John 14, Part 2
Notes
Transcript
Introduction: this is one of the most astounding claims ever made—Jesus Christ is the very embodiment of God Himself.
1. The request of Philip: show us the Father, some dazzling sight (v.8).
2. The revelation: Jesus is the full embodiment of God (v.9).
3. The clear evidence (v.10).
4. The clear challenge: believe the claim of Jesus Christ (v.11).
5. The clear promises: are conditional—to the person who believes in Jesus Christ (vv.12–14).
8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”
Philip’s request was, “show us the Father”—a dazzling spectacular sight, a visible sight of God, a tangible God. Jesus had been discussing the fact that He was returning to the Father and that the disciples could not go with Him, not now (Jn. 13:33–14:7). Philip’s request shows how the disciples interpreted His words. They thought Jesus meant that He was going to a mountaintop or some other quiet place to meet God face-to-face just as great men of God had done in the past, men such as …
• Jacob (Ge. 28:12f; 32:24f)
• Moses (Ex. 3:1f; 24:9–11; 33:14–23; 34:5–9)
• Joshua (Jos. 5:13f)
• Gideon (Jdg. 6:21f)
• Elijah (1 K. 19:4f)
• Isaiah (Is. 6:1f)
• Ezekiel (Eze. 1:1f; 10:1f)
Philip wanted to go with Jesus to see the Father as well. Why? Note two things.
a. Philip felt that a dramatic experience with God—that seeing God—would calm their troubled hearts and solve their problems …
• of strife and division (see notes—Jn. 14:1–3; Lu. 22:24–30)
• of betrayal and desertion (Jn. 13:18f)
• of denial (Jn. 13:38)
• of ignorance and misunderstanding (Jn. 1:36; 14:5)
Thought 1. Note the emphasis upon the dramatic experience: upon seeking the spectacular and the dazzling, the physical and visible—some sign that God is—that He actually exists. How many ask for the dramatic experience and the spectacular sign? They think that once they have had a dazzling sight of God, then …
• their peace will come
• their problems will be solved
• they will believe
• they will serve God
• they will change
• they will do right
b. Philip was not satisfied with what he saw in Jesus, nor with what He had received in Jesus. Walking by faith was not enough. Philip wanted to see some astounding and spectacular Person who appeared in dazzling form. Jesus, although the Son of God, appeared before Philip as a mere man in bodily form. He was not appearing in the dazzling, glorious Being of a heavenly Person. He was not in a spectacular form or vision as men of old had seen and as men usually think of God, the Supreme Universal Being. Jesus was appearing and communicating and living as a mere human being. Philip wanted more than what Jesus was.
Thought 1. What an indictment against men! Men often say, “Jesus is not enough. More is needed. Jesus was a mere man; He could not be the Son of God. Perhaps He was a son of God in the sense that He was the best man who ever lived, but no more.” Such men walk through life being blind to the great love of God.
9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
The revelation was astounding—Jesus was the full embodiment of God. “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father.” When a man sees Jesus, he sees a Person …
• who is the very nature of God
• who is the very character of God
• who is the very substance of God
• who is the very perfection of God
• who is God in all of His perfect Being
Jesus Christ is not the same Person as God the Father, but He has the same perfect nature. Jesus Christ is God the Son. Therefore, the person who has seen Jesus Christ has seen the Father in all the fulness of the Father’s nature—that person has seen in Jesus the very embodiment of perfection, the perfect embodiment of Being, both perfect love and perfect righteousness.
Thought 1. Note the emphasis is upon God as Father. Just as an earthly father, God is not distant and far off. He has not created and wound up the world and left it to run on its own, being unconcerned and uncaring. As Father, God is exactly as Jesus showed us …
• loving and just
• giving and helpful
• full of goodness and truth
• responsible and accountable
• directing and correcting
• forgiving and caring
10 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 authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.
The clear evidence that Jesus was the embodiment of God is threefold.
a. God’s presence was proof that Jesus was the embodiment of God. God was in Jesus, and Jesus was in God. This can be called the mutual Indwelling Presence of God and Christ, each dwelling in the other. This simply means that each has the nature and being, the Spirit and Mind, of the other. Each has the Presence, the very Being and Spirit, of the other dwelling within Him—perfectly.
Note the point Jesus was making. The proof that He was the embodiment of God, that He was the One who came to earth to reveal God, is clear: God’s presence is not only with Him; God’s presence is in Him. He Himself is God. He Himself—His Person, His Being, His nature, His character, His love, His care, His just dealings, all that He is—revealed exactly what God is. Note also that Jesus asked Philip a question: “Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me?”
b. Jesus’ words were proof that He was the embodiment of God. His words were the very Words of God which God Himself wanted to say to man. When Jesus spoke, it was the Father who was speaking through Him. Look at His words, His teaching, and His doctrine, and know that He was who He claimed to be: the Son of God Himself, the very embodiment of God.
c. Jesus’ works were proof that He was the embodiment of God
11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.
The clear challenge is forceful—believe the claim of Jesus. He was the embodiment of God. He was in the Father, and the Father was in Him—perfectly. Jesus was the One whom God sent into the world to show men who He is and what He is like. Jesus Christ was the revelation of God to man, who came to the world to show man that God is “the Father,” the Father who loves and cares, forgives and executes justice. The challenge is to believe Jesus …
• believe in Him as a Person, as the Son of God Himself
• believe in His claim, that His testimony and witness to Himself is absolutely true
If a person has difficulty believing His claim, then he should look at His works: believe Him because of His phenomenal works; do whatever is needed to secure the evidence, but believe and accept His claim
12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.
13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
He who believes in me will do the works I do:
Belief: the clear promise to those who believe Jesus. There are two promises to the believer. Note the words “verily, verily”—words that call a person to rouse up and listen closely. What was being said was of tremendous importance.
a. The first promise is the power to do great works: the power to do the very same works that Jesus did.
b. The second promise is the answer to all prayers.
Whatever you ask, I will do so the Father may be glorified in the Son:
Jesus Christ, Works: note the purpose for the Lord’s works—to stir the belief that He is the Son of God
Jesus Christ, Works—Believer, Works: this is a surprising statement. It is a great promise: the believer shall do the very same works and even greater works than Jesus did. Note three facts.
1. The genuine believer will do the same kind of work that Jesus did, work that is characterized …
• by loving and caring
• by ministering and healing
• by proclaiming and teaching
• by witnessing and testifying
• by sharing and discipling
• by helping and performing miracles
The believer will work, doing all he can to demonstrate the love of God in order to lead men to a saving knowledge of His Son, Jesus Christ.
2. The genuine believer will work hard for the very same purpose as Jesus did. He will work …
• to show men the love and justice of God
• to help men in all their need
• to lead men to believe on the Son of God that they might be saved and delivered from sin, death, and hell
3. The genuine believer will do even greater works than Jesus did. This means that the true servant of God will reach more people and have broader results than Jesus did. The whole world would eventually hear, and an impact would be made upon many societies and nations as a whole. But note the crucial point.
⇒ Greater works are possible only through Jesus, only because He has gone to His Father and is sitting at the right hand of the Father. From there—from the throne of power—He equips and enables the believer to do the works. The believer is able to do great works only through the presence and power of Jesus who is with the Father.
Whatever you ask of me, I will do it:
Prayer—Jesus Christ, Name of: this is one of the most wonderful promises in all the Bible. God hears the prayers of the dear believer. Note three points.
1. The only prayers heard and answered are those asked “in Jesus’ name.” What does it mean to pray “in Jesus’ name”? It means two things.
a. The believer prays knowing that …
• the only acceptance to God is in Jesus. God hears the believer only because Jesus is acceptable to Him and the believer comes in the name of Jesus.
• the only Mediator between God and men is Jesus; therefore, the believer approaches God in the name of Jesus.
• the only Intercessor before God, the only Person asking God to accept man is Jesus.
• the only Person, the only name that is perfect enough to approach God, is Jesus; therefore, the believer prays in the name of Jesus.
(See notes—Jn. 12:44–46; DEEPER STUDY # 2—12:44; notes—16:23–24; 16:25–27 for more discussion.)
b. The believer seeks to glorify the name of Jesus only. To pray “in His name” means that the believer asks only those things that will …
• honor His name
• praise His name
• bring glory to His name
• lead to His name being lifted up
It means that the believer will ask nothing that would detract, lower, or lead away from His name.
2. Note why Jesus answers the prayers of the believer. His purpose is to glorify God. When Jesus answers prayer, not only is the Father glorified, but so is Jesus. The power and wisdom, love and care shown in answered prayer are of God through the name of Jesus. Therefore, when the believer prays and receives what he asked for …
• his attention is upon both the Father and the Son
• his praise and thanksgiving are heaped upon both the Father and the Son
• his loyalty and surrender to both the Father and the Son are deeper and more mature
3. Jesus said that the believer is to pray to Him as well as to God. Jesus said, “If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it.” Jesus is claiming to be God, to have …
• the wisdom and knowledge,
• the power and ability,
• the love and care,
• the desire and willingness,
… to do anything. A phenomenal claim! Yet it is a reasonable claim for the Son of God.
LEADERSHIP MINISTRIES WORLDWIDE: The Gospel according to John, The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible. Chattanooga, TN : Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 2004
