What a precious picture! It’s from the household of our dear friends, the Downings.

We Need More! 

John 14, part four 

If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him. Phillip 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?’ 

Have you ever had a loved say, “you don’t even know me!” Or, have you ever had a loved one give you a gift that is not at all what you want or are interested in? With hurt feelings you think to yourself, “They don’t even know me.” 

Phillip asks one of those questions that right after it comes out of your mouth, you want to immediately take it back.  I bet that after Philip asked this question, the disciples could see Jesus’ body language and said themselves, ‘I’m glad I didn’t ask that question.’ 

Philip has become a little too comfortable with Jesus. He is not seeing Jesus as God or equal to God the Father. A prophet is not welcome in his hometown and Jesus is not viewed as God by His own band of disciples. In essence, Philip says to Jesus, you’re not quite enough; show us the Father, and it is enough for us. I can feel the exasperation of Jesus through John’s writing. Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip?  How can you say, show us the Father and that will be enough?'” Ouch! 

Then Jesus responds and strongly reaffirms His Deity. Jesus is the incarnate God! If you’ve seen Me then you have seen the Father!!!  I am in the Father and He is in me. Hasn’t everything you’ve seen, my works, my miracles, verified that I am from God and I AM GOD? 

When you hear the phrase, the Deity of Jesus, that means that Jesus is God. When you hear the term, the Triune God, that means the three persons of God. Three persons, One God. All equal with different roles. 

• God the Father 
• God the Son 
• God the Holy Spirit 

Then Jesus tells them something that they definitely didn’t comprehend because we still don’t comprehend the gravity of this statement. He says, I know You are afraid and doubting, but,

Truly, truly I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, BECAUSE, I go to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 

Some take this to mean signs and miracles primarily or exclusively – which God can and does do today – but I tend to think the emphasis of “greater works” is not so much miracle power, but greater in extent of works. More next time. 

Jesus, You are enough. We will follow You and You will lead us to the Father. We will keep our eyes on You! Along the way, during our time on earth, You will teach us and guide us and give us the Holy Spirit as a seal that we are eternally Yours. Amen!