So here we go with the twelve apostles... the inner circle of Jesus. I want to start with Philip.
He was not the first one called, but he wasn’t the last one either. He is known as being one of the quiet apostles. He didn’t loudly blurt out answers for all to hear. His name means “lover of horses.” Interesting meaning, I think. John 1:46 tells us he’s from Bethsaida, just like Andrew and Peter. According to the Thompson Chain Reference Bible, he preached in Phrygia; dying as a martyr in Hierapolis.
Upon seeing this point, I reviewed Acts 8. What I read burst my bubble.
Phillip the apostle is not the same Philip who spoke with the Ethiopian eunuch. Acts 8:1 tells us that the apostles remained in Jerusalem while many of the others were scattered. It's after this that we read the account of the eunuch on the road to Gaza, which is followed by Philip being transported to Azotus. Logically, the Philip in these verses is the recently appointed Philip from Acts 6:5, not the apostle.
Don't be disheartened, though. There's enough written to give us some lessons and points to relate with the Apostle Philip.
John 1:43 tells us Jesus found Philip. Do you feel like Jesus found you where you were? Calling you to follow Him. How sweet is that?
Further in John 1:45-46 we see Philip found his friend Nathanael, and shared the good news with him. He even had to be a little persistent to get him to join in the adventure. Any of us want to share good news, any good news, like that? Perhaps we may need to be as persistent as Philip was. Keep trying to get the good news received.
Sometime after joining Jesus, came the moment when a large group of people needed to be fed. Jesus used this to test Philip. (John 6:5-9) Although, I see it as Jesus using an opportunity 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, "How can we feed these people?" Granted Philip responded the way many would have...are you kidding? Feed them? All of them? There's no possible way we have enough money with us to feed all of those people? It can't be done. (Author's sanctified imagination used here.) In the end, Andrew mentions a small basket of food that Jesus then uses to feed thousands of people. It was Philip that stated the earthly impossibility while Jesus showed that with Him all things are possible.
Next came the time when Philip was addressed by Greeks who wanted a special favor. (John 12:20-23) Not knowing the answer he checked with Andrew. Together they approached Jesus. What they got was a long preparatory statement of the soon coming events followed by God the Father speaking from heaven. Ever asked a question for which you received an answer you weren't expecting? I can relate.
Philip's lessons didn't stop there. Have you ever heard the first part of what was said but stopped listening to the words that followed? Yep, Philip did that too in John 14. He made a statement/request that was answered basically with, "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. Wasn't his head in the game? How many times have my thoughts not been present in the game? I've been guilty of this. Asking questions that leave those in close proximity giving me the look...really? In this respect, I can so identify with Philip.
Perhaps you haven't had any of these Philip-experiences. Come back next week and see if Nathaniel rings a bell. In the meantime, if you're interested in reading the verses where Philip is specifically mentioned, check these out: John 1:43-46, 6:5-9, 12:20-23; John 14; Matt 10:1-15; Luke 6:12-16; Mark 3:18; Acts 1:13
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