Jesus and the Father Are One

Lesson #225

Jesus finished his answer to the question Thomas asked about knowing the way and as we start this lesson, Philip speaks up: “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us” (John 14:8 ESV). The request Philip made is similar to the one made by Moses after God told him that he had found favor in his sight and that he knew him by name. These words of affirmation encouraged Moses to say, “Please show me your glory” (Exodus 33:18 ESV). It would have been inexcusable if Peter, James or John had made the request Philip made because they had seen the transfiguration on the mount (Matthew 17:1 – 8). What Philip was asking for was some outward and visible manifestation of God. God had manifested himself in various ways to the prophets and saints of old, and Philip desired that if such a manifestation could be made to them they would be satisfied. It was right for Philip to desire evidence that Jesus was the Messiah, but such evidence had been given in the miracles and teachings of Jesus, and that should have satisfied them.

Jesus then responds with: “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’? (John 14:9 ESV). Two verses to support this are: “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” (Hebrews 1:3 NIV) and “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation” (Colossians 1:15 NIV). Jesus is the Son of God, he is God clothed in flesh and as we learn about Jesus we learn about God. As we learn about the character of Jesus we learn about the character of God.

Jesus continues: “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” (John 14:10 ESV). There is one God, but three persons; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In the Godhead, each has a specific role, but work together in perfect harmony. Consider creation; the Father developed the design, the Son spoke it into existence by the power of the Holy Spirit. Consider our salvation; the Father had a plan, the Son came to carry out the plan by dying and the Spirit works in our hearts. Jesus was sent on assignment and does what the Father assigned to him to do. Just as the Father is in Jesus and Jesus is in the Father, so should that be with Jesus and us. As we get out of the way by being crucified with Christ, we release ourselves for Jesus to live in and through us (Galatians 2:20). Like Jesus doing what the Father instructs him to do, we should be doing what Jesus instructs us to do in the power of the Holy Spirit as we let him live his life through us. It is a mystery to the disciples that Jesus and the Father are one, as is the mystery of Christ in us the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27).

Jesus continues: “Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves” (John 14:11 ESV). If they are not convinced by his words, then they should be convinced by the miracles themselves. Either way there is enough evidence for them to see this oneness between him and the Father; Jesus speaks as the Father speaks to him and he works as the Father works through him. There is perfect unity; perfect oneness; they are one God.

Prayer

Father, the gospel of John is truly amazing. As Jesus speaks and performs miracles, those of unbelief try to make sense out of it by applying it to the physical world and as they do they end up thinking Jesus is some kind of fake, but those of belief understand he is speaking about a spiritual application and they try to then understand new things. Father, since we are born physically alive but spiritually dead it is only natural for us to try to understand spiritual things from a physical perspective and end up not understanding. Lord, help us as believers to understand the spiritual applications of your word.