You Know the Father (14:7-11)

You Know the Father (14:7-11)

We don’t have to wait until we get into heaven to know the Father. Today, we can know Him and tap into the spiritual resources we need to carry on when the days are tough.

To “know” the Father, what does this term mean? The word "know" occurs 141 times in John’s gospel, but it does not always mean the same thing. In fact, John distinguishes 4 “levels” of knowing. The lowest level is just knowing a fact. The next level is to understand the truth of that fact. But you can know the fact and know the truth behind it and still be lost in your sins. The third level brings in the idea of relationship: “to know” means “to believe in a person and become related to him or her.” This is how 'know' is used in John 17:3. The words "to know" are used in Scripture for the most intimate relationship between man and wife (Gen. 4:1).

The fourth use of "know" means "to have a deeper relationship with a person, a deeper communion." It was this level Paul was referring to when he wrote, “That I may know him” (Phil. 3:10). Jesus will describe this deeper relationship in John 14:19-23, so we’ll reserve comment until we get to that section.

When Jesus said that knowing Him and seeing Him was the same as knowing and seeing the Father, He was claiming to be God. From now on they would know more and more about the Father, even though Jesus was leaving them.

I like Philip’s desire to know the Father. He had traveled far since that day Jesus found him and called him (John 1:43-45). Every believer has a strong desire to know God better. We read and study the Word of God so that we might better know the God of the Word.

The Greek construction of the question in John 14:10 indicates the Lord expected a "yes" answer from Philip; he did believe that Jesus was in the Father and the Father in Him. In that case, Philip should have known that the words of Jesus and His works came from the Father and revealed Him. But in the Word we do see Him and His works. Today’s believers have not seen the Lord Jesus in the flesh (1 Peter 1:8). Throughout John’s gospel, it is clear that you cannot separate Christ’s words from His works. Both come from the Father and tell us about the Father.

The “believe” in John 14:10 is singular, for Jesus was speaking to Philip, but in John 14:11 it is plural, and He speaks to all of the disciples. Both are in the tense of “continue believing.” Grow your faith!

Jesus Christ revealed to us the Father and Maker of the universe. We can know Him. Why should our hearts be troubled when the Father and Governor of the universe is our own Father?

Our Father is the Lord of heaven and earth (Luke 10:21). For He is in control. Troubled hearts need not be troubled.