The Gospel of John describes Phillip as a man from the village of Bethsaida, in the Judean region known as Galilee. Peter and Andrew, brothers who became part of The Original (12 apostles) were also from the same village of Bethsaida. Bethsaida is written to be more of a desert type terrain and could have possibly been the place Jesus fed the 5000 with only 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish.
Phillip was thought to have been seeking Jesus while a disciple with John the Baptizer. Phillip was most likely a friend to both Peter and Andrew since they were all from the same village. Bethsaida itself was a fishing village, and an area that produced wine.
Feeding the 5000 on the plains of Bethsaida would have been ideal since there was plenty of room and numerous streams and irrigation canals nearby.
Phillip developed a reputation for being practical and was always seemingly "looking ahead". This was somewhat evident in the Gospel of John chapter 6, around verse 5, where the feeding of the 5000 was taking place. In this passage of Scripture Jesus asks His disciples "Where shall we buy bread that these may eat?" It was Phillip who responded to the question from Jesus by saying: " Two hundred denarii worth of bread will not feed the 5000...even if each one only had a little." I am quite sure Jesus was venturing to see where the faith of His disciples were at by this time....maybe hoping they would think "outside the box".
Yet in John 14: 8-10 is where we find the disciples had much to learn from the original invitation of "Follow Me". In verses 6 and 7 Jesus announces at the Last Supper how "I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life", and goes on to explain how no one is able to enter the Presence of the Father by themselves...or with anyone else. It is imperative Jesus and Jesus only accompany anyone to His Father. Then, at the Last supper Jesus goes on and describes that if you learn to recognize Him and His way of life, then you will have already gotten to know the Father as well. Jesus furthers His thought with these words: " In fact, the truth of the matter is...if you have known Me, then You have seen the Father."
So, in verse 8-10...what does Phillip do? He follows up this very discourse by Jesus with these words: " Lord, cause us to be able to see the Father...it's really all we want...and we will be content and satisfied."
Ok then...so how does Jesus react to the request made by Phillip? Verse 9 and 10 go something like this: " Phillip, I have been with you all this time...and you still don't get it....you have to get a grip on who I AM.
Listen to Me...anyone who has seen Me, has seen the Father. Your contentment and satisfaction is not in the idea of showing you the Father. Why? Because I AM in the Father...and the Father is in Me. I am not saying this to you out of My own strength...these very words I speak to you right now...comes directly from My Father....because He lives in the very heart of My life...a life just like yours. All these works that I do, all the miracles and good deeds that I do...comes directly from the desires of My Father. This is His power...that He gives to Me...a man...just like you! My Father resides in Me...and from each word that comes from My own heart...is a Divine act from His heart."
The latter part of Phillip's life is unclear, there are the legends of his life and church tradition. It is written he preached the Good News in Greece, Phrygia, and Syria. It is also written he was involved in the conversion of a Roman consul's wife to Christianity and as a result was sentenced to a crucifixion. It is also said he died under persecution and lived with 2 of his older daughters in the ancient city of Hieropolis...in Turkey. Some evidence writes he might have helped in spreading the Good News in areas what we recognize as France.
Polycarp, an early church leader records Phillip was married and had children. He is believed to have been around 57 years old when he died.
Phillip proved faithful to the Lord...throughout his life. He will always be remembered how his heart raced with excitement...when he found the Messiah in a small village in Galilee!
Feeding the 5000 on the plains of Bethsaida would have been ideal since there was plenty of room and numerous streams and irrigation canals nearby.
Phillip developed a reputation for being practical and was always seemingly "looking ahead". This was somewhat evident in the Gospel of John chapter 6, around verse 5, where the feeding of the 5000 was taking place. In this passage of Scripture Jesus asks His disciples "Where shall we buy bread that these may eat?" It was Phillip who responded to the question from Jesus by saying: " Two hundred denarii worth of bread will not feed the 5000...even if each one only had a little." I am quite sure Jesus was venturing to see where the faith of His disciples were at by this time....maybe hoping they would think "outside the box".
Yet in John 14: 8-10 is where we find the disciples had much to learn from the original invitation of "Follow Me". In verses 6 and 7 Jesus announces at the Last Supper how "I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life", and goes on to explain how no one is able to enter the Presence of the Father by themselves...or with anyone else. It is imperative Jesus and Jesus only accompany anyone to His Father. Then, at the Last supper Jesus goes on and describes that if you learn to recognize Him and His way of life, then you will have already gotten to know the Father as well. Jesus furthers His thought with these words: " In fact, the truth of the matter is...if you have known Me, then You have seen the Father."
So, in verse 8-10...what does Phillip do? He follows up this very discourse by Jesus with these words: " Lord, cause us to be able to see the Father...it's really all we want...and we will be content and satisfied."
Ok then...so how does Jesus react to the request made by Phillip? Verse 9 and 10 go something like this: " Phillip, I have been with you all this time...and you still don't get it....you have to get a grip on who I AM.
Listen to Me...anyone who has seen Me, has seen the Father. Your contentment and satisfaction is not in the idea of showing you the Father. Why? Because I AM in the Father...and the Father is in Me. I am not saying this to you out of My own strength...these very words I speak to you right now...comes directly from My Father....because He lives in the very heart of My life...a life just like yours. All these works that I do, all the miracles and good deeds that I do...comes directly from the desires of My Father. This is His power...that He gives to Me...a man...just like you! My Father resides in Me...and from each word that comes from My own heart...is a Divine act from His heart."
The latter part of Phillip's life is unclear, there are the legends of his life and church tradition. It is written he preached the Good News in Greece, Phrygia, and Syria. It is also written he was involved in the conversion of a Roman consul's wife to Christianity and as a result was sentenced to a crucifixion. It is also said he died under persecution and lived with 2 of his older daughters in the ancient city of Hieropolis...in Turkey. Some evidence writes he might have helped in spreading the Good News in areas what we recognize as France.
Polycarp, an early church leader records Phillip was married and had children. He is believed to have been around 57 years old when he died.
Phillip proved faithful to the Lord...throughout his life. He will always be remembered how his heart raced with excitement...when he found the Messiah in a small village in Galilee!
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