NLT Life Application Study Bible, Third Edition - Flipbook - Page 53
page 1827
12:16
John 2:22; 7:39
12:17
John 11:43-44
12:18
John 12:11; 19:37
12:21
John 1:43-44
12:23
John 13:32; 17:1
12:24
1 Cor 15:36
12:25
Matt 10:39
Luke 9:24; 17:33
12:26
John 14:3; 17:24
•
J ohn 1 2
16His disciples didn’t understand at the time that this was a fulfillment of prophecy.
But after J esus entered into his glory, they remembered what had happened and realized
that these things had been written about him.
17Many in the crowd had seen Jesus call Lazarus from the tomb, raising him from the
dead, and they were telling others* about it. 18That was the reason so many went out
to meet him—because they had heard about this miraculous sign. 19Then the Pharisees
said to each other, “There’s nothing we can do. Look, everyone* has gone after him!”
Jesus Explains Why He Must Die (185)
20Some Greeks who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover celebration 21paid a visit
to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee. They said, “Sir, we want to meet Jesus.”
22Philip told Andrew about it, and they went together to ask Jesus.
23Jesus replied, “Now the time has come for the Son of Man* to enter into his glory. 24I
tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone.
But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. 25Those
who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this
world will keep it for eternity. 26Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because
my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.
12:17 Greek were testifying.
12:19 Greek the world.
12:23 “Son of Man” is a title Jesus used for himself.
TWO AMAZING INDIVIDUALS bear the name Philip
in the New Testament. One became known as Philip the
evangelist (see his profile on page 1881), an early deacon in the church and a traveling preacher of the gospel.
The other Philip was one of the first disciples Jesus called to follow him. We are not told where
Jesus found this Philip, but his simple invitation was immediately accepted. What happened next,
though, is remarkable.
Philip realized he knew someone who would want to follow Jesus as much as he did. He went
looking for Nathanael (also known as Bartholomew) and wasted no time in presenting Jesus—“We
have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of
Joseph from Nazareth” (John 1:45). Philip was demonstrating the first trait of a genuine follower:
enlisting others.
Philip was not offended by his friend’s skeptical response. He simply challenged Nathanael to
“come and see” (John 1:46). Philip wisely let Jesus make his own case rather than assume he had
to argue with his friend. Ultimately, the record, character, and Spirit of Jesus draw people to him.
We can invite others to meet Jesus, but Jesus shapes his relationship with them. Later, Philip was
also instrumental in introducing some Greeks to Jesus (John 12:20-22).
Following Jesus involves a lifetime of learning. On two occasions, Jesus asked Philip key questions. Before the feeding of the 5,000, Jesus asked him where bread for the multitude might be
bought, and Philip could not imagine a source or a means for such a quantity of food. Later, during
the Last Supper, Jesus asked him a profound rhetorical question: “Have I been with you all this
time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am?” (John 14:9). Philip, like the rest of the disciples,
was learning every day what following Jesus requires. We need a lifetime to discover the truth that
Jesus is both the source and the means for all that we need.
Philip (Jesus’ Disciple)
Strengths and
accomplishments:
• Desired to see the needs of others met
• Connected with people to bring them to Jesus
Weaknesses
and mistakes:
• Struggled to fully comprehend Jesus, just like the other disciples
Notable fact:
• One of Jesus’ original 12 disciples
Lessons from
his life:
• We need to learn to trust Jesus more each day.
• We must share our faith, not hide it.
Vital statistics:
• Where: Bethsaida
• Occupations: Fisherman, disciple
• Contemporaries: Jesus, the other disciples
Key verse:
“Philip went to look for Nathanael and told him, ‘We have found the very person Moses
and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth.’”
(John 1:45)
Philip’s call is recorded in John 1:43-51. He is mentioned throughout the Gospels.
