◄ What Does John 14:9 Mean? ►

Like all His band of twelve disciples, Philip was a follower of Christ who had walked and talked with the Creator of the universe for three years. He had witnessed His perfect character, listened to His words of wisdom, seen many proofs of His divine person, and along with Christ's other disciples, Philip had been taught about Christ's holy, heavenly mission. However, the truth that the Lord Jesus was God incarnate, had yet to penetrate the heart of Philip and the other disciples.

The invisible, everlasting God, Who is both spirit and truth, was manifest in the flesh in the person of Jesus Christ and yet, Philip requested a literal sighting of the physical person of God in order to satisfy His short-sighted, myopic understanding. Like the other disciples, Philip was spiritually blinded to the truth and demanded some physical evidence. "Show us the Father, Lord," he demanded. "Let us see the Father," he insisted, "and then we will believe Your words," causing Jesus to respond, "Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?"

Jesus is the true representation of the immortal God in every aspect of His character and will. He is a visible image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation Who is able to genuinely say, "My food is to do the will of My Father," and "Thy will not mine be done." Philip had yet to understand that Jesus was the Word of God, made flesh, Who was with God in the beginning. He is the exact representation of God Who had come to earth to reveal the Father to Adam's fallen race.

Philip, in all honesty, was only voicing a desire that is probably lurking in the heart of the majority of humanity. He had, no doubt, read of the various times in Old Testament Scriptures where there had been a visible display of the glory of God. He had shown Himself to Abraham and to Moses, to Isaiah, and others, and yet Philip had not understood all that the Lord Jesus Christ had been teaching them during His sojourn on earth."I and the Father are One," He had told them. Christ was united with His Father in thought, word, and deed. "Anyone who has seen Me, has seen the Father," were Christ’s earth-shattering words. The Lord Jesus perfectly reveals the Father today, as He did when He walked along the shore of Galilee... for Jesus is the very image of the invisible God and in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. 

The Word was made flesh and the incarnate God, in the person of the lovely Lord Jesus, had been living with His disciples for over three years. Through His lips poured forth the great wisdom of God, the pure holiness of God, the wonderful grace of God, and the tender compassion of God. The unutterable love of God had been poured forth as refreshing streams of living waters to all who came to see Him, and that same unutterable love continues to be poured forth into our hearts today. In this simple, yet profound statement, Jesus was declaring His deity, and this wonderful truth is as relevant today as it was 2000 years ago... that whoever has seen the Lord Jesus Christ has seen the Father – "whoever has seen Me has seen God."

But how can Christ’s words ring true for us who live centuries after His astonishing announcement was first uttered? Well, in one simple word – 'believe'. Simply believe and the eyes of your understanding will be opened. Have faith in the truth of God's Word and the shrouds of doubt will be lifted from your veiled heart. For Christ has become our Saviour and Mediator, our Advocate and Comforter. Christ is the Alpha and Omega of our faith, the Way and the Truth; the Resurrection and the Life – and one day we will be with Him and see Him face to face. He is the Light, the Light and the Love of our lives. No man comes to the Father except through Him, and Jesus said, "I and My Father are One."

In these last days, God has spoken to us in His Son Whom He appointed heir of all things and through Whom also He made the world... for Jesus is the radiance of God’s glory, the exact representation of His nature, and He upholds all things by the Word of His power. Let us look deeply into the lovely face of the Lord Jesus if we would desire to say, "Show us the Father." For Jesus clearly told us, "I and the Father are One."

Loving Father, thank You that through the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, I can see You, know You, and have precious fellowship with You. Open my eyes to see more and more of Jesus so that I can see more and more of You. In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN.