Who Do I Relate To? Philip?

Let's start with Philip.

He is known as being one of the quiet apostles. According to the Thompson Chain Reference Bible he preached in Phrygia; dying as a martyr in Hierapolis. His name means "lover of horses." Interesting, I thought. And John 1 tells us he's from Bethsaida, just like Andrew and Peter.

Now let me ask. Do you know someone who stands on the outside of a group listening, not participating until asked directly? Or, that doesn't assume to be part of a group until invited specifically?

That's Philip. Though he must have seen his fellow townsmen walking with Jesus he didn't join them. Jesus found him and asked him to come. How cool to be sought after by Jesus.

And, have you ever been invited on a trip, or to a party, and even though you knew some of the attendees, you wanted someone else you knew better to come along? Or, after discovering a wonderful restaurant with great food and prices, you go and tell somebody so they can experience the same joy?

Philip did this when he went for Nathanael. He even had to be a little persistent to get him to join in the adventure.

What about having a time when you wonder if the question you are about to ask is going to get you fired, or put in 'the doghouse?'

Philip experienced this when the Greeks in the group listening to Jesus wanted a private audience with him. He went to Andrew for support. They both got the lecture.

Then there was the time he was tested by Jesus. Although, I see it as Jesus setting up the situation to show how he can provide when things look overwhelming. First he showed Philip here's a problem coming - lots of people - lots of hungry people. Then he asked the question, "now what do we do?" Ever have more people than you planned on showing up for a party? Ya. That's the idea.

Granted Philip responded the way many would have responded...are you kidding? Feed them? All of them? There's no possibly way we have enough money with us to feed all of those people? Like that's going to happen! It can't be done!

Of course, as soon as he gave his short-sighted answer someone else, Andrew, speaks up with the correct answer. I see Philip thinking to himself, "I saw that."

And there's one more thing. Have you ever gotten so excited about something said to you that you didn't hear the rest of the story?

Philip does this in John 14 leading to the ever dreaded question, "Weren't you paying attention to what I just said?" He has a willingness to believe in all that Jesus will show him; it's just that he didn't pay attention to the details Jesus was sharing. Where was his head? Wasn't his head in the game?

I've been guilty of this. Asking questions that leave those around me giving the look...Really?!? In this respect, I can so relate to this man.

I learned something as I studied the apostle Philip. Burst my bubble, in fact. He is not the man who spoke with the Ethopian eunuch in Acts 8.
Acts 8:1 tells us that the apostles remained in Jerusalem while many of the others were scattered, which is followed by the recounting of the tale of the Ethopian eunuch on the road to Gaza. So logic tells us this is the recently-appointed Philip not the apostle.

To read about the apostle Philip see: John 1:43-51; 6:5-9; 12:20-23; 14. See Matt 10:3; Luke 6:14; or Mark 3:18 for the day Jesus picked the twelve.