Imagini ale paginilor
PDF
ePub

XI.

Philip.

"It was not by intellectual power, like the philosophers of Greece, nor by arms and statesmanship, like the conquerors of Rome, nor by the influence of a sacredotal order, like the priestly castes of India or of Egypt, nor even by the patriotic zeal and unshaken endurance of their own Jewish ancestors, that the supremacy of the apostles was established. It was by the transforming energy of simple goodness, devoted with a child-like faith, through a whole life, to the service of God and man.

[graphic]

OF

F the three groups into which, as we have seen, the Twelve are divided, the second is headed by the name of Philip. There may be other reasons for the position thus assigned him; but as a fellow-townsman with the sons of Jonas and Zebedee it was manifestly convenient that he should be placed at their side. All five belonged to Bethsaida of Galilee, possibly a suburb of Bethsaida Julias at the northern extremity of the lake of Gennesaret, but more generally believed to have been a distinct township situated lower down on its populous western shore. To the honours of Bethlehem or Nazareth it could not indeed lay claim; yet was it no mean boast that from it came nearly a half of the apostolic band, and that the half which included its foremost members. But this place, oft visited by the Lord and made by him the scene of mightier works than ever Tyre and Sidon saw, knew not the day of its visitation and drew upon itself the woe

See the note appended to the present chapter.

pronounced against the other cities of the Galilean plain. In the absence of all information about Philip's family and early occupation, we can only suppose that he may have been on intimate terms with Andrew, John and their brothers, and that in a town whose very name betokened the staple industry of its inhabitants he earned his livelihood in common with them by the boat and the net.

Two days after Andrew's introduction to Jesus, the latter quitted his lodging for the night and bent his steps towards the heart of Galilee. On the way we are briefly told that he met Philip and said unto him, "Follow me." His manner contrasted in two respects with what it had been on the previous days. Then he had been the sought rather than the seeker; nor had he displayed any haste in enrolling as disciples those who found him. John and Andrew almost pressed themselves on his notice; while upon Simon, who was afterwards brought before him, he imposed a surname but no immediate command. Now however he takes the initiative; he becomes the Shepherd seeking his own, he appears as the Master claiming service due. Whether Andrew had mentioned Philip as an acquaintance and begged that he might be called, is not clear; but the expression "he findeth Philip" implies that Jesus had gone out with the intention of seeking him. And when the object of his search was found, he put, before any word of greeting, the plain, abrupt command, "Follow me." This is the attitude in which the Saviour shews himself to us. He has sought us ah! how long and patiently we

best know as we recall our persistent efforts at escape. And when any have suffered him to find them out, "follow me" has been his first salutation. While his ultimate aim is that they obtain rest and joy, he knows full well there is no solid peace, nor any salvation worth the having, save that which comes through following him and obeying his will. Therefore it was that he said to the labouring and heavy laden, paradoxically yet most truly, "Take my yoke upon you;" for, as he explained his meaning, his yoke emancipates from other bondage, his burden. relieves from the galling load of sin; and he that would be delivered from the tyranny of error must first become vassal of the truth.

But did Philip, made thus "masterfast," at once obey the command? Instead of following Jesus, we find him going away in search of Nathanael. Clearly he did not take the injunction literally; his idea of following was finding. Well for us if we adopt the same view. Would we learn how best to follow our Lord? It is not in the enjoyment of ease in Zion, not in the play of religious emotion, not even in the cultivation of a contemplative piety that we shall keep close to his blessed footsteps so much as by unselfish effort to spread the knowledge of his grace and lead others to trust in him. In the definition of pure and undefiled religion given by St. James there is assigned to works of Christian charity the precedence over a regard for personal holiness; and the order observed is just, for a Christian may be unworldly and yet unserviceable, but induce him to be devoutly active and he will

« ÎnapoiContinuă »