Week of August 10

“The answer my friend is blowin’ in the wind,” is a portion of a verse from the iconic 1962 song recorded by folk singer Bob Dylan. The song itself was termed a “protest song,” but the series of rhetorical questions it poses cause the listener to ponder issues like peace, war, and freedom. This refrain phrase may mean something like “the answer is so obvious that it is right in your face.” John writes something in our focal passage that should be as obvious as something right in front of us. Gospel advancement, quite simply, requires our involvement. Let me explain further.

Notice the way that the Gospel is already beginning to travel through word-of-mouth associations. We are not entirely sure if this group of Greeks was comprised of proselytes to Judaism who had traveled up for the feast, or if, as others suppose, they are Gentiles who had been removed from the Court of the Gentiles (cf. Mark 11:15-17; NAC). Regardless, these people were in and around Jerusalem, like so many others who traveled there for the Passover feast. Christians today also use concerts, festivals, sporting events, and just about anything that draws masses of people to a religious gathering, to pass the good news along to another life. In our passage, Philip’s spiritual awareness proved to be a very important one. Pause and consider moments where you have been absent in social interactions where God needed you to be present.

Your own lineage. Talk about degrees of connectivity! These Greeks may have approached Philip because of his Greek name, or because he likely spoke Greek. Some believe that they may have known him because they were from the region of the Decapolis where he had been a resident (NAC). Surely these people had heard about the “powerful and heroic” Jesus, and they were wanting to associate with Him in some way. His mighty works had already grabbed their attention, and it was the Gospel witness that would soon grip their hearts (cf. Acts 2:5-11). Regardless, they were not insiders, and it was through an association with these disciples that they were to find a way to connect with Jesus. Begin pondering places you go to shop or dine and become alert to others with whom you might otherwise not converse. 

Seek new connections. We have too often become one-dimensional in our Gospel proclamation, but this passage shows us the significance of our everyday relationships and encounters. Philip, who had earlier brought Nathanael to Jesus, turns to Andrew, who had brought Peter to the Lord (12:22; see 1:41, 44). They served as cross-pollinators! They helped people who were a bit different to meet people who would place them before the One who, Himself, would make the ultimate difference in their lives. They become pre-Crucifixion witnesses of what would spread rapidly by the wind of the Spirit across the Roman empire following Pentecost.

A friend of the Center often supplies us with honey from the beehives he manages. Some years are leaner than others because of a breakdown somewhere along the chain of pollination. Insect pollination, also known as “entomophily,” describes the way bugs transfer pollen from one flower to another. Someone has estimated that more than 84% of crops in Europe are dependent upon insect pollination. The global food supply for humans, in fact, is vitally dependent upon these insects! Who would have thought? Obviously, God thought and designed the intricate pollination system. 

Here is the spiritual point. God knows the importance of Gospel pollination too, if we may coin a phrase. It is very often people like us who simply speak a word about Christ into the life of a friend, or a co-worker, or a family member, that enables that person to receive Christ and grow into a vibrant new follower of the Savior.

1. Gospel pollination! Write down the places where you associate with people who are just outside the circle of Christian community (e.g. soccer practices, gymnastics, fitness centers, Bridge clubs, work break rooms). Have you ever considered these people as potential Christ-followers? Pray that God opens your eyes and your lips to pass along the good news to others.

2. Churches are people, not buildings. Re-tool your church community to blow along with the Spirit’s wind throughout your community. Equip people to bring people to “see Jesus.”

3. For Families: This is an essential disciple message. We are to drop Gospel words or questions or a witness everywhere we see or speak with folks. Our kids can certainly do their part! Gather them to the table for cookies after school, or when they are waiting for supper to finish cooking. Give them each a piece of paper and a pen and have them draw a line to separate that paper into two columns.

Share with them this story about how the Greeks came to find Jesus and asked Philip where He was. They must have known that Philip could help them. Ask your children to think about being a “Philip” and pointing people to Jesus. Ask them to write in the first column some ways we can share about Jesus without using words (tee shirts, helping someone without being asked, being kind, listening, etc). 

Now ask them to write a list of phrases or questions that can be conversation starters. Once people are chatting with us, we can listen close, and leave a thought or a question as a witness for Jesus (Do you know my Jesus? What do you think about Jesus Christ? Do you attend church anywhere? Would you like to come to my church with my family?). Now invite them to circle three or four things on the list, practice them the next day, and report back about what happened when you gather for supper the next night.

May your paths be straight,
Larry C. Ashlock