HH, Sir Godfrey Gregg D.Div

“And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.” John 1:46

Philip is one of the duller, slower, more backward, less brilliant disciples. Let me not despise him, however. It will be well for me if I am like him. If he did not mount up on the wings of eagles, he walked without fainting — and I am not sure that this is not the harder and the nobler thing.

When he heard the invitation of Jesus, it had from him a swift reply. He felt that now was the acceptable time for him — now the day of salvation. He did not “lengthen out his little while into a long while,” as Augustine did, and many others. There Philip is my pattern. From me, too, the Saviour’s call should have an immediate answer, and I should make haste and delay not.

When he had scanned the features of Jesus well, he set off to gain his friend for his Redeemer. He bids me confess Jesus, though it should be falteringly. He bids me lose no time in labouring for Him. I must not wait for the maturity of my newborn life — it is frank avowal and service, it never is concealment and procrastination, which enable that life to gather strength.

When he was met with argument and criticism, he took the best plan — he asked the objector to make a personal trial of the Saviour for himself. I may not be able to reason and debate. I may have little skill in logic and apologetics. My words may be destitute of the orator’s passion and poetry. But at least I can say, “Come, and you shall see. Come, and you shall find for yourself how good He is.”

I would gladly be a disciple of the type and family of Philip of Bethsaida.