How can we help others understand Jesus' role in revealing the Father? Setting the scene: John 14:7 “If you had known Me, you would know My Father as well. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.” Key truths flowing from Jesus’ words • Knowing Jesus and knowing the Father are inseparable. • Seeing Jesus is equal to seeing the Father’s character, heart, and will. • The disciples (and we) move from partial knowledge to full revelation as we gaze on Christ. Verses that reinforce the same truth • John 1:18 – “No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is at the Father’s side, has made Him known.” • Colossians 1:15 – “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.” • Hebrews 1:3 – “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature.” • 2 Corinthians 4:6 – “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory in the face of Jesus Christ.” Ways to help others grasp Jesus’ role in revealing the Father 1. Start with Jesus’ own declaration (John 14:7). Read it aloud, letting His words carry the authority. 2. Trace the consistent testimony of Scripture (use the supporting verses above). Show how multiple writers, across decades, agree that Jesus perfectly discloses who God is. 3. Emphasize concrete examples from the Gospels: • Jesus’ compassion on the sick (Mark 1:40-42) reveals the Father’s mercy. • His forgiveness of the adulterous woman (John 8:3-11) shows the Father’s grace. • His righteous anger in the temple (John 2:13-17) displays the Father’s holiness. 4. Highlight personal transformation stories. Share how seeing Jesus’ character corrected distorted views of God as distant or harsh. 5. Encourage reading one Gospel through this lens: “What does Jesus show me about the Father here?” 6. Invite them to ask, “If I trust Jesus’ words and works, what must be true about the Father?” Each scene becomes a window into God’s heart. Practical ways to model the message • Reflect Jesus’ patience and kindness in conversation; demonstration often persuades more than explanation. • Keep Scripture central. Let people read Christ’s actions for themselves rather than relying solely on summaries. • Pray aloud (when appropriate) using Jesus’ own language about the Father (e.g., “Holy Father,” John 17:11), reinforcing the connection. • Celebrate answered prayer as evidence that the Father, revealed by Jesus, is actively involved in daily life. • Maintain humility. Point consistently to Christ, not to personal insight, so the focus stays on the One who makes the Father known. Outcome we can expect As others come to see Jesus clearly—through Scripture, lived example, and the Spirit’s illumination—they will increasingly know the Father who sent Him, fulfilling the promise of John 14:7 in their own lives. |
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