Two simple words

Philip was a fisherman, just having a normal day. Maybe tending to his nets, getting his boat ready. Maybe he was cleaning fish or checking the weather. Maybe he was relaxing after a long day on the job. 

Philip knew what the prophets had said. He knew the words that Moses had written. He knew the Old Testament law. He knew that there was predicted a coming Messiah. But, there had been 400 years of silence, no word from God. Sure, Philip knew the prophecies that were written, but was it true?

Maybe Philip didn’t trouble himself with those deep questions. Maybe he was just doing life, day after day, doing his thing, focused on his craft, making a living, rarely giving a thought to the Messiah. Maybe he would go to church as an obligation, to hear about what the Prophets had written. At least, it did make him feel good that a Messiah would come one day.

But, those thoughts could wait. This day was just a normal day. He was just being Philip.

With two words, Philip’s entire life changed.

“Follow me.” (John 1:43)

Jesus miraculously appeared to Philip. Flesh and blood right before his eyes.

It is astounding that the Messiah that was written about for over 2,000 years appears with two simple words, “follow me.”

Jesus doesn’t come with flames in his eyes telling him to repent from his sins. He doesn’t list a set of rules and procedures that Philip must follow. Jesus doesn’t begin pointing out things in his life that aren’t right, gaps. He doesn’t tell him how he hasn’t been to church in a month.

Nope. Jesus comes with two simple words.

“Follow me.”

We are not given the rest of that conversation in the Bible. God only wants us to see those two words. That is what is important from this story.

When Jesus looks in Philip’s eyes and speaks those two words, it all changed.

At this moment, Philip couldn’t possibly understand the magnitude of those two words, the joy, the miracles, the persecution. And, he wasn’t supposed to understand more at that moment. All Philip was supposed to do was, well, follow Jesus.

And, he did what anyone in that situation that believed would do. He ran to his brother, his fishing partner, the one he knew best, loved most, grew up with. He ran to Nathaniel with the life-changing news, “we have found the Messiah.”

Two simple words started the ministry of Jesus. Two simple words brought the story of the Prophets to real life. Two simple words flipped the Old Testament Law to a story of grace.

Two simple words.

I would imagine we are just like Philip. We know the Scriptures, what the Bible says. The Messiah will return one day. We get that. We go to church occasionally, as it makes us feel good. But, in reality, the world seems to be winning. Like in Philip’s day, God seems to be quiet. So, like Philip, day after day, we just do life, go to our own picture of fishing. We work, go to school, watch the game, go shopping, etc.

Maybe religion seems like it robs joy. A set of rules and regulations. Maybe the message of Jesus feels like it just causes division. Maybe church is just a place to go when you have your life together. Maybe there is this doubt that it isn’t real, there is nothing to it. Maybe you used to believe but it didn’t work out. Maybe all there is to religion is going to that nice building with those nice people on Sunday.

There are so many thoughts that run through our minds.

But, like Philip that day, Jesus cuts through all the mess, all the preconceived notions about “religion” and church and all the rules that we think must be followed.

Like Philip that day, Jesus simply comes to each one of us with two words, “follow me.”

And, like Philip, everything changes. Every morning is new.

Those two future-oriented words are some of the most grace filled words in Bible. Forget the past. Just come.

Follow me.

Impact others. Live generously.