Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
Philip asked for a direct sight of the Father, supposing that such a sight would satisfy them, and Jesus answered that to see Him is to see the Father and to know Him is to know the Father. The request showed slowness to believe and failure to discern His divine character after nearly three years of hearing His teaching and witnessing His works. The Father dwells in Christ and does the works, so Christ's words are not His own alone and His life is in perfect harmony with the Father. To behold Christ's character of mercy, tender pity, love, goodness and truth is to behold the Father's character, correcting the fear that God is severe, unforgiving or humanity's enemy. Spoken in the upper chamber on the night before the crucifixion after Judas had left, when Jesus was alone with the eleven, the exchange was given to comfort sorrowful disciples, strengthen their faith and courage under severe trial, and assure true believers of His continuing presence.
Setting and Context
The request was made in the upper chamber on the night before the crucifixion, after Judas had left and Jesus was alone with the eleven, as He spoke of His approaching separation from them. It was part of the instruction He gave there before He led them out through the city toward the Mount of Olives, joined to the command to let not the heart be troubled. The exchange is also placed shortly before Christ's ascension.
It belonged to farewell instruction to disciples sorrowful at the thought of His departure, spoken not for Himself though He knew the terrible ordeal awaiting Him. Its purpose was to comfort them, to strengthen their faith and courage under severe trial so they would endure without failing, to give courage to stand fast in the most trying hour, and to bring strength and assurance to the true believer as long as time shall last. It was given to prepare and strengthen them for future trials and temptations, to make them acquainted with His purposes and plans, to show His love for them for them to remember in their work and counsel, to give encouragement and hope, and to promise His continuing presence with them.
It stands within the connected teaching of John 14-16 and John 13-17, with John 6 and John 13 through 17 described as the plain outline and plainly expressed will of God regarding His people. Together with John 6, 13, 15, 16, and 17 it was given to cure dissension and to produce unity and love worked out in practical life. Its immediate setting was after Jesus said that those who know Him know and have seen the Father, and after He declared Himself the way, the truth, and the life by whom alone men come to the Father.
The words of John 14-16 are so simple that even children may understand them, yet the disciples could not comprehend them because they were contrary to their wishes and desires.
Philip's Request and Unbelief
Philip asked Jesus to show the disciples the Father, convinced that a direct sight of the Father would be enough and would satisfy them. He asked to be shown the Father as all that was needed, as if that alone would suffice.
The request sought a final convincing proof of Jesus' divinity, and it reflected apprehension and doubt. It showed lack of faith, slowness to believe, and failure to discern Christ's divine character after being so long with Him. After nearly three years hearing His teaching and witnessing His works, the disciples still did not recognize who He was. What Jesus had said and done should already have shown Philip who Jesus was.
Philip had not yet understood that Jesus was sent from God to represent the Father. He thought of the Father as separate from the One standing before him, to be seen in external form. He did not recognize that God had already revealed Himself in Christ's words and works. That revelation had been before the disciples throughout their years with Him, yet Philip still did not understand that Jesus revealed the Father.
The request grieved Jesus. His quivering lips testified that the disciples did not know Him better in their hour of trial. It was spoken with the same unbelief as Thomas, after Jesus had said that those who know Him know and have seen the Father and had declared Himself the way, the truth, and the life by whom alone men come to the Father.
Father Seen in Christ
To Philip's plea to be shown the Father, Jesus answers that seeing Him is seeing the Father, and knowing Him is knowing the Father, and that from that time onward they know and have seen Him. His words and works reveal the Father who dwells in Him, so the request is answered by recognizing the Father in what Jesus says and does. He who has seen Christ has seen the Father, because His life and actions are in perfect harmony with the Father.
Christ came as the Father's representative, the express image of His Father's person and the brightness of His Father's glory, whose image He perfectly bears. Those who know Christ by acquaintance with Him therefore have a more perfect knowledge of God the Father. His works also testify to His unity with the Father.
The Father dwells in Christ and does the works, so Christ's words are not spoken independently but are the Father's. He is in the Father and the Father is in Him, and His life is in perfect harmony with the Father. Seeing Jesus' character is seeing the Father's character, because Jesus embodies the glory and divine attributes of God. His words and works display the Father's goodness, mercy, love, and character, in nobility of character, mercy, tender pity, love, goodness, graciousness and truth. He is the manifestation of the Father's love and the channel through whom the Father's mercy reaches humanity, giving a correct picture of God's love. That revelation corrects the fear that God is severe and unforgiving and shows the Father is not humanity's enemy, and all that people can know of God for the saving of the soul is revealed in Christ.
The disciples had already seen this revelation in Christ's healing of the sick, care for people in need, and feeding of the multitude, and throughout their years with Him and their time with Him. Human beings do not see the Father in external form, and God cannot be found out by human searching. Nature displays God's glory and handiwork, but it is not God, while Christ's words and works reveal the Father. Christ alone represents Him to humanity, though fully human remaining God, with divinity veiled beneath humanity yet at times shining through, displaying perfect manhood in integrity, duty, love, compassion and sympathy.
Unity, Promise and Fulfillment
Philip's request points to the close unity of Father and Son, for Jesus is in the Father and the Father is in him. He came from heaven sent from God to represent the Father, as the brightness of God's glory and the express image of his person, so that to see him is to see the Father and to know him is to know the Father. His words were not spoken of himself or independently, but the Father dwelling in him spoke the words and did the works, revealing that unity. That union itself is the ground of belief, and where the words are not believed, belief is to rest on the works themselves as evidence.
Christ in this union joins humanity and divinity, with his human arm embracing humanity and with his divine arm reaching the throne of the Infinite. The disciples' grasp of this revelation of the Father in Christ remained partial, for they did not yet understand how the Father dwelt in him and did the works he spoke of. Their understanding was not made full until the Holy Spirit was poured out at Pentecost. Its complete fulfillment still lies in the future, when faithful followers will know God clearly and see his face.
Belief in this union stands connected to the promise that those who believe will do the works Jesus does and even greater works, because he goes to the Father. Whatever is asked in his name he will do, so that the Father is glorified in the Son. As he intercedes in heaven he takes the sins of sincere and contrite praying ones to present them innocent before the Father, and he fills their hearts with the glorious light of truth and love, making believers laborers together with God.
Instruction for Believers Today
John 13 through 17 gives the plain outline and plainly expressed will of God for His people, and with John 6 it was given to cure dissension and to produce unity and love worked out in practical life. It teaches the philosophy of genuine missionary work and contains the divine antidote for the sin of the whole world, by which believers are made one with Christ in this present life to be one with Him throughout all eternity. It calls for renewed understanding through the Spirit of God. Those who minister in word and doctrine and are acquainted with present truth have the privilege of believing that God means just what He says in these chapters, and ministers who need to be converted must believe every verse in them and live them out before their fellow ministers. In this instruction Christ joins humanity and divinity, with His human arm embracing humanity and with His divine arm reaching the throne of the Infinite.
These are words of comfort and instruction to the disciples before rejection and crucifixion, given to prepare and strengthen them for future trials and temptations, to make them acquainted with His purposes and plans, and to show His love for them. They are to be received by living faith, used to enlighten those who do not understand their meaning and value, and to stir people to action. They are to be remembered in work and counsel.
Knowing Christ through Scripture is a personal, practical experience, not merely casual or secondhand knowledge, and it leads to obedience and likeness to Him. God cannot be found out by human searching, but He has revealed Himself in the character of Christ, who is the brightness of the Father's glory and the express image of His person in person and character, so that to see Christ is to see the Father. Becoming like Christ and living a pure life by faith in Him as a personal Saviour brings a clearer, higher understanding and conception of God. To know God therefore requires being Christlike and seeking each day to be more like Christ, and no one whose character is not noble and Christlike can know God's character or set Him forth in a correct light.
The request to be shown the Father carries the call for believing Christians instead of doubters, believing God is willing to do more than can be asked or thought. The storehouse of God is unlocked with the key of faith, and faith enables a much larger showing of the compassion of Jesus. This stands connected to the promise that whoever believes will do the works Christ did and greater works because He goes to the Father, and whatever is asked in His name He will do so the Father is glorified in the Son. The transforming influence of truth is itself a sign of divine power, but dulled spiritual senses can prevent people from understanding that evidence despite being with Him and witnessing God's work.
Philip asked for a direct sight of the Father, supposing that such a sight would satisfy them, and Jesus answered that to see Him is to see the Father and to know Him is to know the Father. The request showed slowness to believe and failure to discern His divine character after nearly three years of hearing His teaching and witnessing His works. The Father dwells in Christ and does the works, so Christ's words are not His own alone and His life is in perfect harmony with the Father. To behold Christ's character of mercy, tender pity, love, goodness and truth is to behold the Father's character, correcting the fear that God is severe, unforgiving or humanity's enemy. Spoken in the upper chamber on the night before the crucifixion after Judas had left, when Jesus was alone with the eleven, the exchange was given to comfort sorrowful disciples, strengthen their faith and courage under severe trial, and assure true believers of His continuing presence.
Setting and Context
The request was made in the upper chamber on the night before the crucifixion, after Judas had left and Jesus was alone with the eleven, as He spoke of His approaching separation from them. It was part of the instruction He gave there before He led them out through the city toward the Mount of Olives, joined to the command to let not the heart be troubled. The exchange is also placed shortly before Christ's ascension.
It belonged to farewell instruction to disciples sorrowful at the thought of His departure, spoken not for Himself though He knew the terrible ordeal awaiting Him. Its purpose was to comfort them, to strengthen their faith and courage under severe trial so they would endure without failing, to give courage to stand fast in the most trying hour, and to bring strength and assurance to the true believer as long as time shall last. It was given to prepare and strengthen them for future trials and temptations, to make them acquainted with His purposes and plans, to show His love for them for them to remember in their work and counsel, to give encouragement and hope, and to promise His continuing presence with them.
It stands within the connected teaching of John 14-16 and John 13-17, with John 6 and John 13 through 17 described as the plain outline and plainly expressed will of God regarding His people. Together with John 6, 13, 15, 16, and 17 it was given to cure dissension and to produce unity and love worked out in practical life. Its immediate setting was after Jesus said that those who know Him know and have seen the Father, and after He declared Himself the way, the truth, and the life by whom alone men come to the Father.
The words of John 14-16 are so simple that even children may understand them, yet the disciples could not comprehend them because they were contrary to their wishes and desires.
Philip's Request and Unbelief
Philip asked Jesus to show the disciples the Father, convinced that a direct sight of the Father would be enough and would satisfy them. He asked to be shown the Father as all that was needed, as if that alone would suffice.
The request sought a final convincing proof of Jesus' divinity, and it reflected apprehension and doubt. It showed lack of faith, slowness to believe, and failure to discern Christ's divine character after being so long with Him. After nearly three years hearing His teaching and witnessing His works, the disciples still did not recognize who He was. What Jesus had said and done should already have shown Philip who Jesus was.
Philip had not yet understood that Jesus was sent from God to represent the Father. He thought of the Father as separate from the One standing before him, to be seen in external form. He did not recognize that God had already revealed Himself in Christ's words and works. That revelation had been before the disciples throughout their years with Him, yet Philip still did not understand that Jesus revealed the Father.
The request grieved Jesus. His quivering lips testified that the disciples did not know Him better in their hour of trial. It was spoken with the same unbelief as Thomas, after Jesus had said that those who know Him know and have seen the Father and had declared Himself the way, the truth, and the life by whom alone men come to the Father.
Father Seen in Christ
To Philip's plea to be shown the Father, Jesus answers that seeing Him is seeing the Father, and knowing Him is knowing the Father, and that from that time onward they know and have seen Him. His words and works reveal the Father who dwells in Him, so the request is answered by recognizing the Father in what Jesus says and does. He who has seen Christ has seen the Father, because His life and actions are in perfect harmony with the Father.
Christ came as the Father's representative, the express image of His Father's person and the brightness of His Father's glory, whose image He perfectly bears. Those who know Christ by acquaintance with Him therefore have a more perfect knowledge of God the Father. His works also testify to His unity with the Father.
The Father dwells in Christ and does the works, so Christ's words are not spoken independently but are the Father's. He is in the Father and the Father is in Him, and His life is in perfect harmony with the Father. Seeing Jesus' character is seeing the Father's character, because Jesus embodies the glory and divine attributes of God. His words and works display the Father's goodness, mercy, love, and character, in nobility of character, mercy, tender pity, love, goodness, graciousness and truth. He is the manifestation of the Father's love and the channel through whom the Father's mercy reaches humanity, giving a correct picture of God's love. That revelation corrects the fear that God is severe and unforgiving and shows the Father is not humanity's enemy, and all that people can know of God for the saving of the soul is revealed in Christ.
The disciples had already seen this revelation in Christ's healing of the sick, care for people in need, and feeding of the multitude, and throughout their years with Him and their time with Him. Human beings do not see the Father in external form, and God cannot be found out by human searching. Nature displays God's glory and handiwork, but it is not God, while Christ's words and works reveal the Father. Christ alone represents Him to humanity, though fully human remaining God, with divinity veiled beneath humanity yet at times shining through, displaying perfect manhood in integrity, duty, love, compassion and sympathy.
Unity, Promise and Fulfillment
Philip's request points to the close unity of Father and Son, for Jesus is in the Father and the Father is in him. He came from heaven sent from God to represent the Father, as the brightness of God's glory and the express image of his person, so that to see him is to see the Father and to know him is to know the Father. His words were not spoken of himself or independently, but the Father dwelling in him spoke the words and did the works, revealing that unity. That union itself is the ground of belief, and where the words are not believed, belief is to rest on the works themselves as evidence.
Christ in this union joins humanity and divinity, with his human arm embracing humanity and with his divine arm reaching the throne of the Infinite. The disciples' grasp of this revelation of the Father in Christ remained partial, for they did not yet understand how the Father dwelt in him and did the works he spoke of. Their understanding was not made full until the Holy Spirit was poured out at Pentecost. Its complete fulfillment still lies in the future, when faithful followers will know God clearly and see his face.
Belief in this union stands connected to the promise that those who believe will do the works Jesus does and even greater works, because he goes to the Father. Whatever is asked in his name he will do, so that the Father is glorified in the Son. As he intercedes in heaven he takes the sins of sincere and contrite praying ones to present them innocent before the Father, and he fills their hearts with the glorious light of truth and love, making believers laborers together with God.
Instruction for Believers Today
John 13 through 17 gives the plain outline and plainly expressed will of God for His people, and with John 6 it was given to cure dissension and to produce unity and love worked out in practical life. It teaches the philosophy of genuine missionary work and contains the divine antidote for the sin of the whole world, by which believers are made one with Christ in this present life to be one with Him throughout all eternity. It calls for renewed understanding through the Spirit of God. Those who minister in word and doctrine and are acquainted with present truth have the privilege of believing that God means just what He says in these chapters, and ministers who need to be converted must believe every verse in them and live them out before their fellow ministers. In this instruction Christ joins humanity and divinity, with His human arm embracing humanity and with His divine arm reaching the throne of the Infinite.
These are words of comfort and instruction to the disciples before rejection and crucifixion, given to prepare and strengthen them for future trials and temptations, to make them acquainted with His purposes and plans, and to show His love for them. They are to be received by living faith, used to enlighten those who do not understand their meaning and value, and to stir people to action. They are to be remembered in work and counsel.
Knowing Christ through Scripture is a personal, practical experience, not merely casual or secondhand knowledge, and it leads to obedience and likeness to Him. God cannot be found out by human searching, but He has revealed Himself in the character of Christ, who is the brightness of the Father's glory and the express image of His person in person and character, so that to see Christ is to see the Father. Becoming like Christ and living a pure life by faith in Him as a personal Saviour brings a clearer, higher understanding and conception of God. To know God therefore requires being Christlike and seeking each day to be more like Christ, and no one whose character is not noble and Christlike can know God's character or set Him forth in a correct light.
The request to be shown the Father carries the call for believing Christians instead of doubters, believing God is willing to do more than can be asked or thought. The storehouse of God is unlocked with the key of faith, and faith enables a much larger showing of the compassion of Jesus. This stands connected to the promise that whoever believes will do the works Christ did and greater works because He goes to the Father, and whatever is asked in His name He will do so the Father is glorified in the Son. The transforming influence of truth is itself a sign of divine power, but dulled spiritual senses can prevent people from understanding that evidence despite being with Him and witnessing God's work.