Series: Getting Acquainted With The 12 Apostles [#5]
PHILIP- A MAN WITH COMMON SENSE
John 1:43-46
Introduction:
Tonight, we are going to study the Apostle Philip. Philip had spent time around John the Baptist. He was a practical type of person.
John 1:43-46 (NIV)
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.” 46 “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip.
Philip was…
1. Cautious.
He thought things through. When Jesus said, “Follow me,” Philip waited to join the others until he had given some consideration. He had the facts and was careful in his attention to detail. He never overlooked a thing. Nathanael was rather skeptical. He replied, “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Philip did not argue or set out a case for Jesus- He simply said, “Come and see.” He wanted Nathanael to see for himself.
John 6:5-7 (NIV)
5 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?” 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. 7Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”
Philip was…
2. Calculated.
Jesus asked Philip where they were going to buy enough bread to feed everyone. Philip immediately started doing the math. Philip was looking at the facts before him to give Jesus an answer. Philip needed physical proof. Common sense is good to have; but it sometimes impedes faith.
John 14:6-14 (NIV)
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” 8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” 9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. 12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
Philip was…
3. Blunt.
Jesus was telling the Apostles that He was the only way to God the Father. Philip’s response was, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” Jesus “checked” Philip. Philip was blunt about his response and so was Jesus. Philip reminds us that we need to think about what we say before we say it.
Conclusion:
Some say that Philip died of natural causes while most say he was crucified on a tall cross.
