Pastor’s Pen Pulpit Series: Truth for the Heart

January 23, 2005

JESUS CHRIST IS OUR ONLY TRUE REVELATION

FROM THE FATHER

John 14:7-11

If you had known me, you would have known my Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him. Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know me, Philip. He who has seen me has seen the Father; how do you say, show us the Father?” Do 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 initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in me; otherwise believe on account of the works themselves.

We often can see the likeness of a father in his children such as facial features, mannerisms or personality. However much you may be able to detect that likeness, you can’t detect the full likeness. There are some features that just aren’t revealed. In the latter part of 14:9 Jesus says, “HE WHO HAS SEEN ME HAS SEEN THE FATHER.” In John 1:18 we read “no man has seen God at any time, the only begotten son (God) who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.” The word for explain or made known is the word for exegete, which means to bring the full details into view; the examination or critical interpretation of the text of something. Jesus Christ has fully revealed, explained or provided a critical interpretation of God the Father. The Son is the full, complete likeness of the Father. All of this was in answer to Philip’s question in verse 8 - “Lord, show us the Father and it is enough for us.”

According to verse 10, the very words He spoke and the works He performed were initiated by the Father. This suggests to us John 5:19, “Truly, truly, I say unto you the Son can do nothing of Himself unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.” Think about what He said! If He can do all the things He sees the Father doing, He is equal with the Father. In verse 11 He emphasizes that inseparable union once more. He then appeals to His works as evidence: “Otherwise believe me on account of the works themselves,” A very strong argument for Jesus being the only true revelation of the Father.

Lesson for Believers Today

“Believe me on account of the works themselves.” Here Jesus establishes a principle that runs throughout the New Testament. Essentially He is saying, “the works that I do reveal the truth of who I am.” Jesus said of false teachers in Matthew, “By their fruits you shall know them.” (See also Matthew 7:21-23; I John 2:3.)

In true believers there will be the evidence of Spirit produced works in the life, just as one of the ways in which Jesus proved His true identity was through the words He spoke and the works He performed. Even so, the way a professing believer will reveal his true identity as a child of God is through how he lives – the works that he does as well as the words that he says.

Paul gives us an admonition in II Corinthians 13:5, “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith: Examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you – unless indeed you fail the test.” Beloved, this is a challenge Paul gives to all of God’s people.

What a beautiful example we have in our blessed Lord Jesus Christ! Are we not compelled to follow His example? God bless!

Until next week -