We know that Jesus called Peter with a sign — a net bursting with fish following a night’s labor that yielded none. Jesus calls Philip, a Jew from Bethsaida like Peter, without a sign. Why? At the very least, we can glean that Jesus approached different people in different ways that include direct intervention (Paul), signs (Peter) and this encounter with Philip (John 1:43-44). My personal experience confirms this:

• Jesus called my wife as she listened to the Old Rugged Cross in a rustic church in the woods of New England that sported no electricity.
• Jesus called me through a direct witnessing experience from a youth leader when I was 11. I prayed the “prayer” for forgiveness that so many of us did. However, after running from the Lord for many years, Jesus called me back with  a much more dramatic experience.
• Jesus called a friend of mine upon his third reading of the Bible in a row, a task he took on after his mom begged him to accompany her to a Christian concert. His testimony sounds cerebral unless you consider Paul’s words (1 Corinthians 1:22):

Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

We could read the Bible 100 times and still not get it. There is a New Testament professor at an Ivy League school who is an atheist. When God calls, what seems like foolishness to some becomes the “power … and wisdom of God”.

If we dive into the Greek grammar of this interaction with Philip we see three things obscured by the translation:

1. When Jesus finds Philip (John 1:43) he literally “keeps on finding” him, that is, this didn’t happen in just a moment. Time passed during this “finding” which hints that Jesus was looking specifically for Philip and was committed to finding him. He was/is committed to finding you as well.
2. After searching for and “finding” Philip, Jesus “says” something to him using the same grammar, so it might be better translated “keeps on saying”. This was a conversation with Philip, it’s not the one sentence command it appears to be in most English translations. Jesus may seek you in a way that is not dramatic.
3. The same holds for Jesus’ statement: “Follow me.” It sounds like a command that Philip would respond to or reject in an instant but that’s not true. The Greek language has a clear way of indicating commands and that grammar is not used here. In fact, like our previous two verbs, this can be better translated “keep on following me”. Jesus is inviting Philip to continue (keep on having) the conversation they have already begun. In so doing, he is using a decidedly low-key approach to offer to be Philip’s Rabbi.

The story of Philip’s call illustrates that Jesus sometimes calls us in way that is less dramatic and is likely tailored to our need. In Mike’s video on Andrew, he referred to the one-time beginning of the Christian journey at salvation that happens in a moment and the ongoing work of salvation in our lives.  When viewed in the original language, Philip’s story trumpets the latter, that we must “keep on choosing” Jesus.

Will you pass on the Rabbi who changed the course of history? He is seeking you in particular and He will meet you on your ground, in the midst of your need. You need only realize your need for His cleansing sacrifice on the cross and accept the forgiveness only He can truly offer and that He paid such a great price to secure.

Perhaps you have already experienced this one-time call when that which was foolish was turned into power and wisdom in your life and yet you’re struggling. “Keep on” following Jesus, keep choosing to do so moment to moment and day to day. You will eventually see the shore, you will see that what temporarily looked foolish is instead wise.

Possibly Related Posts:

• I Read the Song of Solomon 100 Times and Then …
• Counterfeit: Lies We Believe About Fatherhood
• Casting Call
• Simon the Crime Man
• Matthew: Trump to Trumpet