John 1:43

John 1:43

The First Disciples Philip.

Note:

I. The revelation which is here given us of the seeking Christ. Everyone who reads this chapter with even the slightest attention must observe how seeking and finding are repeated over and over again. Christ will welcome and over-answer Andrew and John when they come seeking; He will turn round to them with a smile on His face, that converts the question, "What seek ye?" into an invitation, "Come and see." And when Andrew brings his brother to Him, He will go more than half-way to meet him. But when these are won there still remains another way, by which He will have disciples brought into His kingdom, and that is by Himself going out and laying His hand on the man and drawing him to His heart by the revelation of His love.

II. Consider the word of authority, which, spoken to the one man in our text, is really spoken to us all. Jesus "findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow Me." Your Shepherd comes to you and calls, Follow Me; your Captain and Commander comes to you and calls, Follow Me. In all the dreary wilderness, in all the difficult contingencies and conjunctions, in all the conflicts of life this Man strides in front of us and proposes Himself to us as Guide, Example, Consoler, Friend, Companion everything; and gathers up all duty, all blessedness, in the majestic and simple words, Follow Me.

III. Think, for a moment, about this silently and swiftly obedient disciple. Philip says nothing. He is silent but he yields. All decisions are matters of an instant. Hesitation may be long, weighing and balancing may be a protracted process, but the decision is always a moment's work, a knife edge. And there is no reason why anyone may not now, if he will, do as this man Philip did on the spot, and when Christ says, Follow Me, turn to Him and answer, "I will follow Thee whithersoever Thou goest."

A. Maclaren, A Year's Ministry,2nd series, p. 155.

Reference: John 1:43. Preacher's Monthly,vol. iii., p. 185.