Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.
Philip was from Bethsaida, the home city of Andrew and Peter. On His way to Galilee as He entered His great earthly work, Jesus called Philip from a humble occupation to follow Him as one of the first disciples, with John, Andrew, Simon and Nathanael, to learn His teachings, witness His miracles, publish them to the world, and lay the foundation of the Christian church, and Philip believed Him to be the Messiah. Having received the light of the knowledge of Christ, Philip at once went to Nathanael declaring Jesus of Nazareth to be Him of whom Moses and the prophets wrote, and when met with doubt he did not argue but simply invited him to come and see. His course is the pattern of true home missionary work for everyone who has found Christ, young or old, to make prompt, personal, direct appeals to relatives, friends and acquaintances at once instead of waiting for further opportunities or education, for the work cannot be done by the minister alone. True acceptance does not rest in personal joy but gives to others in unselfish, persevering effort, and in so receiving to impart the light shines more and more, faith is exercised, the divine life is advanced, and grace and reward are largely shared.
Philip's Home and Calling
Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. His home in that city is the setting for his call, after which he went to seek Nathanael and bring him to Christ through personal effort.
On the way to Galilee, as Jesus was entering the great work of His earthly life, He called Philip to follow Him and chose him as a disciple. Philip was one of five so chosen at that time, together with John, Andrew, Simon and Nathanael. He was one of the first few disciples by whom the foundation of the Christian church was laid by individual effort.
Those chosen were called from their humble occupations to accompany Jesus in His ministry, to receive His divine teachings and to witness His mighty miracles, that they might publish them to the world. Philip believed that Jesus was the Messiah and began seeking others, including Nathanael, to hear Christ's teachings.
Sharing Light With Others
Having received the light of the knowledge of Christ, Philip promptly went to call Nathanael and bring him to Jesus, acting at once on what he had learned instead of waiting for further opportunities. As soon as he received that light he went and called Nathanael to come and share it. The man from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter, thus showed that receiving the light means promptly sharing what has been learned.
After being called, he became a light-bearer for Christ as the light of the world, his heart illuminated by grace and charmed by the light. He could not keep what he had found to himself but was filled with desire to share it, going to Nathanael to declare Jesus of Nazareth to be Him of whom Moses and the prophets wrote. His going to Nathanael illustrates personal effort and direct appeals to relatives, friends and acquaintances to come to the Saviour. This is how disciples bring others to Christ, and Christ's followers should tell others about the Friend they have found, a task anyone can do, young or old. His case is presented as an example of true Christian home missionary work.
When met with doubt, he did not stop to argue but simply invited Nathanael to come and see. His course illustrates receiving to impart, for as he showed his faith in the Saviour by giving to another, he received increased light, with his light shining more and more. He is the example of first love in a new believer, which fills the soul with most earnest anxiety to tell others of finding Jesus. That love moves him to hunt up relatives and friends, as Philip hunted for Nathanael, and those sought out may themselves be seeking God and inquiring for light and truth as Nathanael was.
That prompt, personal inviting is the duty and pattern for everyone who knows the truth, to communicate at once the light already received to those in darkness instead of waiting for further advantages, multiplied opportunities, or years of advanced education before moving. The work is left upon the members of the church and cannot be done by the minister alone. To claim with Philip to have found Him of whom Moses and the prophets wrote brings the duty to be a laborer together with God, so coldness and indifference in such ones is inexcusable. True acceptance of Christ does not rest satisfied with personal joy but leads to persevering, unselfish effort for the salvation of those outside the fold. Those who do this work exercise faith, gain a bright and living experience, advance in the divine life, and share largely of grace here and reward hereafter.
Philip was from Bethsaida, the home city of Andrew and Peter. On His way to Galilee as He entered His great earthly work, Jesus called Philip from a humble occupation to follow Him as one of the first disciples, with John, Andrew, Simon and Nathanael, to learn His teachings, witness His miracles, publish them to the world, and lay the foundation of the Christian church, and Philip believed Him to be the Messiah. Having received the light of the knowledge of Christ, Philip at once went to Nathanael declaring Jesus of Nazareth to be Him of whom Moses and the prophets wrote, and when met with doubt he did not argue but simply invited him to come and see. His course is the pattern of true home missionary work for everyone who has found Christ, young or old, to make prompt, personal, direct appeals to relatives, friends and acquaintances at once instead of waiting for further opportunities or education, for the work cannot be done by the minister alone. True acceptance does not rest in personal joy but gives to others in unselfish, persevering effort, and in so receiving to impart the light shines more and more, faith is exercised, the divine life is advanced, and grace and reward are largely shared.
Philip's Home and Calling
Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. His home in that city is the setting for his call, after which he went to seek Nathanael and bring him to Christ through personal effort.
On the way to Galilee, as Jesus was entering the great work of His earthly life, He called Philip to follow Him and chose him as a disciple. Philip was one of five so chosen at that time, together with John, Andrew, Simon and Nathanael. He was one of the first few disciples by whom the foundation of the Christian church was laid by individual effort.
Those chosen were called from their humble occupations to accompany Jesus in His ministry, to receive His divine teachings and to witness His mighty miracles, that they might publish them to the world. Philip believed that Jesus was the Messiah and began seeking others, including Nathanael, to hear Christ's teachings.
Sharing Light With Others
Having received the light of the knowledge of Christ, Philip promptly went to call Nathanael and bring him to Jesus, acting at once on what he had learned instead of waiting for further opportunities. As soon as he received that light he went and called Nathanael to come and share it. The man from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter, thus showed that receiving the light means promptly sharing what has been learned.
After being called, he became a light-bearer for Christ as the light of the world, his heart illuminated by grace and charmed by the light. He could not keep what he had found to himself but was filled with desire to share it, going to Nathanael to declare Jesus of Nazareth to be Him of whom Moses and the prophets wrote. His going to Nathanael illustrates personal effort and direct appeals to relatives, friends and acquaintances to come to the Saviour. This is how disciples bring others to Christ, and Christ's followers should tell others about the Friend they have found, a task anyone can do, young or old. His case is presented as an example of true Christian home missionary work.
When met with doubt, he did not stop to argue but simply invited Nathanael to come and see. His course illustrates receiving to impart, for as he showed his faith in the Saviour by giving to another, he received increased light, with his light shining more and more. He is the example of first love in a new believer, which fills the soul with most earnest anxiety to tell others of finding Jesus. That love moves him to hunt up relatives and friends, as Philip hunted for Nathanael, and those sought out may themselves be seeking God and inquiring for light and truth as Nathanael was.
That prompt, personal inviting is the duty and pattern for everyone who knows the truth, to communicate at once the light already received to those in darkness instead of waiting for further advantages, multiplied opportunities, or years of advanced education before moving. The work is left upon the members of the church and cannot be done by the minister alone. To claim with Philip to have found Him of whom Moses and the prophets wrote brings the duty to be a laborer together with God, so coldness and indifference in such ones is inexcusable. True acceptance of Christ does not rest satisfied with personal joy but leads to persevering, unselfish effort for the salvation of those outside the fold. Those who do this work exercise faith, gain a bright and living experience, advance in the divine life, and share largely of grace here and reward hereafter.