Disciples of Jesus - Philip

1. Disciples of Jesus - Philip – 9th January 2017
Philipansweredhim, “Itwouldtake more than halfa year’s wagesto buy enoughbread for each one
to have a bite!” (John6:7).
Traditionsaysthat disciple PhilippreachedinPhrygiaanddiedamartyr at Hierapolis.Philipcame from
Bethsaida,the townfromwhichPeterandAndrew came.“Philip,likeAndrewandPeter, wasfrom the
town of Bethsaida”(John1:44). The likelihoodisthathe,too,wasa fisherman.Althoughthe firstthree
Gospelsrecordhisname (Matthew10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:14; Acts 1:13), it isin the Gospel of John
that Philipbecomesalivingpersonality.
We can alsolearnthat some scholarsdisagree onPhilip.Fromthe bookof Acts we can learnPhilipas
one of the sevenordaineddeacons. We canlearnthisfrom Acts 6:5, “Thisproposal pleasedthe whole
group.They chose Stephen,a man full of faithandof the Holy Spirit;also Philip,Procorus,Nicanor,
Timon,Parmenas,and NicolasfromAntioch,a convert to Judaism.” Some scholars saythisisa
differentPhilip.Some believe thisisthe Apostle.If thisisthe same Philip,thenhispersonalitycame
more to life because he hada successful campaigninSamaria.He ledthe EthiopianeunuchtoChristas
we can read from Acts 8:26, “Nowanangel of the Lord saidto Philip,“Gosouthto the road—the
desert road—thatgoesdownfrom Jerusalem to Gaza.” He alsostayedwithPaul inCeasareaandwas
one of the majorfiguresinthe missionaryenterpriseof the earlychurch. “Leavingthe next day, we
reached Caesarea andstayed at the houseof Philipthe evangelist,oneof the Seven.” (Acts21:80).
The Gospel of John showsPhilipasone of the firstto whomJesusaddressedthe words,"FollowMe."
WhenPhilip metChrist,he immediatelyfoundNathanael andtoldhimthat"we have foundhim, of
whomMoses… and the prophets,didwrite."Nathanael wasskeptical.ButPhilipdidnotargue withhim;
he simplyanswered,"Comeandsee."ThisstorytellsustwoimportantthingsaboutPhilip.First,itshows
hisrightapproach to the skepticandhissimple faithinChrist.Second,itshowsthathe hada missionary
instinct.
Philip the Apostle was one of the earliest followers of Jesus Christ. Some scholars speculate that
Philip was first a disciple of John the Baptist, because he lived in the region where John
preached. Like Peter and Peter's brother Andrew, Philip was a Galilean, from the village of
Bethsaida. It's probable they knew one another and were friends. Philip was a man with a warm
heart and a pessimistic head. He was one who would very much like to do something for
others, but who did not see how it could be done. Yet, this simple Galilean gave all he had. In
return God used him. It is said that he died by hanging. While he was dying, he requested that
his body be wrapped not in linen but in papyrus for he was not worthy that even his dead body
should be treated as the body of Jesus had been treated. The symbol of Philip is a basket,
because of his part in feeding of the five thousand. It is he that stressed the cross as a sign of
Christianity and victory.
Jesusissuedapersonal call toPhilip:"Follow me." Aswe readin John1:43, “The next day Jesus decided
to leave for Galilee.FindingPhilip,hesaidto him, “Followme.” Leavinghisoldlife behind,Philip
answeredthe call.He mayhave beenamongthe discipleswithJesusatthe weddingfeastinCana,when
Christperformedhisfirstmiracle, turningwaterintowine. ItwasPhilipwhorecruitedthe skeptical
Nathanael AKA Bartholomew,asanapostle,leadingJesustoreveal thathe supernaturallysaw
Nathanael sittingunderafigtree,evenbefore Philipcalledhim. Inthe miracle of the feedingof the

2. 5,000, JesustestedPhilipbyaskinghimwhere theycouldbuybreadforsomany people. We canread
thisinJohn 6:5-7, “WhenJesus lookedup and sawa great crowd comingtowardhim, he saidto Philip,
"Whereshall we buybread for these people to eat?" He askedthis onlyto test him,for he already had
in mindwhat he was goingto do.Philipanswered him,"It wouldtake more than halfa year's wages
to buy enoughbread for each one to have a bite!"
Limitedbyhisearthboundexperience,Philiprepliedthateightmonths'wageswouldnotbe enoughto
buyeach personone bite. The last we hear of Philip the Apostle is in the book of Acts, at Jesus'
ascension and the Day of Pentecost. Another Philip is mentioned in Acts, a deacon and
evangelist, but some scholarssay that is a different person.Tradition says Philip the Apostle
preached in Phrygia, in Asia Minor, and was martyred there at Hierapolis.
Philipthe Apostle'sAccomplishments:Philiplearnedthe truthaboutthe kingdomof Godat the feetof
Jesus,thenpreachedthe gospel afterJesus' resurrection andascension.
Philip'sStrengths:Philipferventlysoughtthe MessiahandrecognizedthatJesuswasthe promised
Savior,eventhoughhe didnotfullyunderstanduntilafterJesus'resurrection.
Philip'sWeaknesses:Like the otherapostles,PhilipdesertedJesusduringhistrial and crucifixion.
Life Lessons fromPhilipthe Apostle:StartingwithJohnthe Baptist,Philipsoughtthe pathtosalvation,
whichledhimto JesusChrist. Eternal life inChristisavailabletoanyone whodesiresit.
Referenced inthe Bible: Philipismentionedinthe listsof the 12 apostles inMatthew,Mark, andLuke.
Referencestohiminthe Gospel of John include:1:43,45-46, 48; 6:5, 7; 12:21-22; 14:8-9; and Acts1:13.
Key Verses:
John 1:45(NIV):Philip found Nathanaeland told him, "We havefound theoneMoses wroteaboutin the
Law,and aboutwhomtheprophetsalso wrote--Jesusof Nazareth,theson of Joseph."
John 6:5-7(NIV):When Jesuslooked up and saw a greatcrowd coming toward him,he said to Philip,
"Where shall we buy bread forthesepeople to eat?" He asked this only to test him,for he already had in
mind whathe wasgoing to do.Philip answered him,"Itwould take morethan half a year's wagesto buy
enough bread foreach one to havea bite!"
John 14:8-9(NIV):Philip said,"Lord,show usthe Fatherand thatwill be enough forus."Jesusanswered:
"Don'tyou knowme, Philip,even afterI havebeen among you such a long time? Anyonewho hasseen
me hasseen theFather.How can you say,'Show usthe Father'?"