IF YOU HAVE SEEN ME YOU HAVE SEEN THE FATHER
Wednesday – November 6, 2019, Cheshvan 8, 5780
Greetings precious brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus and welcome back to this illuminating and empowering Bible Study of the Book of John. As I have mentioned many times before the Word of God does not automatically become illumination or empowering. We must receive it as the Word of God, we must believe it as the Word of God, we must put it in first place as the Word of God, and we must do whatever corresponding action is called for in faith, motivated by love, and led of the Holy Spirit. The Word of God is a great and very precious gift that we must handle with the utmost of care and reverence. It you are reading this on Facebook please take a moment to hit the “love” and “share” buttons to expand the reach of the good news. The featured pictures this week except for Friday are from around our home, todays picture is of Donna’s raised or elevated garden bed and the wonderful fall decorations Donna so lovingly placed for all to enjoy. Now, let’s turn our attention to our primary Bible text for today.
John 14:5-9 (KJV)
5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
As we move forward in our text, we find Philip speaking up, first doubting Thomas, and now Philip. Interesting that we are not hearing from Peter at the moment. Of course, all of these will go on to turn the world upside down after the Cross, Resurrection, the Ascension, and the coming of the Holy Spirit. Philip is not only an Apostle but an Evangelist.
Acts 8:39-40 (KJV)
39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
40 But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.
Philip has just converted the eunuch and water baptized him. The Spirit of God then translated Philip in a moments time from that location to another many miles away. It seems from context that this was not unusual and Philip was accustomed to this. I have heard (testimonies) of this occurring in modern times. Let me ask a probing question. Why is this not common place today rather than very rare? In this passage we see no evidence that the eunuch was bewildered by this event in the least, why are we? Always boils down to knowledge acted upon in faith, powered by love, led of the Holy Spirit. When was the last time you heard anything about this sort of thing at Church or Bible Study Group, much less to release yourself to God for this to happen in your own life if need be?
Jesus starts His answer to Philip in the next verse.
John 14:9 (KJV)
9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
Jesus asks Philip a question. In effect Jesus says, you have been with me three years and you don’t know me? You have seen the dead raised, demons cast out, the 5000 and the 4000 fed, the lame leap, the blind see, and the deaf hear and you say you don’t know me? These is an element of incredulity (disbelief, amazement, astonishment, doubt, skepticism, wonder, and suspicion) here in Jesus’ voice. Jesus tells Philip and the others plainly, “he that hath seen me hath seen the Father”. That does not mean they have seen the Father physically as they have observed Jesus but if the Father were there in the place of Jesus, they would not be able to tell the difference. By the same token people should not be able to tell the difference between us, Jesus, and the Father. Why is that? Are we taught these things? We saw earlier in our study of this Book of John that Jesus and the Father are one just as we are one with the Father in Christ Jesus.
John 10:30 (KJV)
30 I and my Father are one.
As we leave our study for today, let’s meditate upon the following passage. Particularly focus on verses twenty-one and twenty-three.
John 17:21-24 (KJV)
21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
Until our next publication, as a Bible Teacher and Prophetic Voice I speak this blessing over each and every one of you, receive it, believe it, and speak over yourself and your family by faith in Jesus name!
Numbers 6:24-26 (AMP)
24 The Lord bless you and watch, guard, and keep you;
25 The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you;
26 The Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually).
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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