faith. Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you for such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? (John 14: 9-10).
Yes, Jesus knew Philip’s potential when he first spotted this young man among his other friends who Jesus chose from Bethesda to grow into one of his great Apostles. And Philip cannot be more pleased to know he is among those who have A Brand-New Life And Have Everything To Live For.
I am confident Philip’s message to me and to you, is if we trust Jesus, we to can experience A Brand-New Life And Have Everything To Live For. Let’s keep trusting. How about it?
Stay tuned.
Gary J. Sorrells
A GodReflection: Who Is Philip?
God Reflection 