The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.
The day after Andrew brought Simon to Jesus, Jesus set out for Galilee and Himself sought out Philip and invited him to discipleship. Philip, from Bethsaida, had heard John announce Christ as the Lamb of God and was sincerely seeking truth though slow to believe, yet he was the first to receive the distinct call to follow, obeyed at once, fully believed Jesus was the Messiah, and became a worker for Him. His calling forms a link in the chain by which the foundation of the church was laid through individual effort, as John directed two of his disciples to Christ, one brought his brother, Christ called Philip, and Philip went to find Nathanael. Every follower is thereby taught to make direct, personal, unselfish efforts for relatives, friends, acquaintances and neighbors instead of leaving the work to the minister, with the new believer filled by first love with earnest anxiety to tell others at once without waiting for extended preparation. Sharing the light received in faith brings increased light, for faith is strengthened by exercise in good works and faithful workers advance in the divine life and share largely of grace here and reward hereafter.
Setting and Call
On the day after Andrew brought Simon to Jesus, Jesus set out for Galilee, found Philip, and bade him follow Him. In doing so He took the initiative to seek out a disciple personally and invite him to discipleship. Philip was thus chosen as another disciple by that direct bidding.
The calling belongs to the time when John the Baptist's preaching drew large crowds and alarmed both Roman authorities and Jewish rulers. The Sanhedrin, though under Roman rule, still wielded strong civil and religious influence and regarded John's public teaching as within its jurisdiction.
After the encounters at the Jordan where John declared Him the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, Jesus gathered His first disciples, John, Andrew, Simon, Philip, and Nathanael. This gathering took place at the beginning of His earthly work and marked His entering upon the great work of His life. What the disciples had seen and heard of Him at the Jordan gave them opportunity to acknowledge their faith and to tell others about Him, and their witness stirred hope that God had raised up a deliverer for His people.
The five were called from humble occupations to accompany Jesus, receive His teaching, witness His miracles, and make them known to the world.
Philip came from Bethsaida, had heard John announce Christ as the Lamb of God, and sincerely sought truth though slow to believe. He was the first disciple to receive the distinct command to follow. He obeyed at once, fully believed Jesus was the Messiah, and became a worker for Christ.
Pattern for Personal Witness
The call to Philip forms one link in the chain by which the foundation of the Christian church was laid by individual effort, for John first directed two of his disciples to Christ, then one found his brother and brought him to Christ, then Christ called Philip, and Philip went in search of Nathanael, as part of gathering disciples who in turn brought their brothers and friends to Him. Philip at once began searching for others, unable to keep the good news to himself, and shared the knowledge he had found about Jesus, fully believing He was the Messiah. He invited Nathanael to come and see and brought his friend to hear the teaching that had charmed him.
The verse teaches every follower of Christ, young or old, to make direct, personal, unselfish efforts and appeals to relatives, friends, acquaintances, and neighbors to come to the Saviour, instead of leaving all the work to the minister and selfishly enjoying grace without direct effort to bring others to Christ. This home missionary labor is the pattern still needed, and this work belongs to church members as well as ministers, for in the vineyard of the Lord there is work for all to do. Receiving Christ's light, truth, and first love fills the new believer with earnest anxiety to tell others at once, so that every believer stirred by first love will hunt up relatives and friends as Philip hunted for Nathanael. Those who receive truth are therefore to share what they have learned and begin serving without waiting for multiplied opportunities or extended preparation.
Sharing received light in faith brings increased light, for faith is called into exercise and strengthened by good works. Unselfish, interested, faithful workers will share largely of His grace here and of the reward hereafter, gaining increased faith, courage, hope, and a bright and living experience and advancing in the divine life. The same call to follow and to His work comes today to all whose hearts are touched by His love, meaning becoming co-workers with Christ and rejoicing in the work. It means having the question of compensation not uppermost, trusting His care, making God the strength, receiving clear perceptions of duty, living with unselfish aspirations, and being actuated by a noble purpose that raises above sordid motives.
This labor reaches sincere seekers like Nathanael who plead with the Father for light to know the truth, hold fast unyieldingly what light they have, refuse to grope in darkness, want clearer light, and are not left in darkness. Those sought may already be seeking God and inquiring for light and truth, as Nathanael was. To have found Him of whom Moses and the prophets wrote and yet remain cold and indifferent violates the duty of all who receive heavenly light to be laborers together with God and missionaries diffusing light.
The day after Andrew brought Simon to Jesus, Jesus set out for Galilee and Himself sought out Philip and invited him to discipleship. Philip, from Bethsaida, had heard John announce Christ as the Lamb of God and was sincerely seeking truth though slow to believe, yet he was the first to receive the distinct call to follow, obeyed at once, fully believed Jesus was the Messiah, and became a worker for Him. His calling forms a link in the chain by which the foundation of the church was laid through individual effort, as John directed two of his disciples to Christ, one brought his brother, Christ called Philip, and Philip went to find Nathanael. Every follower is thereby taught to make direct, personal, unselfish efforts for relatives, friends, acquaintances and neighbors instead of leaving the work to the minister, with the new believer filled by first love with earnest anxiety to tell others at once without waiting for extended preparation. Sharing the light received in faith brings increased light, for faith is strengthened by exercise in good works and faithful workers advance in the divine life and share largely of grace here and reward hereafter.
Setting and Call
On the day after Andrew brought Simon to Jesus, Jesus set out for Galilee, found Philip, and bade him follow Him. In doing so He took the initiative to seek out a disciple personally and invite him to discipleship. Philip was thus chosen as another disciple by that direct bidding.
The calling belongs to the time when John the Baptist's preaching drew large crowds and alarmed both Roman authorities and Jewish rulers. The Sanhedrin, though under Roman rule, still wielded strong civil and religious influence and regarded John's public teaching as within its jurisdiction.
After the encounters at the Jordan where John declared Him the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, Jesus gathered His first disciples, John, Andrew, Simon, Philip, and Nathanael. This gathering took place at the beginning of His earthly work and marked His entering upon the great work of His life. What the disciples had seen and heard of Him at the Jordan gave them opportunity to acknowledge their faith and to tell others about Him, and their witness stirred hope that God had raised up a deliverer for His people.
The five were called from humble occupations to accompany Jesus, receive His teaching, witness His miracles, and make them known to the world.
Philip came from Bethsaida, had heard John announce Christ as the Lamb of God, and sincerely sought truth though slow to believe. He was the first disciple to receive the distinct command to follow. He obeyed at once, fully believed Jesus was the Messiah, and became a worker for Christ.
Pattern for Personal Witness
The call to Philip forms one link in the chain by which the foundation of the Christian church was laid by individual effort, for John first directed two of his disciples to Christ, then one found his brother and brought him to Christ, then Christ called Philip, and Philip went in search of Nathanael, as part of gathering disciples who in turn brought their brothers and friends to Him. Philip at once began searching for others, unable to keep the good news to himself, and shared the knowledge he had found about Jesus, fully believing He was the Messiah. He invited Nathanael to come and see and brought his friend to hear the teaching that had charmed him.
The verse teaches every follower of Christ, young or old, to make direct, personal, unselfish efforts and appeals to relatives, friends, acquaintances, and neighbors to come to the Saviour, instead of leaving all the work to the minister and selfishly enjoying grace without direct effort to bring others to Christ. This home missionary labor is the pattern still needed, and this work belongs to church members as well as ministers, for in the vineyard of the Lord there is work for all to do. Receiving Christ's light, truth, and first love fills the new believer with earnest anxiety to tell others at once, so that every believer stirred by first love will hunt up relatives and friends as Philip hunted for Nathanael. Those who receive truth are therefore to share what they have learned and begin serving without waiting for multiplied opportunities or extended preparation.
Sharing received light in faith brings increased light, for faith is called into exercise and strengthened by good works. Unselfish, interested, faithful workers will share largely of His grace here and of the reward hereafter, gaining increased faith, courage, hope, and a bright and living experience and advancing in the divine life. The same call to follow and to His work comes today to all whose hearts are touched by His love, meaning becoming co-workers with Christ and rejoicing in the work. It means having the question of compensation not uppermost, trusting His care, making God the strength, receiving clear perceptions of duty, living with unselfish aspirations, and being actuated by a noble purpose that raises above sordid motives.
This labor reaches sincere seekers like Nathanael who plead with the Father for light to know the truth, hold fast unyieldingly what light they have, refuse to grope in darkness, want clearer light, and are not left in darkness. Those sought may already be seeking God and inquiring for light and truth, as Nathanael was. To have found Him of whom Moses and the prophets wrote and yet remain cold and indifferent violates the duty of all who receive heavenly light to be laborers together with God and missionaries diffusing light.