TWELVE COMMON MEN Philip The Practically Minded Apostle

T HE SECOND CIRCLE Philip Nathanael Thomas Matthew

PHILIP: WHO WAS HE? Bethsaida of Galilee Follower of John Found Nathanael Always named fifth Feeding the 5,000 Jn. 6:5-7 Greeks come to see Jesus – Jn. 12:20-33 The Last Supper Jn.14:8 The Twelve Apostles: Philip

HIS CHARACTER Cautious and deliberate Desired to submit all truth to the test of the senses (compare Jn. 14:8) He felt same criterion would be acceptable to Nathanael (compare Jn. 1:46). Lacking self-reliance (turns to Andrew) The Twelve Apostles: Philip

HIS CHARACTER In other words he was ‘process person,” a facts and figures guy, a by the book, practical minded, non-forward thinking type of individual. His later life demonstrates that he overcame these weaknesses. The Twelve Apostles: Philip

HIS CALL Called the day after Andrew, John, and Peter (Jn. 1:43) The others had sought out Jesus, but Jesus found Philip. He was the first to hear, “follow me,” from Jesus. From his reaction to the call, it is obvious he had been seeking the Messiah. (Jn. 1:45) The Twelve Apostles: Philip

HIS CALL Philip had the heart of a personal evangelist – he immediately found his friend Nathanael. Friendship is perhaps evangelism’s most fertile soil. Upon obedience to the Gospel it should be natural to want to tell your best friend. When Nathanael was skeptical, Philip was adamant. (Jn. 1:46) The Twelve Apostles: Philip

HIS CALL Why did Philip receive the Lord so easily? He reminds us of Simeon (Lk. 2:25). He knew the OT promises, his heart was prepared, and he received Jesus gladly. He showed no reluctance, regardless of where Jesus came from. We shall see that this quick acceptance is out of character for Philip. The Twelve Apostles: Philip

FEEDING THE 5,000 We have already studied this event from Andrew’s point of view, but now examine it through Philip’s eyes. He was a man of faith. But he was a man of weak faith. (Jn. 6:5,6) He was of the personality that wanted things organized and protocol followed. Jesus already knew how Philip would respond to the question of how to feed the multitude. The Twelve Apostles: Philip

FEEDING THE 5,000 Philip concluded they did not have money to feed this crowd. Philip already seen the Lord provide; through such miracles as healing or “water into wine.” Yet Philip did not believe the people could be fed. From a human viewpoint Philip was correct – their funds would not feed this crowd. But he was thinking pessimistically, analytically, and pragmatically. Jesus was not bound by these thought processes. The Twelve Apostles: Philip

FEEDING THE 5,000 Philip’s obsession with the mundane was keeping him from being a great leader. Philip should have said, “Lord I know you have the power to see to It.” Andrew at least had some faith; he found the lad with the fishes and bread. Mt. 17:20 is a saying that Philip had not yet come to believe. Philip needed to learn the supernatural potential of faith. The Twelve Apostles: Philip

VISIT OF THE GREEKS This event presents Philip another opportunity to display his concern with methods and protocol and his lack of boldness and vision. -Jn. 12:20-22 These Greeks were either God-fearing Gentiles or more likely Jewish proselytes coming to worship at Jerusalem for what would be (though they did not know it) the last Passover under the Jewish economy. The Twelve Apostles: Philip

VISIT OF THE GREEKS Greeks approach Philip to seek an audience with Jesus. If these were Gentiles then Jesus had already given orders concerning them -Mt. 10:5-6; Mt. 15:24 But these were not hard and fast rules. Jesus had ministered to the Samaritan woman at the well. -See Jn. 1:11-12 Not knowing how to handle the situation Philip took the Greeks to Andrew. The Twelve Apostles: Philip

VISIT OF THE GREEKS Did Jesus receive the Greeks? Jesus preached the Gospel and invited His listeners to become His disciples. (Jn. 12:23-26) It was right to bring the Greeks to Jesus. Even if protocol and procedure said otherwise, it appears that Philip knew in his heart that bringing the Greeks to Jesus was the right thing to do. The Twelve Apostles: Philip

THE UPPER ROOM The final appearance of Philip in the NT is at the Last Supper; the eve of the crucifixion of Christ. Even though the twelve’s training at Jesus’ feet had come to an end, their faith was still pathetically weak. Perhaps Philip’s remark in the Upper Room goes down as one of the most foolish, impetuous and disappointing to be made by any disciple. The Twelve Apostles: Philip

THE UPPER ROOM Jesus knew His time was near; His heart was heavy; His earthly work was nearly finished. He was eager to encourage them concerning the coming of the Holy Spirit. The Twelve Apostles: Philip

THE UPPER ROOM Jn. 14:1-7 He was going to prepare a place for them (vs. 1,2) He would return some day (v.3) They would know where He went and how to get there. (v.4) Thomas spoke for them all when he said he did not know where Jesus was going. (v.5) I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. (v.6) Knowing Christ allows you to know the Father (v.7) Christ is God! The Twelve Apostles: Philip

THE UPPER ROOM Philip: “Lord show us the Father and it will be sufficient.” Jn. 14:8 What a sad comment on Philip’s ignorance! He had heard the teaching, seen the miracles, been at the healings, and yet he says, “show us the Father.” The Twelve Apostles: Philip

THE UPPER ROOM Jn. 14:9- He who has seen Christ has seen the Father! Jesus: I am to the father what you Apostles are to me. I share His divine essence. I act with His full power of attorney. “Do you not believe?” Philip’s worldly mindset, materialism, skepticism, obsession for the mundane, preoccupation with unnecessary details, and his small-mindedness kept him from fully comprehending Jesus. The Twelve Apostles: Philip

THE PRACTICALLY MINDED APOSTLE Philip was a man of limited ability, weak faith, imperfect understanding, strong pessimism, slow on the uptake, slow to trust, and slow to see beyond the present circumstances. He still wanted more proof. Would we have picked Philip as an Apostle? Jesus did, because the Lord used and continues to use people just like Philip. Like you and me! The Twelve Apostles: Philip

THE PRACTICALLY MINDED APOSTLE Non-biblical history marks Philip as the second martyr of the Twelve; dying just eight years after James. But before his death he brought multitudes to Christ through his work. He obviously overcame the tendencies that were hampering his early faith and stands as proof of what Paul said in 1 Cor. 1: The Twelve Apostles: Philip

WHY PICK ME? 1 Cor. 1: But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28- and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29- that no flesh should glory in His presence. The Twelve Apostles: Philip

TWELVE COMMON MEN Philip The Practically Minded Apostle