(story told in John 1:43-51)
Philip was one of the first people Jesus called to be His disciple. He was from the town of Bethsaida, the same hometown as Peter and Andrew. When Jesus found him, He simply said, “Follow Me.” Without hesitation, Philip obeyed. His heart was open and ready to respond to the call of the Messiah. This moment marked the beginning of a life dedicated to following Jesus and helping others do the same.
Right after meeting Jesus, Philip went to find his friend Nathanael. Excited, he told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth.” Nathanael was doubtful and asked, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Instead of arguing, Philip offered a simple but powerful invitation: “Come and see.”
That invitation changed everything. When Nathanael met Jesus, he realized the truth of Philip’s words and became a believer. Philip’s approach was humble and sincere—he didn’t try to convince with clever arguments, but trusted that encountering Jesus personally would be enough.
Throughout Jesus’ ministry, Philip continued to serve faithfully. At times, he asked questions that showed his desire to understand more deeply, like when he said, “Lord, show us the Father.” Jesus gently reminded him that to know Him was to know the Father.
Philip’s story teaches us the importance of sharing our faith with simplicity and sincerity. Like Philip, we don’t need to have all the answers to point others to Jesus. Sometimes the most powerful thing we can say is, “Come and see,” and let Christ reveal Himself to them.