“Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”
“I am not asking on behalf of these alone,
(John 17: 20-21 NASB)
but also for those who believe IN ME through their word,
that they may all be one;
just as YOU, FATHER, are IN ME and I IN YOU,
that they also may be IN US, so that the world may believe that YOU sent ME.”
First, let me say that I have taken liberty with the capitalization of words found within John’s recording of the words of Jesus for emphasis. In studying within the book of John, today, I found myself studying a prayer Jesus spoke over His disciples. Pause There! Jesus spoke these words aloud as Jesus lifted His eyes upward, and Jesus spoke these words over His disciples, in their presence, at the time right before “his hour of sacrifice” for His disciples! (Whenever I slow down enough to ponder My Savior, I find myself most-amazed by God! Again & Again & Again.)
Simon Peter was there.
James was there.
Philip was there.
Andrew was there.
Thomas was there.
John was there.
Judas Iscariot (the one who betrayed Jesus) was also there, hearing Jesus pray.
The other chosen, twelve disciples were there as Jesus spoke these words out loud within their presence.
These men believed IN JESUS.
These men had been WITH JESUS for three years.
These men placed their trust IN JESUS.
(Now, one could argue how Judas did not, but we will leave that discussion for another day.)
Here is what seems most amazing!
Jesus was praying that day OVER HIS disciples who were there IN HIS presence.
&
Jesus had you and me IN HIS mind as He was praying that day.
- Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world thought of each one of us as HE PRAYED TO THE FATHER!
& not only that but also
- Jesus Christ, the Messiah and Redeemer spoke within His prayer of the ONENESS HE SHARED WITH THE FATHER!
& not only that, but also
- Jesus Christ, the Son of God said that BECAUSE we believe IN HIM, we are ONE WITH HIM JUST AS THE SON OF GOD IS ONE WITH THE FATHER!
& not only that, but also
- Jesus, the Incarnate Deity of God—the son of man & the Son of God—who was God in the flesh prayed to the Father A PRAYER THAT HAS BEEN ANSWERED!
Land there. Stay there. Ponder that. Dwell upon that truth.
Let us pause to re-read the words of Jesus our Savior as we consider what we have received because we BELIEVE IN JESUS!
“I am not asking on behalf of these alone,
(John 17: 20-21 NASB)
but also for those who believe IN ME through their word,
that they may all be one;
just as YOU, FATHER, are IN ME and I IN YOU,
that they also may be IN US, so that the world may believe that YOU sent ME.”
One of the disciples standing there, hearing the words Jesus prayed, had previously asked Jesus a question. Philip asked a question that maybe we too have asked our Lord.
“Jesus said to him, [Jesus spoke these words to Thomas]
(John 14: 6-11 NASB)
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except THROUGH ME.
If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”
Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.
Jesus said to him, [Jesus spoke these words to Philip]
“Have I been with you for so long a time, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? The one who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
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, but the FATHER, AS HE REMAINS IN ME, does His works.
BELIEVE ME
that I AM IN THE FATHER and the FATHER IS IN ME;
otherwise believe because of the works themselves.”
Again, let me say that for emphasis, I have taken liberty with the capitalization of words of Jesus because as I read these passages, the small prepositions seemed to jump right out of the Bible passages in large capital letters.
- JESUS REMAINS “IN” THE FATHER!
- JESUS IS GOD “IN” THE FLESH!
- SEEING JESUS IS SEEING GOD “IN” THE FORM OF A WALKING, BREATHING MAN!
- SEEING THE WORKS OF JESUS IS SEEING THE HAND OF GOD WORKING “IN” THE WORLD!
- GOD IS “IN” JESUS, JUST AS JESUS IS “IN” FATHER GOD!
Dwell upon that truth.
Ponder that.
Stay there.
Land there.
Pause to re-read the words of Jesus our Savior & consider what Jesus is speaking to us who BELIEVE IN JESUS & who have RECEIVED THE GIFT OF SALVATION!
“The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own, but the FATHER, AS HE REMAINS IN ME, does His works.
(John 14: 10b-11 NASB)
BELIEVE ME
that I AM IN THE FATHER and the FATHER IS IN ME;
otherwise believe because of the works themselves.”
Does this mean that we who believe “in” Jesus as our Savior are seeing an identical replica of God when we see Jesus?
NO, IT DOES NOT!
What this means is that we who Believe “IN” Jesus as our Savior & who Accept Jesus are really seeing GOD who is “IN” Jesus—the SAME PERSON!
JESUS IS THE SAME IN POWER AS GOD!
JESUS IS THE SAME IN CHARACTER AS GOD THE CREATOR!
JESUS IS THE SAME IN LOVE AS GOD THE FATHER!
JESUS IS THE SAME IN EVERY WAY AS GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT!
JESUS IS GOD!
&
GOD IS JESUS!
&
THEY ARE THE HOLY SPIRIT!
THEY ARE THREE IN ONE!
TO SEE ONE IS TO SEE ALL THREE!
TO SEE THE WAY GOD WORKS WITHIN THIS WORLD IS TO SEE JESUS!
TO READ OF THE WORKS JESUS DID WHEN HE WALKED UPON THE EARTH IS TO SEE GOD!
&
JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY TO GOD!
JESUS, WHO IS GOD IN THE FLESH & WHO CAME TO EARTH TO DWELL AMONG US, SPOKE THESE WORDS TO US.
“Jesus said to him,
(John 14: 6-7 NASB)
[Jesus spoke these words to Thomas & Jesus speaks these words to
EVERY MAN, WOMAN, & CHILD]
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except THROUGH ME.
If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”
“Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”
We see Jesus when we look to the Father, & someday soon, we will share eternity with Him.
The encompassing goal of our whole life is to know HIM!
May we remain focused upon our one goal every day we are alive and walk upon this earth.