“As long as there are millions of destitute of the Word of God and knowledge of Christ, it will be impossible for me to devote time and energy to those who have both”
Jesus had many disciples, and one such person was somebody called Philip. A man with a great name, still don’t know who he is? I don’t blame you, he was somebody who was not very famous or did a lot of wonderful things in the traditional way in the Bible. But it is safe to say that Philip was the first one to whom Jesus actually said “follow me.” All the others came to Jesus either on their own accord or were brought by their friends. Only in the case of Philip is it stated that Jesus took the initiative and “found” him. This is interesting because all the other seem to be “larger than life.” Simon Peter was destined to be a great man and probably would have been a leader in whatever setting he found himself. Andrew, his brother, although not so bold, is constantly bringing people to Jesus.
Yet it was not any of these that Jesus sought out. It was Philip, a completely ordinary man, who every time we see him seems to be completely out of his element. He was a humble ordinary man who most of us can identify with. Jesus had earlier made the offer to Andrew and his friend when they had sought to question Jesus about who he was and where he was going Jesus said, “Come and see”. It also was the response of the Samaritan woman who was saved by the well, she invited her friends, “Come and see a man who told me everything I had ever done” It is the same invitation given by the angels to the two women at the tomb, “Come and see the place where he lay.” It has been the invitation of Christ down through the ages, “come and see. Come with me and see for yourself.” It is still the invitation of the church. “Come and see! Come and see what Jesus is all about!” Christianity is about knowing Jesus. Not just knowing details about the life of Jesus, but Knowing Jesus.
Philip was somebody who received this call and more importantly he was somebody who responded to it. He was somebody who took up the invitation and went to the full extent, to the extent of death. Philip may not appear as one of the top guys in the Bible, but he knew the master’s heart and he was willing to go where the command took him, to the place where he knew he may have to lay his life, but the words of Christ was in his ears ringing. Philip was martyred in Greece.
A life sought by Christ, a life sacrificed for Him!