How does John 14:7 deepen our understanding of Jesus' relationship with the Father? The Setting • Jesus is consoling His disciples on the night before the cross (John 13–17). • He has just declared Himself “the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6). • Verse 7 flows directly from that claim, linking saving faith in Him to true knowledge of the Father. Key Verse (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.” What Jesus Explicitly States • Knowing Jesus = knowing the Father. • Seeing Jesus = seeing the Father. • “From now on” signals a turning point: everything the disciples will witness—cross, resurrection, ascension, gift of the Spirit—will confirm this unveiled reality. Implications for His Relationship with the Father • Essential Unity – John 10:30: “I and the Father are one.” – Hebrews 1:3: “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature.” • Personal Distinction yet Perfect Harmony – Jesus speaks of “My Father,” showing two Persons, yet their will and work are inseparable (John 5:17-19). • Exclusive Revelation – John 1:18: “No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son…has made Him known.” – Colossians 1:15: “He is the image of the invisible God.” • Relational Knowledge, not Mere Information – “Known” (ginōskō) points to experiential, covenant relationship (Jeremiah 31:34; John 17:3). • Accessible Presence – Because Jesus embodies the Father, believers encounter God personally in Christ (John 14:9; 1 John 5:20). • Foundation for Trinitarian Faith – The verse prepares for the promise of the Spirit (John 14:16-17), revealing Father, Son, and Spirit working in concert. Related Scriptures Echoing the Same Truth • John 12:45 – “And whoever sees Me sees the One who sent Me.” • John 17:6 – “I have revealed Your name to those You have given Me.” • 2 Corinthians 4:6 – “God…has shone in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory in the face of Jesus Christ.” • Revelation 22:3-4 – In eternity, “His servants will worship Him. They will see His face,” fulfilled through the Lamb. Practical Takeaways for Believers Today • Confidence: When we read the Gospels, we meet the Father incarnate—no hidden, unknowable deity lurks behind Jesus. • Assurance: Our access to God rests entirely on the person and work of Christ, not on human merit. • Worship: Honor given to Jesus is honor directed to the Father (John 5:23). • Obedience: To follow Jesus’ words is to align with the Father’s heart (John 14:21). • Mission: Proclaiming Christ is the surest way to make the Father known to the world (Acts 4:12; Matthew 28:18-20). |
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