Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father…”
While on vacation, Tammy and I are studying John 14-16. We have both read this many times, but as the living word is true to its statement, it is fresh and living and active so we are enjoying it again for the first time. (Hebrews 4:12)
It was interesting what Phillip asked, but even more interesting was Jesus' response!
Earlier in the same book the writer recounts the discussion with the woman at the well. Jesus tells her that “God is Spirit…” (John 4:24). That may not be new to many, but to me it sparked a thought:
In order for Phillip to see the Father, the Father would have to show himself. If God is spirit, he cannot show himself for the spirit is not physical. The only way the physical can see the spiritual is if one becomes the other. Either Phillip becomes a spirit by leaving his body, or the spiritual makes a physical manifestation by taking on physical form.
God chose to show the world his spiritual character by making a physical manifestation in the form of Jesus (John 1:1).
Jesus’ response was a declaration of His Deity to Phillip. “Phillip… I am God, I have come to you in flesh.”
Now to the western mind we wish Jesus would have just said it that plainly. But to Phillip, that is what he did say!
Later, after the ressurrection, Thomas would fall on his knees and cry out, “my Lord and my God” as he viewed the risen Christ.
We will see Him in this form again soon.
Blessings
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