John 14:7-10a Would a Father sacrifice His own Son?

“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, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He 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?” John 14:7-10a

Background

In this episode, Jesus carefully explained the nature of His relationship with the Father. The people saw the Father as distant and beyond reach, they saw Him as a disciplinarian who punished those who disobeyed; He would not reveal Himself even at the request of Moses. Hence, they could not comprehend how Jesus who is humble and loving could be the face of the Father. It is through Jesus, the Father’s heart and attributes are displayed to the world. The Father’s love is displayed in that He sacrificed His own Son for the redemption of the world.

Observation

Jesus said, “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.” The people of Israel knew that the Father is the supreme Authority over all things and Jesus Himself was subjected under the Father’s will and authority. Hence, it is natural that the disciples asked to see the Father. However, Jesus taught the disciples that He and the Father are one; He is in fact the face of the Father. Although God rejected Moses’ request saying that no one can see Him and live (Exodus 33:20), but the disciples could now see God when they saw Jesus. That was essentially the mission of Jesus; to reveal who the Father is. John 1:18 says, “No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He (Jesus) has explained Him.” Seeing Jesus is equivalent to seeing the Father.

Truth

We could pray with greater faith when we truly understand that the Father and the Son are one in their desire to bless and to forgive. The more we spend time understanding Jesus through diligent study of the Gospel, the more we know the love of the Father. The way Jesus ministered to the people, is the way the Father Himself would minister to us: “He who has seen Me has seen the Father.” The way Jesus shielded us from eternal punishment (through the cross) was what the Father would do Himself. The Father may seemed to be distant in the Old Testament, but at the right time, He revealed Himself fully by coming as a man. The Father is not harsh or punishing, but He is truly merciful. Through His Son He displayed sacrificial love for humanity. Through Jesus, the Father wept at the funeral of Lazarus, touched the eyes of the blind man, and multiplied the bread and fed the 5000. In Psalm 103:2-4, the psalmist praised the Father,

Bless the Lord, O my soul. And forget none of His benefits; who pardons all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases; who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion.

It is perfect love that motivated the Father to send His only Son to die and redeem humanity from punishment. For who would allow his own son to suffer for the sins of another? Some may perceive God as divided, with Jesus being the Lover, while the Father is the Disciplinarian who punishes sinners. Within the Godhead there exist a continuous balancing process where the Father upholds justice with Jesus upholding mercy. Jesus told the disciples that the Father Himself love them, and He does not need to request on their behalf,

“In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I will request of the Father on your behalf; for the Father Himself loves you.” (John 16:26)

Hence, the misunderstanding that we must not pray to the Father directly, but only through Jesus.

Application

After we present our requests to God, rejoice with the Father and with the Son that our prayers have been unanimously accepted. Be at peace that the Father had began work to give us what is best for us in His time.

Dear Father, I now recognize Your infinite love in sending Your only Son to die on my behalf. I now understand that it has always been Your plan to forgive all my sins and to bless me. Thank you for answering all my requests presented through Your Son, Jesus. Amen.