The Gospel Of John Chapter 14 Pt. 3 We See The Father When We See Jesus!

Jesus is Jehovah come in the flesh to save mankind from our sins. 

John 14:6-7  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 7)  If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

Jesus answered Thomas' question by revealing to him who Christ truly is. Jesus said "I am the way, the truth and the life." 

By using the divine name "I am" Jesus showed His disciples that He is Jehovah in the flesh. Now, Jehovah is the most used personal name of God in the Old Testament.

Jesus Christ is “the way” to the Father because “no man cometh unto the Father but by Me”. 

He is “the truth” of all we know about the Father when we come to Him, “For in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9). 

Jesus is the source of all life, physical and spiritual. Thus, He is “the life” and “this is the true God and eternal life” (1 John 5:20).

Thus, Christ is saying to them that "I am Jehovah, the same God your fathers worshipped in the past." Jesus said clearly "I and the Father are One, (John 10:30). 

If His disciples had properly examined the intent of the law, they would have understood that it pointed to Jesus Christ. 

All that Jesus did throughout His ministry, was according to the design and intent of the Father, as expressed in that law.

Such a wonderful revelation of Jesus to His disciples, surely calmed their troubled hearts, and helped them think rightly about God's plan of salvation. 

Since Jesus explained these truth to His disciples, from this point forward, they know Jesus Christ and His Father in heaven. 

When we see Jesus, we see the Father!

John 14:8-9  Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. 9)  Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? 

Now, it is Philip's turn to make a request. In light of the previous discussion, Philip asks Jesus to shew them the Father. 

It is as if Philip said, "We have seen and adored thee, and our happiness will be complete if thou show us the Father."

The demand of Philip was similar to that made by Moses, who wanted to see the glory of Jehovah (Exodus 33:18). Yet, God told Moses that no man can see His glory and live through it. 

In like manner, Philip wished to see the glory of God. If Peter, James, or John, made such a request, this would have been inexcusable. However Philip did not witness the transfiguration of Jesus Christ on the mount.

Jesus gently upbraided Philip for not using his mind, to consider all that he had seen Jesus do and teach. 

Our Lord followed this with a very clear statement that declares the deity of Christ. "He that hath seen me, hath seen the Father." This is a singularly powerful reply from Jesus.

What does this imply for Christians, as we read our Bible? 

When we see Jesus do something, we are seeing the Father at work. When we hear Jesus preach and teach, we are hearing the Father's voice.

What does the scripture teach about this truth?

Jesus is an equal member of the Godhead.

Jesus Christ is an equal member of the Godhead, and He exists in the form or substance as God (Philippians 2:6).

Jesus is the express image of God and the fulness of God dwells in Him!

Colossians 1:12-20  Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13)  Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14)  In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 15)  Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16)  For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17)  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18)  And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19)  For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; 20)  And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. 

This text teaches us to give thanks to our Father for His plan of redemption through the sacrifice of His only beloved Son, Jesus Christ. 

Jesus Christ is the "image" of the invisible God. This means that Jesus is the exact manifestation of God, the fullest revelation of God to man. 

In addition, this same Jesus is the Head of the church and He is preeminent in all things, according to the Father's will. 

Notice verse 19. It pleased the Father that all the fulness of the Godhead should dwell in Jesus Christ. Colossians 2:9 tells us that all the fulness of the Godhead dwells in Jesus Christ bodily. 

It is clear then, why Jesus told Philip that if you see me, you have seen the Father. I think this view of Christ's preeminence in all things, has been neglected by many churches today. 

The brightness of the Fathers glory is in Christ. 

Hebrews 1:1-3  God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2)  Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3)  Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;  

God spoke in the Old Testament times by His prophets, but in these last days, He speaks to us through His Son, Jesus Christ. 

Jesus Christ displays the brightness of the Father's glory, and the express image of His person.  Thus, when we see Jesus we see the Father.

This is our God, who became a man, and purged our sins by His own blood. What a Savior and Friend we have in Jesus Christ!

Jesus is in the Father and the Father in Him.

John 14:10  Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. 

The words and the works of Jesus Christ are the very words and works the Father gave Him to do. 

Jesus is equal with God and created all things. 

John 1:1-3  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2)  The same was in the beginning with God. 3)  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

John applies the title "The Word" to Jesus Christ. The Word was with God, was God and all things were made by the Word, Jesus Christ. 

Jesus and His Father are one. 

John 10:30-33  I and my Father are one. 31)  Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32)  Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? 33)  The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. 

Jesus made His teaching very clear. He claimed to be God, for He said He and His Father are one. 

The Jews recognized that Jesus was making Himself equal with God and they wanted to stone Him. 

Jesus did the works of His Father, and we must believe Him. 

John 10:36-38  Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? 37)  If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. 38)  But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him. 

Jesus put the Jewish religious leaders to the test. He said if He did not do the works of the Father, then they should not believe Him. 

The mighty miracles that Jesus did were witnessed by so many people that they were undeniable. 

All that Jesus said and did was from His Father.

John 5:19-20  Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. 20)  For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. 

Jesus did not claim to do anything from His own initiative. Rather, He sought to please His Father in all things. Thus, all His mighty works were those the Father gave Him to do. 

Jesus came to earth from heaven to do the Father's will.

John 6:38-40  For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39)  And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40)  And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. 

Jesus declared that He and the Father are not only one in nature, but one also in operation. 

The works which He has done bear witness of the infinite perfection of His nature. His mighty miracles could only be performed by God's unlimited power.

Points to ponder:

All who saw Christ in the flesh might have seen the Father in him, if Satan had not blinded their minds, and kept them from seeing Christ, as the image of God  (2 Corinthians 4:4). 

All who saw Christ by faith did see the Father in him, though they were not suddenly aware that they did so. 

In the light of Christ's doctrine, we see God as the Father of lights. In Jesus' miracles, we see God as the God of power. 

The beautiful holiness of God shone through in the spotless purity of Christ's life, and His gracious actions.

May all the glory and majesty of Jesus Christ, God our Savior, settle into our souls. May these precious truths give us rest when we are weary, and comfort when troubles surround us. 

Let us indeed, do all things heartily as unto our Lord.

Bob

-