John 14:7–11

“If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.”

Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.”

Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.”

We have oft noted that Jesus is the image of the Father.

The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. — John 12:45

who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, — Hebrews 1:3a

Philip should understand this. But what, in practical terms, does “image” mean? Does Jesus have His Father’s eyes? Hair color? What?

It’s not some physical characteristic; it’s His personality. He walks like His father; He talks like His Father; He thinks like His Father; He loves like His Father. So, Jesus is a bit taken aback by Philip’s request.

“He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me?”

In other words, “What do you think I’ve been doing for the last three years?”

“Show us the Father”

And he said, “Please, show me Your glory.” … But He said, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.” — Exodus 33:18, 20

Everybody wants to see God. Knowing God, seeing God, feeling His presence, is man’s greatest desire.

Yet these guys had that, in spades, and they still weren’t satisfied. How can that be?

As the deer pants for the water brooks,
So pants my soul for You, O God. — Psalm 42:1

These Monday—Friday DEEPs are written by Mike Slay. The Saturday DEEPs are written by Matt Richardson. To subscribe to all the DEEPs click here:

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The weekly study guides, which include the Monday–Friday devotionals plus related questions for discussion or meditation, are available for download here:

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV stands for the English Standard Version. © Copyright 2001 by Crossway. Used by permission. All rights reserved. NIV stands for The Holy Bible, New International Version®. © Copyright 1973 by International Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved. KJV stands for the King James Version.

We’re hardwired for God. It’s in our DNA.

We’ll never be satisfied—this side of eternity, anyway.