Read and meditate on John 1.43, 44.
John records the calling of Philip. We note that, with respect to the calling of these early disciples, John’s account differs somewhat from those of Matthew (Matt. 4.15-22), Mark (Mk. 1.16-20), and Luke (Lk. 5.1-11). This is no cause for alarm. None of the evangelists tells the complete story, and their accounts can be easily harmonized. The focus on Philip is important to John because, as we shall see, it illustrates one of his basic themes (cf. Jn. 20.21).

            ⁴³Then Jesus, on the following day,
for Galilee departed. On the way,
He summoned Philip, saying, “Follow Me.”
⁴⁴Now Philip was from Bethsaida, for he
was from the city where both Andrew and
his brother, Peter, lived.

- John 1.43, 44

Reflect
1.  As Jesus begins to move into His public ministry, His priorities are clear: Find and make disciples. Making disciples is the overarching purpose of Jesus’ mission; preaching is but one means to that end. How does this compare with what we see in church leaders today? Complete this prayer: Lord, I want to encourage my pastor in disciple-making. Show me…

2.  Galilee, it is clear, will be a primary recruiting-ground for the first disciples of the Lord. Why do you suppose this was so? Shouldn’t Jesus have sought out some theologians, or at least priests, to follow Him? Why rustics, like these Galileans? Lord, I don’t know what You see in me, but I’m grateful You have called me. Today, help me to grow as a disciple by…

3.  John notes that Jesus found Philip. Philip didn’t come to Him. They didn’t just bump into one another on the road to Galilee. Jesus sought Philip, as He told Zacchaeus He had come to do (Lk. 19.10). What does it mean for you to seek the people in your Personal Mission Field, for making disciples? Today, Lord, I want to pray for…

4.  How would Philip have understood Jesus’ command, “Follow Me”? What did Jesus intend? Do you think Philip understood all that this would entail? What did He understand? If we want to realize the full scope of what it means to follow Jesus, we must make sure we’re clear about every next step. Explain. What next steps can I take today, Lord, to seek people for discipleship?

5.  Go, seek, find, engage, call, lead: The call of Philip shows us Jesus’ disciple-making method in a nutshell. Apply this method to your own calling to make disciples as you are going (Matt. 28.18-20). Bring together into one the prayers you composed for questions 1-4.

Summary
“Having then taken [Peter and the other disciple], Jesus next goes to the capture of the others and draws to him Philip and Nathanael. Now in the case of Nathanael this was not so amazing because the fame of Jesus had gone all over Syria. But it is truly remarkable concerning Peter, James and Philip, that they believed not only before the miracles, but that they did so being from Galilee, out of which ‘arises no prophet,’ nor ‘can any good thing come.’ The Galileans were somehow of a more boorish and dull disposition than others. But even in this Christ displayed his power. He selected his choicest disciples from a land that bore no fruit.” John Chrysostom (ca. 354-407 AD)

The Gospel of John is chock full of mini-stories that encode principles of faith and life we do well to analyze, reduce, apply, and adopt. What’s the most important lesson for you from the story of the calling of Philip?

Closing Prayer
Show me Your ways, O LORD;
Teach me Your paths.
Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
For You are the God of my salvation;
On You I wait all the day.

Psalm 25.4, 5

Psalm 25.4, 5, 8, 9 (Festal Song: Revive Thy Work, O Lord)
Make me to know Your way; teach me Your paths, O Lord!
My Savior, all day long I wait and seek You in Your Word.

Upright and good are You, You lead us in Your way;
The humble You instruct in truth and guide him day by day.

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series IV a and b: John, edited by Joel C. Elowsky, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006. Verse translation of John by T. M. Moore.