What do we know about Philip, the apostle?  There are four passages in the Gospel of John that give us some insight into the man.  The first is found in John 1:43-51.  While that passage would seem to deal primarily with Nathanael and the Lord, there are a few statements found within its verses that tell us much about Philip.  For instance, in verse 45 notice the first three words, “Philip findeth Nathanael.”  Having “found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph,” Philip could not wait to tell another.  Even the skeptical response by Nathanael, “Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?” did not discourage him.  Philip answered, “Come and see.”

            What a lesson that is for us today.  “Come and see.”  Let us take people to the source of truth, let them see Jesus for themselves.  In other words, let the glorious light of the gospel do the talking, let the unassailable evidence of the gospels convince the unbeliever.  What better lesson can we learn from Philip than to search out unbelievers, tell them of Jesus, and invite them to “come and see?”

            In John 6:1-13 we find the feeding of the 5,000 (and that numbered only the men).  In verses 5-7 we find, “When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?  And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.  Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.”  In his dealings with Nathanael, Philip had distinguished himself with his evangelistic fervor and his confessed faith in the Lord, but as with all of us, he still had room for growth and understanding.  In the feeding of the 5,000, Philip was learning to trust implicitly in the Lord even when there didn’t seem to be any answer to the problem.

            In John 12:20-22 we are told, “And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast: the same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.  Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus.”   Perhaps these Greeks approached Philip because he had a Greek name.  I find it interesting that these men approached Philip, a member of the closest associates of Jesus, with their request.  Does this not indicate a certain degree of approachability, a quality of character that did not discourage people from coming to him?  I have known Christians with such a “separatist” attitude that people were hesitant to come to them.  What a shame it would be to have people put off by such an attitude when what they wanted to do was to “see Jesus.”

            Finally, in John 14:6-8 we read, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.  If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.  Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us.”  Note Philip’s eagerness and willingness to believe, along with his confidence that Jesus could fulfill such a request.

            Philip is seen to be a sincere, zealous, easily approached man with a simple “come and see.”  Did he have weaknesses?  Yes, but our Lord would use him.  Do we all have weaknesses?  Yes, but the Lord can and will use us too.

                                                            Greg Litmer

JUST SOME THINGS THAT HAVE OCCURRED TO ME

          It has occurred to me that while we announce the names of those who are assigned to clean the building each week at every service, we do not nearly as frequently express our appreciation for the fine job that so many do.  We are all volunteers, and yet this building is very well maintained and usually very clean.  Thank you to all who have volunteered to participate in the cleaning of the building and who then actually do it.

            It has occurred to me that I have found myself wishing that it would stop raining.  Last summer I found myself wishing that it would rain.  I wanted snow, but didn’t want the 11-14 inches that we received.  It occurred to me that in such matters, I am kind of like the folks Jesus spoke about in Matthew 11:16-19.  There we find, “But whereunto shall I liken this generation?  It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.  For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold, a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners.  But wisdom is justified of her children.”  The Jewish religious leaders of Jesus’ day were never satisfied.  They complained about John and they complained about Jesus.  I need to stop complaining about the weather.  Matter of fact, I just need to stop complaining, period.

            It has occurred to me that the more I study the Bible, the more I realize how little of it I actually know.

            It has occurred to me that a person can have a beautiful lawn and yet have one little old weed that simply will not go away.  Guess what draws the most attention?

            It has occurred to me that I have run out of space.