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This morning we will move moving along to the next group in our study of the apostles.
If you remember back to that first day, I gave you a list dividing the apostles into three groups of 4 each.
The groups represented the listing of the apostles in a particular order significant to that author.
This morning we begin the second group.
In each accounts the apostle Phillip is listed first and the apostle Nathaniel is second.
The remaining 2 in group 2 two in the group Matthew and Thomas interchange in order.
This morning we will be looking at Phillip and Nathaniel.
Philip was the leader of the second group of 4. His role is minor in comparison to Peter, Andrew, James, and John.
Philip is a Greek name meaning "lover of horses".
He must also have had a Jewish name, because all 12 apostles were Jewish.
But his Jewish name is never given in Scripture.
After the conquest of Alexander the Great in the fourth century B.C. Greek civilization had spread throughout the Mediterranean.
In Jesus day, many people in the Middle East had adopted the Greek language, Greek culture, and Greek customs.
They were known as Hellenists.
The book of Acts chapter 6:1 mentions this group.
Phillip probably came from a family of Hellenistic Jews.
It's important when you look at Acts 6 that you don't confuse Phillip the apostle, with Phillip the deacon, who led the Ethiopian unit to Christ.
The apostle Philip was from Bethsaida, the hometown of Andrew and Peter.
Phillip probably grew up attending the same synagogue.
And because of the relationship that exists listed between Peter and Andrew and the sons of thunder, Philip was probably acquainted with all four.
Phillip, Nathaniel and Thomas were fishermen from Galilee.
We know this because after the resurrection these apostles returned to Galilee with Peter and resumed their fishing trade (John 21).
Again let me say that it is probable that they were all friends or co-workers.
I'm emphasizing this point because this goes to show that at least half of all Jesus inner circle were close friends who could rely on each other.
Perhaps this is the reason Jesus selected and called them, they've already knew how to get along with each other.
So what else do we know about Phillip?
· Everything we know comes from the gospel of John.
· Philips personality is completely different from the top four.
· He is often paired with Nathaniel (a.k.a.
Bartholomew) -- it's safe to assume that the two of them were close friends.
But we will find that Philips character is completely different from even his closest companion.
· Philip is "process person".
· He's one of those guys who is fascinated with facts and figures.
· He would read the instructions before putting something together.
· He wouldn’t need to stop and ask for directions along the way, because he already looked at the map and plotted the course.
· He did things by the book, and was practical minded.
He wasn't what you would call foreword-thinking.
By and large he didn't see the whole picture, or the end of the road.
Phillip was pessimistic, narrowly focused, and obsessed with identifying the reason that things can't be done.
we first meet Phillip the day after Jesus called Andrew, John, and Peter.
Apparently Philip was also in the wilderness with John the Baptist.
Turn to John 1:43
43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee.
Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”
Did you see that Jesus sought Phillip out?
You’ll remember that John the Baptist pointed Jesus out to Peter, Andrew and John and then and they approached Jesus.
Now that doesn't say they Jesus didn't seek out the others and invite them to be part of the group, because they had been directed by John.
We know Jesus called them all before the foundations of the world.
But Phillip is the first disciple whom Jesus physically sought out, as well as the first one to whom Jesus actually said, "follow me".
If you remember back to our study of Peter, Jesus didn't actually say “follow me” to Peter until the end of his earthly ministry (John 21:19) after his failure on the night of Jesus the trail.
Phillip was the first one to hear those words and obey them.
Now remember I told that Philip was pessimistic and didn't see the big picture?
Phillip was good at finding ways to get out of doing things?
So it’s very strange to see Phillip eagerly accept Jesus offer to follow him.
Let's look at that more closely,
John 1:45
45 Philip found Nathaniel and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
I want you to notice the expression Phillip used when he told Nathaniel about Jesus.
He said “/we/ have found him”.
Now remember I just told you Jesus went to Phillip and said “follow me”, and then Phillip turns around and tells his buddy “/we/ found him”.
From Philips point of view this was the end of his search.
Phillip had studied the scriptures and everything lined up.
He had found the messiah.
Phillip had the heart of an evangelist.
His first response after meeting Jesus was to find his friend Nathaniel and tell him about a messiah.
Nathaniel however did not receive the message well.
46 “Nazareth!
Can anything good come from there?” Nathaniel asked.
Phillips response is interesting.
“Come and see,” said Philip.
Were about to discover that Phillip is not usually a very decisive person.
In John 6, we read the story and of the feeding of the 5000.
We've already looked at this passage in detail when we studied Andrew.
This time were going to look through Phillip's eyes.
I’ve already said that Phillip was a student of the Old Testament.
We can conclude that he interpreted it literally because it was so easy for him to believe that Jesus was the messiah.
-- His response to Jesus to follow him was without hesitation.
But that was Philips spiritual side.
Now let's look at Phillip the man.
Turn to John 6:5
5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?”
6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.
Why did Jesus single Phillip out?
John says this was to test him because Jesus already knew what he would do.
I know I shared with you in an earlier study how each time I minister on one of the apostles I see a little bit of my own character in each of them.
Well, Phillip has my job.
Phillip is the administrator -- the bean counter.
He was in charge of arranging meals and logistics for Jesus and his disciples.
We know that Judas was in charge of the money, so it made sense that someone else would be in charge of coordination and distribution of meals and supplies.
That's why Jesus asked Phillip where they could buy bread.
Philip’s personality, led him to say, “I don't think we can do that.”
7 Philip answered him, “Eight months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”
No doubt Phillip had already begun counting heads.
Now was late in the day, and there were no fast food franchises.
Philip was one of those people who could do math and his head.
Let's see, one denari can buy 12 wheat biscuits.
Barley is cheaper, so with one denari we could buy 20 barley biscuits, and if we get the small ones, and break them in half… no it simply cannot be done.
Rabbit trail: 1 denari is equal to one day's wages.
In other words between all the disciples -- at least 12 of them and probably more like 70 -- all they had was eight months worth of a single laborer’s wages.
Think about it, If minimum wage is $5.50~/hr x 40 hours x 33 weeks = $7260.
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