YOU KNOW THE FATHER RIGHT NOW

 

John 14:7-11

 

The gospel confession is absolutely crucial that we see

And that we confess the uniqueness of Christ.

 

From the beginning of the Christian church, the exclusive character of Christ, the uniqueness of the Son of God, has been at the heart of the gospel confession. Knowing this, I don’t know about you…. But I find it’s absolutely amazing that we can be so familiar with something, or someone; and yet somehow be ignorant, or insensitive, to those things, and the people around us.

 

It seems so contradictory to know, and yet

not to know, at the same time.

 

How often have we heard the statement, “I thought I knew everything there was to know about that person? But I’ve discovered I really didn’t know them at all.” That statement simply reveals that it is possible to know a person, and yet not really notice all of the complex qualities of their personality.

 

Maybe you struggle with who Jesus is at times, especially

when life is silent and lonely?

 

Maybe you have felt that way? “I thought I knew Him, but I really don’t.” The statement that Phillip makes in the text here, gives us the idea that he is thinking this way, “I thought I knew Him, but I really don’t.” (v8) “Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us." Maybe you’re the type of person that needs to see more, in order to truly believe? Maybe you’re the type of person who is waits for signs, and wonder in order to truly believe?

 

I think the musician Odd Thomas said it best when it comes to this type of thinking in a song called “Beautiful Eulogy - Symbols & Signs”

 

Sometimes what we believe to be true

from our supernatural pursuits

Is actually a fluke,

a series of events used to distract you from truth

But I'll give you a sign that’s obvious

One of the most supernatural acts

is that God through his word

Has actually revealed everything pertaining to life and godliness

There's this idea that an individual

is somehow more spiritual

If he sees these so signs and symbols

And takes what's normally invisible and make it simple.

But I say the mark of a mature man

Is the one who reads Gods word and understands

And allows that, to govern his decisions and perspective plans.

 

These men have been with the glorious Christ for three years; but to their defence, these were men whose knowledge was small and limited at best. They knew very little before the crucifixion, and resurrection, compared to what they knew after the day of Pentecost found in the Book of Acts. Look how Jesus responds to a group of men who J.C Ryle described as “children in understanding." Basically, children in training. Children, as described when Paul penned these words “When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.” 1 Cor 13:11-12. So, Jesus responds always with a loving, comforting tone to His child like disciples. Look what Jesus says (v9-v11) Have I been with you this long and you still need more proof to who I claim to be Phillip? (v9) 

Have you forgotten already the supernatural work that I have

 done since I’ve been with you Phillip?

 

Have you forgotten, when I turned water into wine at the wedding you attended with me Phillip.

Have you forgotten that I knew where you friend Nathanael’s secret alone place was when I called him?

Have you forgotten when I calmed the storm with my words while we were in the boat together.

Have you forgotten when I feed you, and thousands of others; with only a small portion fit for one little boy.

Have you forgotten when I casted out demons, demons who knew who I was.

Have you forgotten when I walked on water towards you and the rest of the disciples.

Have you forgotten when I gave sight to a blind man from birth, and also made a lame man of 38 years walk again.

Have you forgotten when I healed people by my touch, or without my touch, and from a distance as I did with the nobleman’s son?

This must have grieved the heart of God, though He knew. His disciple’s hearts were still unsettled about what was going to happen and to who Jesus claimed to be, GOD incarnate. Remember, Jesus poured His life into these men, day in, and day out. These men had the privilege to walk with Him, witness His amazing ministry, and to be the ones who fellowshipped with Him, privately. The same God who walked with Adam and Eve in the coolness of the day before they rebelled and sinned against a holy God. The same God who provided a sacrifice for Abraham and Isaac. The same God who wrestled with Jacob, the night his name was changed to Israel. The same God who was born of a virgin by the Spirit, to save us from our destruction.

 

These men walk with the “image of the invisible God”, as Paul would remind the churches. “giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.” Col 1:12-16

 

The same truth the Hebrew writer was trying to proclaim in the early part of his letter. “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 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 at the right hand of the Majesty on high,” Heb 1:1-3

 

The disciples didn’t fully understand, or could possibly comprehend, this truth until later on after Jesus ascended into glory. But we need to understand! The question that Phillip asked is a question that many today in our society ask, and even people in the church!  We just do it ignorantly or selfishly when life is not what we expected………. Many have said…

 

Where is your God, reveal Him to us?

Why do bad things happen to good people?

God would never let this happen to me in my life?

How could a good God, allow so much death and destruction?

How can you follow a God you haven’t seen, heard, or touched?

See the logical answer to Phillip’s question is that, “to see God in physical form, someone that we can see, and touch; you must look upon the person of Jesus Christ.

 

This is why Jesus uses the bold claim of making Himself equal with God as He is the “I AM who is…” so many times leading up His departure.

 

This statement that Jesus spoke in (v6) indicates His absolute connection with the Father, and that He is equal with the Father in every way. Jesus’ “I am statement” wasn’t giving a string of descriptive terms, He wasn’t saying, “I Am: A) the Way, B) the truth, C) the life.” This statement is indicating that Jesus is, “I am the way because I am the truth and because I am the life.” I am the way to the Father because, “I am the true manifestation, or revelation of the Father. I am the way to the Father, because I alone have the power of eternal life.” Unfortunately, Phillip, and the rest of the disciples, didn’t get it! They were very much like follows of their ancient generations of old. They too didn’t get it, or the big picture. St. Augustine put this beautifully when he pointed out that the eyes of faith were still being formed in the disciples and they were at this point unable really to see at all.  He said, “Why wasn’t he seen? Because the eye he could be seen with was not yet whole. As for the Lord’s body, which could be seen with these eyes, it was not only the one who revered him who saw him but also the Jews who crucified him. So if he wanted to be seen in another way, it means he was requiring other eyes.”

 

In other words, the physical eyes of man could look upon Jesus and either love,

and worship Him, or hate, and crucify Him.

 

We see this today. Some people look at, and love Jesus, and some people look and hate Jesus. It is possible to look at Jesus, but not really see who He truly is. To the eyes of faith, however, Jesus reveals more than what the physical eyes see. To eyes of faith, Jesus reveals nothing less than God the Father. “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” Again, Jesus is giving His disciples another gentle answer to encourage the troubled heart of Phillip and the rest of the disciples. See we need to understand when Jesus answers with “Whoever has seen Me has seen the Father.” What Jesus is saying is that, “He makes things known, He uncovers, and He unveils Himself to them.” What does it mean to “know the Father”?  The word know is used 141 times in John’s gospel, but it does not always carry the same meaning. Warren Weirsbe said in his commentary. “In fact, there are four different “levels” of knowing according to John. The lowest level is simply knowing a fact. The next level is to understand the truth behind that fact. However, you can know the fact and know the truth behind it and still be lost in your sins. The third level introduces relationship; “to know” means “to believe in a person and become related to him or her.” This is the way “know” is used in John 17:3. In fact, in Scripture, “to know” is used of the most intimate relationship between man and wife (Gen. 4:1). The fourth use of “know” means “to have a deeper relationship with a person, a deeper communion.”

 

This is what Jesus is trying to convey to His disciples. This was the level Paul was referring to when he wrote, “That I may know Him” Paul wanted to know Him in a deeper communion. This is why he wrote, “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.” Phil 3:8-11. We will see shortly that Jesus will describe this deeper relationship in John 14:19-23, but will have to save that for later message. When Jesus said that knowing Him and seeing Him was the same as knowing and seeing the Father in a personal relationship.

Jesus is the revealed revelation of the Godhead. Jesus is showing us the beauty of the Godhead.

 

To see Jesus, is to see the Father.

To see Jesus heal, is to know that God is a healing God.

To see Jesus forgive, is to know that God is a forgiving God.

To see Jesus reach out to the outcast, is to know that God is the God who loves outcasts.

To see Jesus tell His disciples to forgive and forgive again, is to know that God’s mercies are always new.

To see Jesus weep, is to know that God cares for His creation.

To see Jesus die for the sins of man, is to know that God will do whatever it takes to save lost humanity.

To see Jesus rise again, is to know that God wins, and our victory is found in Him alone.

 

What is Jesus telling His disciples

and us church family?

 

The simple answer is! Do you want to know what God is like? Then look at Jesus and know Him intimately. But Mike, we, weren’t there to see Jesus………OK, then read His word, this is how God has revealed Himself to us, today, through the Holy Spirit who teaches us all things. Jesus even mentions us, not by name, but how we will receive Him and His precious truth. This is how we will genuinely know Him, and trust Him, like the disciples. Do you recall or remember what Jesus Said to Thomas when he sinned; because he told himself, there was no way Christ rose from the grave. “Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, "We have seen the Lord." So he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe." And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, "Peace to you!" Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing." And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” John 20:24-31

 

Isn’t that amazing and humbling all at the same time

as a child of the Living God? Doesn’t that just change your perspective and outlook on who Jesus, truly is. God who came in the form of man to save man from himself. How do we know that’s true? The proof is found in your transformed life, who loves, and believes Jesus, even though you have never saw Him physically. The question is………Do you believe this to be true? Is it possible that Jesus is asking you the same question he spoke to Phillip, this morning? “Have I been with you for so many years [add your name] and you still struggle to know Me?”

Have you forgotten that……. 

I was there when you were conceived.

I was there when you gave your first breath.

I was there when you fell off your bike and scrapped your knee.

I was there when you cried out to Me in genuine repentance and faith.

I was there when nobody else was.

I was there when you fell in love with the one, I chose for you.

I was there when you lost someone so close to you.

I was there when you fell into seasons of doubt and sin.

I was there to pick you up and restore you back to the fellowship that we always had.

I was there and will always be your God, through the good, the bad, and the ugly.

 

Do you believe even though you never saw Him or touched Him?

 

Do you believe even though you never saw the burning bush?

 

Do you believe even though you never saw the glow of Moses face when he ascended Mount Sinai?

 

Do you believe even though you never saw the cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night?

 

Do you believe even though you never saw Him hang on the cross?

 

Do you believe even though you didn’t see the empty tomb for yourself?

 

Do you believe even though you can’t see Heaven from where you are?

 

 

Do you believe?

 

See, every one of us live a Ruth story, which includes heartache and many struggles into glory. A typical life, with no supernatural excitement, or seeing any supernatural moments of God, as we read so many times in the Scriptures. A typical life of tragedy, sorrow, pain mixed with joy, and thankfulness. A typical life of hard work, and the mystery of not knowing what lies ahead. A typical life of daily struggles, temptation, choices, and fighting the flesh. A typical life that each and every one of face… day in, and day out, as we wait to be with Him for all eternity. But you can take this to the bank! The one thing we all have in common with everyone in the Bible, is that Jesus is Lord, and He will always be with us, just as He was with Moses, Elijah, David, Hosea, the disciples and the church age. And if that’s not enough to convince you.  Jesus said in (v11) “believe …..for the sake of the works themselves.” He is, I Am, the Son of God, preferably because He said, but if not then because the miracles prove it. What is that work? What Jesus has accomplished in His earthly ministry and most of all! Your/ the believer’s transformation, because you are not what you uses to be.

 

The amazing and unbelievable supernatural work

found in Christ and the gospel.

  

We are told that the resurrection there were two disciples walking on the road to Emmaus, and they failed to recognize Him. This is a vivid example of their failure to grasp His true identity. When Jesus stopped to take meal with them, He said this, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” Luke 24:25-26. We know the disciples also failed to recognize Him, they also were slow to heart because they were babies in the eyes of the Father. And just as the disciples were foolish in their thinking, doesn’t that description apply to us as well? When we fail to grasp who Jesus is, we leave the door open to others things this world is clinging too. We must understand that Jesus is, and confess that truth joyfully before the watching world. David Mathis wrote in his book “Rich Wounds”, “The heart of Christianity is not principles to live by, but a person to know and enjoy.”

 

We do not have to wait until we enter heaven

to get to know the Father.

 

The burning desire of every believer ought to be to know God better. We read and study the Word of God so that we might better know the God of the Word. We can know Him today and receive from Him the spiritual resources we need to keep going when the days are difficult.