John 14:8

[SirColes]

Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us."
(John 14:8)

I find Philip’s response in verse 8 very interesting. These disciples have tied their lives to Jesus. They have no where else to turn (see John 6:67-69). The reality is that they were following Jesus because of their love for God the Father. Now Jesus is telling them that they have been getting to know the Father all along by getting to know Jesus.

There is an emphasis here that is different than what I see or have seen in my own life. I tend to focus a lot on Jesus. In many ways that makes sense. He is my savior. He is the one who humbled himself, suffered and died for my sake. But from what was Jesus saving me? To what did Jesus save me? The goal is reconciliation…..with the Father. It is still true that to know Jesus is to know the Father. And Jesus and the Father are one (see John 10:30). But sometimes it is as if Christianity is so focused on the person of Jesus (the Christ) that we lose sight of the Father.

This revelation that to know Jesus is to know the Father was huge for the disciples. I think that in Christianity, we would be content to know the Father in order to know the Son.

So what would a correct emphasis look like? Jesus is the way to the Father (John 14:6), so Jesus is still of utmost importance. What is different about getting to know Jesus as “the way” instead of the destination?

 

[Jarthur001]

Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us."
(John 14:8)

I find Philip’s response in verse 8 very interesting. These disciples have tied their lives to Jesus. They have no where else to turn (see John 6:67-69). The reality is that they were following Jesus because of their love for God the Father. Now Jesus is telling them that they have been getting to know the Father all along by getting to know Jesus.

There is an emphasis here that is different than what I see or have seen in my own life. I tend to focus a lot on Jesus. In many ways that makes sense. He is my savior. He is the one who humbled himself, suffered and died for my sake. But from what was Jesus saving me? To what did Jesus save me? The goal is reconciliation…..with the Father. It is still true that to know Jesus is to know the Father. And Jesus and the Father are one (see John 10:30). But sometimes it is as if Christianity is so focused on the person of Jesus (the Christ) that we lose sight of the Father.

This revelation that to know Jesus is to know the Father was huge for the disciples. I think that in Christianity, we would be content to know the Father in order to know the Son.

So what would a correct emphasis look like? Jesus is the way to the Father (John 14:6), so Jesus is still of utmost importance. What is different about getting to know Jesus as “the way” instead of the destination?

One is not saved from Hell, but saved from sins that places us in Hell.

This is from a column i wrote two weeks ago...

Understanding the meaning of the word “believe” as it is found in the Bible is the key. We say we believe, but what does that mean.

When the Bible tells others to believe or have faith in Christ, it is saying you must believe that Jesus is the promised Christ. Jesus has come and fullfilled the threefold office of Old-Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah. Everything that Israel expected of it's future salvation had concentrated itself more and more in the hope of the Messiah. These are the offices of prophet, priest and king.

When you say you believe you are saying that you believe Jesus was and is the promised Messiah Prophet. All true prophets speak only the truth all the time. You are saying that Jesus' words are true and that you place your trust in them and live your life based on them.

When you say you believe, you are also saying that you believe Jesus was and is the promised Messiah Priest. The priest that atones for the sins of his people to purchase peace for them, and to manage their cause with God. You are then saying that holding back nothing in yourself, you place all your hope in Jesus' blood on the cross to pay for your sins making you righteous before a holy God that will judge all people for their sins because sin is defiance against Gods will.

When you say you believe, you are also saying that you believe Jesus was and is the promised Messiah King. That as King he has a throne. And he is represented as sitting on his throne NOW, not some day. He is not a King in name only, or an inactive monarch, but exercising acts of jurisdiction and government. You then are saying that you submit your will to your King Jesus and desire to work for him following his comandments.

Many want only to have their sins atoned for and not have Jesus Christ as King. If you reject him as King you do not truly believe. Messiah was to come to fill all three offices and only Jesus has done this. For you to reject him as King, you want the benefits of salvation as well as your sinful life at the same time. You have not salvation, for you have rejected Jesus as King.

 

[SirColes]

Jarthur001:

I certainly agree that Jesus is prophet, Messiah and king. However, even Jesus focused on the Father and not on himself. In John 14:13 Jesus references that the Father will be glorified in the Son. In John 14:28, Jesus mentions that the Father is greater than Jesus. The point is that all of Jesus' great works and even his great positions give glory to the Father.