Christ Jesus & God Are One!

JOHN 14:7-14

One In The Same

In verse six we see Christ Jesus' definitive statement about salvation, He is the truth, the way, and the life and no one comes to the Father except through Him. But Christ Jesus was not through, He tells Thomas and the other disciples why He is the way. Christ Jesus tells the disciples that by knowing Him, they know the Father. Not only do they now know the Father, but they had seen Him. Wow! What a statement, in essence Christ Jesus was saying that He is God. And if He is God then He surely must be the only way to a restored relationship with God.

It is the same today, all that see Christ Jesus throughout Scripture, see the Father in Him. In Christ Jesus' doctrine, we see God as the Father of Light; and in Christ Jesus' miracles, we see God as the God of Power. The Holiness of God is seen in the spotless purity of Christ Jesus' life. Why should you believe the revelation of God/man in Christ Jesus; because the works of the Redeemer shows that Christ Jesus and God are one.

Despite what Christ Jesus had just said the disciples were still confused. He had claimed to be the way, and yet He told them He was going away. He had claimed to be the truth, yet He had not convinced many of the main stream religious leaders to embrace His message of God's kingdom. He claimed He to be the life, yet He would be dead in less than 24 hours.

First Peter said that he would give his life for his Lord and Master. Then Thomas asked where Christ Jesus was going and why couldn't the disciples follow. Now after Christ Jesus' statement about having seen the Father in Him, Philip asks to see that Father. I don't know about you, but I think if I were Christ Jesus I would be scratching my head about now.

John 14:7-14
7 If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."

8 Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us."

9 Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, `Show us the Father'? 10 Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. 12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

1. Showing The Father (vs. 8-10)

Philip either did not understand his Old Testament well or he did not make the connection between the Father and the Son. Maybe he had that same “show me” streak that Thomas had.

“Lord show us the Father...” Philip voiced the desire of the disciples for less ambiguous evidence of the Father. And yet they had seen the Father right in front of them for three years. The longer you enjoy the grace of Christ Jesus, the more inexcusable it is to be found lacking in grace and knowledge. Christ Jesus expects your spiritual growth to be in some measure that of your walk, you should not always remain babes. Think of it this way: I go to church regularly, read my Bible regularly, pray regularly, then there should be evidence of spiritual growth in my life. 

There is a song that put it this way: 
I know a man, maybe you know him, too. 
You never can tell; he might even be you. 

He knelt at the altar, and that was the end. 

He's saved, and that's all that matters to him. 

His spiritual tummy, it can't take too much.
One day a week he gets a spiritual lunch.
On Sunday he puts on his spiritual best,
And gives his language a spiritual rest. 

He's just a fat little baby!

He wants his bottle, and he don't mean maybe

He sampled solid foods once or twice
But he says doctrine leaves him cold as ice
He's been baptized, sanctified, redeemed by the blood 

But his daily devotions are stuck in the mud

Look at Christ Jesus' response in this passage. There is no difference between the Father and the Son; they are both equally God – both equally powerful. Once again He explained that Christian faith does not rest on impressive epiphanies like those claimed by other religion's leaders. No vision in a cave like Mohamed, no gold tablet like Joseph Smith, no scientific mombo-jombo like Ron L. Hubbard, or any other man made religion.

Christ Jesus, did not come in dazzling splendor but in human flesh. Not to start a religion, but to save mankind from religion. And while Christ Jesus had come in human form, make no mistake about His deity. Christ Jesus was, is and will always be God.

In verse 10, Christ Jesus speaks of words and works. While the works were amazing and in some cases spectacular, Christ Jesus' words were just as important if not more so. Sadly it seems that the disciples were so impressed by the works that they forgot to listen carefully to Christ Jesus' words. They are not the only ones, it is still happening today. They missed the fact, that so complete is the mutual indwelling of the Father and the Son that the words and the works of Christ Jesus are the words and works of God.

A pastor once heard a sermon titled “What Is God Like?” The speaker talked on and on about God being like flowers, sunsets, the cry of a newborn baby, and the beauty of a clear blue sky. “Now don't get me wrong,” he said, “Certainly all of those are part of God's natural revelation and therefore reflect Him. But this pastor never got to the bottom line.”

What is the bottom line? Just this, if you want to know what God is like, just look at Christ Jesus. After all He is God! Why not take a closer look at Christ Jesus? If you do, I know you will see that He is God/man come so that you can have a restored relationship with God.

If you have seen Christ Jesus, you have seen the Father. In all that Christ Jesus did He was continually doing the Father's work.

2. The Father's Work (vs. 11-12)

The disciples, were full of grief thinking about their Master going away. They were worried about what would become of them when He was gone. At least while Christ Jesus was with them, He was a support to them, kept watch over them but, if He left them, they would be like sheep with out a shepherd, an easy prey to those who sought to do them harm. To ease their fears, Christ Jesus assured them and us that they would have powers sufficient to see them through. 

Christ Jesus is the inseparable union of the divine and human nature: never had God such a temple to dwell in on earth as the body of our Lord Christ Jesus. The fullness of the Godhead dwelt in Christ Jesus bodily, See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority; Col 2:8-10.

The Father dwells in Christ Jesus so that in Him, God is found. Look for God the Father, look for Him in Christ Jesus, and you will find Him. It is in Him that God dwells. Greater works that Christ Jesus how could this be so? Verse 12 is one of the most interesting verses in the Bible. Interpreters have pondered what Christ Jesus meant by telling His disciples they would do greater things than the Son of Man. I believe it was because of the immediate effect of the pouring out of the Holy Spirit.

Christ Jesus healed the sick, cleanse the leper, raise the dead. With the help of the Holy Spirit so should they. Christ Jesus convince and convert sinners, and drew multitudes to Him. With the help of the Holy Spirit the disciples should to.

Even though Christ Jesus would leave, the work should not end, but should be carried on as vigorously and successfully as ever; and we should still be doing the work of Christ Jesus. Are you?

In verses 8-12 you have seen the Father in Christ Jesus, you have seen the Father's works, now in verses 13-14 you see the Father's glory.

3. The Father's Glory (vs. 13-14)

Most if not all Christian and for that fact many non-Christians have heard verses 13 and 14 before. This is one of the great prayers promises of the Bible and it run totally counter culture of Jewish teachings.

The Jew's believed that only the religious elite had a chance of getting their prayers answered. The chances of say a fisherman or especially a tax-collector was practically nill. These verses show you how you are to pray with a purpose. When you pray you are to pray in such a way as to bring glory to God.

So we can use this verse as evidence for the “name it and claim it” doctrine? No, but it should be noted that if you ask in the right way and for the right reasons your prayer will be heard and it will be answered.

It should also be noted that just saying “in Jesus' name” creates no magic potion for prayer. The culture in which these words were spoken took names very seriously. That is why the Jews never spoke the name of Yahweh. Some times we Christians pray for strange things “in Jesus' name.” Since “in Jesus' name” is always associated with prayer and since we are to glorify God when we pray, if we can't glorify God, then we should not ask in Jesus' name.

So am I saying you should not pray? No, verse 13 and 14 tell you to pray. As does James 5:16 ~ Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. What I am saying is when you pray, pray with the right heart and right motive.

Conclusion: You want to know what God looks like? The Father and Christ Jesus are one, so to see Christ Jesus is to see the Father. As you read the New Testament you get a real good picture of Christ Jesus and so also a real good picture of the Father.

You can do more than just see a picture of God, you can start a personal relationship with Him if you haven't done so already. By inviting Christ Jesus into your life you can experience all that the Father has to offer.