Read John 14:5-8. Circle the words that stand out to you. What is the Lord saying to you?
5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know[a] my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”
Reflections on the Word
My grandson, Caleb has been researching and writing a history of my family. He has asked for pictures from my childhood and any pictures that my parents had. Additionally, he has asked my brothers to share their stories of my dad and mom. As he is putting the pictures and stories together, he’s beginning to form an idea of what his great grandfather, my father was like.
Reading a description and seeing a picture of someone is totally different. As the saying goes, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” Philip asked, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” Deep within our hearts, we want to “see” God. The atheists may say, “If God is real, then he should show himself!” I believe everyone wants to “see” God for themselves so that they can personally know that He is real.
Is it possible to “see” God by having a glimpse or a picture of Him? I believe so. The Apostle John records Jesus’ words in this Gospel and in the Book of Revelation so that we can have a picture of the throne room of God. It’s a glimpse of heaven.
Jesus makes this startling statement. He says to Thomas and to the other disciples, “7 If you really know me, you will knowmy Father as well. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him.” Jesus doesn’t say that the disciples will see the Father. It is not some day in the future that they will “see” the Father, but He declares that they know Him and have seen Him.
The disciples knew the character of the Heavenly Father. The disciples even heard the words of the Heavenly Father. But the disciples didn’t see the “appearance” of the Heavenly Father because God is Spirit. While no one has seen the physical appearance of the Father, they have seen and heard the words of the Father through Jesus.
If we want to “see” the Heavenly Father, may I suggest reading the Gospels and Revelation. The Scriptures reveal the Heavenly Father. However, as Christians we mistakenly think that the words of Jesus are only Jesus’ words and that God the Father is silent in heaven and absent on earth. Make no mistake, the Scriptures reveal to us the Heavenly Father. Let’s read the Scriptures again, listening to the heart of our Father’s words recorded for us.
If someone asks us to show them God, direct them to the Scriptures. For the Scriptures record the words and works of God. And yes, there are glimpses of heaven when Isaiah, Ezekiel, and John pull back the curtain of earth to see the throne room of God. If you want to “see” God, open your heart, mind, and spirit to the Scriptures. Those who truly seek Him will find Him.
-Kingston