John 14:8-17 (NRSV)
Read John 14:8-17 on biblegateway.com
Verse 8Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied." Verse 9Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Verse 10Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Verse 11Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves.
Verse 12Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. Verse 13I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. Verse 14If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.
Verse 15"If you love me, you will keep my commandments. Verse 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. Verse 17This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.
Devotion
“Like father, like son!” Have you ever heard (or used) that phrase to describe people you know? I have two sons. We have similar physical traits and mannerisms. We all went to the same college, were members of the same fraternity, played the same sport and had many of the same professors. We also are alumni of the same seminary (mine is an honorary status), and we serve the church as pastors.
The disciple Philip asked Jesus to see the Father. Jesus replied, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” This is far more important than the family resemblances we have with one another. Jesus reveals to us what God is like. And what Jesus reveals is truly Good News!
Prayer
Thank you, Jesus, for showing Philip -- and us -- the Father. And thank you, Jesus, for being our Lord, our Savior, and our brother. Amen.