Understanding the Twelve- Philip
“43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”
John 1:43
The last three weeks we took a break from our study of the twelve disciples. However, today we pick up our study with a look at who Philip was.
This disciple is not mentioned much throughout the gospels, and in fact can only be found mentioned in the book of John. However, this does not mean that he holds less significance than any of the others. John 1:43-45 identifies a couple key points into who Philip was. This passage of scripture is where Jesus sought out Philip, but unlike Andrew and Peter, he didn’t need anyone to identify who Jesus was to him. “43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. 45 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.” A simple request and Philip’s knowledge of scripture was enough for him to see that Jesus was the One that Moses and the prophets wrote about. This shows that Philip had fantastic head knowledge of Scripture; but as we will see, he hadn’t yet made the jump to acknowledging Jesus as his Lord and Savior.
The next time that Philip is mentioned by name is in John 6, when Jesus poses a question to him. “5 Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” 6 But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do. 7 Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.” John 6:5-7 This passage of scripture presents a man who is focused on the practicalities of life. Keep in mind, Philip had already seen Jesus turn water into wine and preform miraculous healing at this point. Yet, he still didn’t see Jesus as the Son of God who is capable of creating miracles beyond what he has seen so far. He recognizes that Jesus is who the prophets wrote about (the head knowledge) but had not fully allowed himself to believe that Jesus was both man and God. I do not think it was a coincidence that Jesus asked his question to Philip and not anyone else, I believe that Jesus was using this moment to show his power. Not just to those who came to listen to him, but for those in His midst who may still have had doubts about who He was.
Our final scripture that Philip is mentioned comes from John 14:8-12. “8 Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves. 12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.” In this passage we see that Philip still had not made the connection that Jesus was his Lord and Savior. He was asking for further proof and for Jesus to show them the Father so that they may believe that He was sent by God. Despite traveling with Jesus throughout His ministry, Philip still required further proof that Jesus was who He said He was. Philip appears to be the type of man who will not believe anything until he sees it with his own eyes. This type of attitude is a detriment to believers, a fact that Jesus answers here by saying those who believe in His works will accomplish even greater works because Jesus is going to His Father.
However, Philip does not remain as someone who requires proof before believing. Like the other disciples, after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Philip went on to share the gospel. History tells us that he preached in Phrygia and was crucified in the time of Domitian. Philip remains a lesson for believers today the importance of taking the step of having knowledge of scripture, and truly living for Jesus Christ.
Seek the truth and encourage one another,
Alex