7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” 8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.
John 14:7-11 ESV
God is a Spirit. He is divine, holy, and untouchable. So how do we see Him and get to know Him? Some people would need to see signs to believe in God. If God can do what they ask for, then God exists. Others won’t believe in God until they see miracles. They would consider if God has the superpower to do the impossible. But how does God want us to know Him? We are to know the Father through the Son.
Philip asked Jesus to show them the Father. Philip had this request not because he did not believe God was real. On the contrary, deep inside Philip’s heart, he really wanted to seek God and see God. Hence he asked Jesus to show him the Father, which would be enough for him. And the answer Jesus gave him was so personal and direct!
Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip?”
John 14:9
All these years when I was with you, have you not seen the Father through me? The way I interacted with people, the way I taught them, how I healed, how I loved, how I served, how I did the impossibles, had you still not seen the Father in me? If all of the above were not enough to show I am in the Father and He is in me, “from now on” (v7), you will. See how I would take your place on that rugged cross. See how I will be mocked, whipped, nailed, rejected, and given my life. “From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” (John 14:7) From that moment on, everything will change. I am the Son of God, and I am God manifested in the flesh! I love you, and I died for you.
No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.
John 1:18
There is no other way or another name given to us who can bring us to God, the Father, but Jesus. He is the way, the truth, and the life.
Isn’t our desire also to see God and seek God? You are reading this devotional because you also want to draw near to God, hear His voice, and see His face. When we seek Him, we can trust that He would also draw near to us personally as He had addressed Philip. He will make Himself known to us. That is what the Lord desires for us to do – to know and believe that He is in the Father, and the Father is in Him.
While others are looking for the one true God, we have seen Him and can be His witness today. He wants people to know the Father through Jesus, and we can be His vessel for just that. Others may know Him through us.
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