Show Us the Father

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Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.

John 14:8

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Considering the build-up to this passage, there were more than 30 references to the 'Father' by Jesus and I guess the disciples must be perplexed about who this Father really is.

Jesus always made reference to the Father - his whole ambition was to please the Father (John 8:29), to be like the Father (John 10:30) and to help the disciples understand the Father (John 14:7). And though Jesus thought He had the disciples grooving to His music, He soon realised they were out of rhythm. Thus His response after the query of Philip brings a lot of lessons to fore. Let's explore them.

Verse 9: Seeing the Father

Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

This was a very audacious statement - no wonder the Pharisees and teachers of the law were constantly incensed by Jesus. But Jesus was right anyways. He had the mettle to say if the disciples have seen Him there was no need for the Father to show up - Jesus was more than enough!

May every Father today walk with God so closely that we can boldly say to our children - to see me is to see the Father.

Verse 10: Speaking like the Father

Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.

Like just wow! That Jesus could claim that every word He spoke were the Father's words is just bonkers. In a survey of two studies about how many words a person speaks in a day, the first study (based in the US) states that the average is 16,000. The second study spells that men speak 2000-3000 while women average 10000-20000 daily (lol). In any case it is daunting to imagine that the words of Jesus were principally inspired by God. No wonder the bible says,

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Colossians 4:6

May we be Fathers who are known for God-talk rather angry-talk, abusive-talk, or any other unedifying-talk.

Verse 11: The Works of the Father

Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves.

Jesus changed gears here; at gear one he argued about what the disciples could see in him, at gear two he emphasised his speech and now he wanted them to see his works. And oh my, no one could deny the works of Jesus. Jesus had infallible proofs that everyone could see - in fact even Herod heard about Jesus and longed to see Him (Luke 23:8).

By works we refer to the entire summary of our lives - our job, family life, entertainment everything.

So here is a question for Fathers - can our children see God in our works? See how Jesus used the evidence of His work to pacify the worries of John,

And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he [a]sent two of his disciples and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. Mtt 11:2-5

Works! Works!! Works!!!

Verse 12: Going to the Father

What is the vision of every man? Money, fame, glory, power, affluence....you will get an array of answers if you ask a bunch of blokes. But Jesus was clear what His vision was - He was longing for the Father. He knew what He must do so that when He arrives at the Father’s throne His entrance will be greeted by the applaud of the Father.

Jesus had already received a commendation from the Father,

This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased. Mtt. 3:17

But he was gunning for the greatest commendation of all,

fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Heb 12:2

I ask again - What is your vision as Father? Is it to one day meet the All-Mighty-Father?

Verses 13-14: For the Father's glory

How best to summarise the response of Jesus better than stating that all is for the glory of the Father. Jesus by this statement was explicit that all our prayers, desires, wants, cravings as men must be to please the Father. If we are ever short of this baseline then we may be on the path of error.

On this Father's day, may every Father present or future live so that the testimony of the Heavenly Father will b

This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased and delighted! Listen to Him!

Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers in the world!

Shalom!