Philip Changes History

TBU 29- Philip Changes History

March 25, 2025

Introduction

• Only the Gospel of John records the story of foreigners asking Philip, a disciple of Greek descent, to introduce them to Jesus. It seems like a simple meet and greet request, but the implications of the story, and the meaning behind it, are a fulfillment of several prophecies.

• I’m Brent and this is episode 29 of The Bible Unplugged. We continue our series, Easter Unplugged, with a look at the story of Philip’s encounter with some of his countrymen during Passover.

• Please take a minute to look at the show notes for this episode at PowerLoveandMiracles.com under the Podcast tab

Why is John Different?

• As we have talked about in previous episodes, the Gospel of John is uniquely different than the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The order of events is different and many of the events John records cannot be found in the other gospels.

• John does this to emphasize the theological meaning behind the words and actions of Jesus. He isn’t concerned with chronological accuracy.

John’s Theme

• John has a definite theme and purpose in his book: to present Jesus as the ultimate Passover lamb who takes away the sin of the world.

• From the time Jesus arrives in Jerusalem until his crucifixion, John parallels the events of Jesus with what would have happened to the Passover lamb during that week.

Philip’s Encounter

• In John 12:20-26 we find the story of a group of people of Greek ancestry who asked the disciple Philip to introduce them to Jesus.

• These people were like God-fearing Gentiles who respected Jewish beliefs and customs but had not yet converted to Judaism. John tells us they came to Jerusalem to worship at the feast. As Gentiles, they could not participate in the Passover rituals on Thursday evening, but they could worship in the Temple.

• We usually think of the Temple as being only for Jews, but there was a location in the Temple where Gentiles could enter. This area has a lot of meaning.

• The Temple was designed with concentric rings, similar to a target in darts. The Holy of Holies, where the people believed God dwelled, was at the center. Each ring expanding out had restrictions as to who could enter that area.

• The outermost ring was called The Court of the Gentiles.

• This area allowed Gentiles to worship, but there was a sign at the gate to the next court for Jewish women that threatened death for any Gentile that entered. Not a very welcoming idea.

• When Jesus drove the merchants out of the Temple, they were stationed in the Court of the Gentiles. Merchant caravans were allowed to pass through this court as a shortcut into the City of Jerusalem.

• Jesus considered this court part of the Temple and not a busy street. When Jesus drove the merchants out of the Temple he quoted from the book of Isaiah chapter 56 when he said, “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.”

• This quote foreshadows what happened when Philip met up with his fellow Greeks.

Philip and the Greeks

• John tells us that the Greek foreigners said to Philip, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.” Philip ran the idea past Andrew. They must have thought it was a good idea so they told Jesus.

• The response we get from Jesus is as perplexing as it is profound.

Jesus Responds

• Jesus doesn’t answer the request. His first response is: “The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Most certainly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit.”

• What does this have to do with a request to meet some foreigners? For the answer to this question we go all the way back to the book of Leviticus chapter 19. God told the people of Israel that they could not eat the fruit of a newly planted tree for three years. In year four they offered the fruit to God, they could only eat the fruit after that.

• Wait. What does that have to do with this story?

• John tells us that Jesus’ ministry lasted 3 years by the number of Passover’s Jesus attended. We find this information in John chapters 2, 6, and now in chapter 12.

• Here’s the connection:

• For three years Jesus preached the gospel of salvation to the Jewish nation. John tells us in the first chapter of the gospel that Jesus came to his own and those who were his own didn’t receive him.

• This equates to the unharvested growth in the first three years after planting a tree.

• The fourth year, when the fruit is offered to God, is equivalent to Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection.

• The fifth year and following years relate to the expansion of the Gospel to all nations.

The Clincher

• How does this fit with the story of Philip and the Greeks?

• When Philip and Andrew tell Jesus that some foreigners want to meet him, Jesus knew that this indicated the transition from the three years of unharvested fruit to the expansion of the gospel of salvation to the whole earth.

• A simple request for a meeting with Jesus transformed into the good news of Jesus sacrifice for sin and his resurrection to overcome sin and death.

What we learn from this

• When the Greek foreigners asked to meet Jesus, neither they nor Philip knew the implications of their request. Some of the events in our lives may not appear to have any real importance, but God can use even the simplest of events to proclaim his sovereignty over history.

• The foreigners felt comfortable asking Philip to arrange a meeting with Jesus because they were from the same culture. We have influence over people who are comfortable with us. You don’t have to go to a foreign mission field to proclaim the gospel.

• The meaning and importance of the event overshadowed the request to meet Jesus. Old Testament prophecy foretold this moment in Jesus’ ministry. God works throughout human history to create events of eternal significance. We usually do not know ahead of time when God will move in a big way. It’s not until after the event that we look back and see how God weaved the details together to show us his power.

• There are several additional connections between the request to see Jesus and Old Testament prophecy. I have a summary of these in the show notes if you are interested.

What do we do with this?

• It’s easy to think that being a missionary means moving far away, but you are a missionary and ambassador for the gospel right where you are. Think about the people you come in contact with frequently. Which of those people need to know about the good news that God love them? Make a plan to say or do something that shows them God cares.

• Even the most mundane details in the Bible can have eternal significance. Using a chain reference Bible, reading reliable commentaries, or using a Bible study app can reveal some amazing connections with other passages.

• We never know when God will show his power in our lives. Ask God to reveal to you the many miracles he creates in your life that you may miss because you haven’t asked or looked. God wants to do some amazing things through you to benefit not only you, but everyone around you.

The conclusion

• And, as you know, the music in the background means I have run out of time for this episode, but there’s more.

• I hope this has been helpful. If so, give this podcast a high rating and share it with others.

• In the next episode we investigate the supper when Jesus washed the disciples’ feet. We commonly believe that Jesus did this during the Last Supper, but did he? Listen to the next episode to find out.

• My prayer for you is that you will look for and hope for miracles to take place in your life to demonstrate God’s power to you and the people you around you.

• Have a blessed week.

The disclaimers

• Just to let you know

• All opinions are my own. If you agree, keep listening. If you don’t… keep listening, there may be some good stuff here.

• All Bible quotations come from the World English Bible which is a public domain work.

• Our show theme song is “Awesome Call” by Kevin MacLeod and is available under a Creative Commons license.

• The content of this podcast is copyrighted 2025 by J. Brent Eaton

• This has been a Power Love and Miracles production.

Other Old Testament Prophecies:

1. The Nations Coming to the Light (Isaiah 60:1-3)

Isaiah 60:1-3 prophesies that the nations (Gentiles) will be drawn to God’s light:

"Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and His glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising."

This prophecy finds fulfillment in Jesus, who declares in John 12:32 (just after the Greeks' request):

“And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”

The arrival of the Greeks signals that this drawing of all nations has begun.

2. The Court of the Gentiles and the Cleansing of the Temple

In the Old Testament, the Temple had a designated area called the Court of the Gentiles, where non-Jews could worship. However, this space had been corrupted by merchants and money changers. When Jesus cleansed the Temple (John 2:13-22, Matthew 21:12-13), He cited Isaiah 56:7:

"My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations."

This act symbolized removing barriers between Gentiles and God. The Greeks’ request in John 12:20 could reflect this longing—to go beyond the outer court and truly see Jesus.

3. Solomon’s Prayer for the Nations (1 Kings 8:41-43)

When King Solomon dedicated the Temple, he prayed that foreigners who sought God would be heard:

"As for the foreigner who does not belong to your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of Your name—for they will hear of Your great name and Your mighty hand and Your outstretched arm—when they come and pray toward this temple, then hear from heaven, Your dwelling place. Do whatever the foreigner asks of You, so that all the peoples of the earth may know Your name and fear You, as do Your own people Israel."

The Greeks seeking Jesus mirror this prayer. They come to Jerusalem at Passover, having “heard of His great name,” desiring to see the One who embodies God’s presence.

4. The Foreshadowing of Gentile Inclusion (Psalm 22:27)

Psalm 22, which Jesus quotes on the cross, also prophesies the eventual worship of the nations:

"All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before You."

This passage aligns with Jesus’ statement in John 12:24, where He compares His death to a grain of wheat that must die to bear much fruit. The coming of the Greeks suggests that this global fruitfulness is imminent.

5. The Sign of Jonah and the Ninevites (Jonah 3:5-10)

Jesus previously referenced Jonah as a sign (Matthew 12:39-41), comparing His death and resurrection to Jonah’s three days in the fish. But Jonah’s story also includes a Gentile revival—the people of Nineveh, a non-Jewish city, repented at Jonah’s preaching.

The Greeks coming to Jesus parallels the Ninevites seeking God. While Jonah resisted Gentile inclusion, Jesus welcomes it as part of His mission.

6. The Magi and the Bookends of Jesus’ Life (Matthew 2:1-2)

The Gospel of Matthew opens with Gentiles—the Magi from the East—coming to seek the newborn King of the Jews:

"Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star when it rose and have come to worship Him."

Now, near the end of Jesus’ ministry, another group of Gentiles (the Greeks) seek to see Him. The Magi’s visit foreshadowed that Jesus was for all nations, and the Greeks’ request confirms that this time has come.

Conclusion

The Greeks asking to see Jesus in John 12:20 is more than a simple request—it is the fulfillment of multiple Old Testament themes. It signals:

• The nations being drawn to the Messiah (Isaiah 60).

• The removal of barriers to Gentile worship (Temple cleansing, Isaiah 56).

• Solomon’s prayer for foreigners being answered (1 Kings 8).

• The beginning of the global worship of God (Psalm 22).

• A parallel to the repentance of Nineveh (Jonah).

• The closing of a narrative arc begun with the Magi (Matthew 2).

In response to the Greeks, Jesus doesn’t just meet with them—He declares His death is imminent because His sacrifice will open the way for all nations. This moment marks the transition from His focus on Israel to the inclusion of the whole world in His salvation.