“If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.” John 14:7 ESV1
Read John 14:7-14
If I asked you, “Do you know Jesus?” what would you say? If your answer is, “Yes!” how do you know Him? Do you know Him as a historical figure? A person who once lived here on Earth, taught people how to love, and reportedly did some amazing things? Do you know Him as Savior? Are you confident that Jesus, by dying on the cross and rising from the dead, took the punishment for your sins and, through your belief in Him, you have received eternal life? Do you know Him as a Friend? Do you find Him a very likable Guy, enjoy spending time with Him, and receive His encouraging words as a blessing? Do you know Him as Spouse? Do you love Him more than you love yourself, desire to please Him, and regularly experience satisfying intimate times with Him? Or do you know Him as the Head of your body? When He laughs, do you shake? When He cries, does your heart break? Are you so absorbed in Him that when people look at you, they only see Him?
Knowing Jesus is an endless frontier. It takes an eternity to discover all there is to know Him. Jesus has made eternal life possible because He wants us to know Him at the deepest level. Do you want a boundless and abiding relationship with Him?
That’s Deep!
Jesus had spent three and a half years with a select group of men. These were His closest disciples. They traveled with Him, ate and drank with Him, stayed at the same places He did, and were present for all His miracles. They even personally experienced Jesus’ miraculous power as they ministered. Yet, they didn’t know Him in the way Jesus desired.
On the night Jesus was betrayed, arrested, and ultimately sentenced to crucifixion, He spent an extended length of time with His closest disciples attempting to teach, comfort, and prepare them for what was to happen shortly. This last teaching of Jesus happened after they finished eating the Last Supper and Judas left to carry out his evil deed. This conversation is commonly known as the Upper Room Discourse. Jesus’ words were recorded by John and are found in Chapters 14-17 of his Gospel.
Jesus began His discourse by assuring His disciples:
“‘Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going’” (John 14:1-4).2
Then Thomas admitted what they were all thinking:
“‘Lord, we do not know where You are going. How can we know the way’” (John 14:5)?
To that question, Jesus answered:
“‘I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 3 If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him’” (John 15:6-7).
This time, Phillip spoke up:
“‘Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us’” (John 14:8).
Jesus replied:
“‘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’? 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. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me, or else believe on account of the works themselves’” (John 14:9-11).
Know, See & Show
To better understand what is transpiring in this conversation, let’s take a moment to define some of the significant words in this passage.
The Greek word translated here as know is ginōskō, meaning intimate, experiential knowledge.4 The word, see, is the Greek word, horaō, which means “to see with the mind, to perceive, know, to become acquainted with by experience.”5 And the word rendered show comes from the Greek word, deiknyō, meaning to prove.6
The statement that prompted Philip’s demand that Jesus show them the Father was essentially, “If you intimately know Me, you intimately know My Father. Something new will happen soon; you will, without a doubt, know the Father intimately because you will be acquainted with Him experientially.”
Philip’s request then stated, “We aren’t really that interested in knowing the Father at that depth. How about You just prove Him to us? That will suffice.”
Jesus retorted, “How is it, Philip, that I have spent all this time in such close contact with you and you have not begun to know Me intimately yet? Anyone who is experientially acquainted with Me intimately knows the Father as well. How can you say, ‘Prove the Father to us?’ Don’t you understand that the Father and I are synchronized with one another? We are so unified that everything I do and say is from the Father. If you can’t believe or understand that, take a look at the work I have done. My deeds prove the Father is working through Me.”
Jesus had spent many months proving the Father to His disciples and to the world around them. The very words He spoke and all of the works He did came directly from the Father. Jesus was so in tune with the Father that He did nothing on His own initiative. Much earlier in His earthly ministry, Jesus tried to explain this truth to the religious leaders:
“Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of His own accord, but only what He sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise … I can do nothing on My own. As I hear, I judge, and My judgment is just, because I seek not My own will but the will of Him who sent Me’” (John 5:19, 30).
This idea of being so committed and submitted to the agenda of Another was so counterintuitive to the self-serving nature of the religious leaders to whom Jesus spoke that they sought to kill Him (see John 5:18)! But even Jesus’ closest disciples, those who followed Him through thick and thin, did not truly understand how absorbed Jesus was with the will of His Father. Nor did they comprehend how greatly Jesus desired that they find fulfillment in being intimately in tune with Him.
In Words & Works
Jesus reasoned with His disciples that if they knew Him experientially, they should also be intimately acquainted with the Father. To further explain His connection with His Father, Jesus used the word, in. This is the Greek word, en. En is a primary preposition denoting a fixed position in place, time, or state, meaning in, by, with, etc. Additionally, en, in context, can mean for the sake of, given wholly to, or at one with. En, in some cases, is even translated, with child.7
Jesus intimately knows the Father. He is so experientially connected to the Father that He can effortlessly perceive the desires of the Father. Jesus is so wholly given to the will of the Father that everything He does and says is exactly what the Father does and says. It is as if Jesus were “pregnant” with the Father’s wishes and His words and actions “give birth” to what the Father wants.
Later, Paul further explained what Jesus meant when He said, “I am in the Father and the Father is in Me.”
“[Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the Firstborn of all Creation. For by Him, all things were created, in Heaven and on Earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the Head of the Body, the Church. He is the Beginning, the Firstborn from the Dead, that in everything, He might be preeminent. For in Him, all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him, to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on Earth or in Heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross” (Colossians 1:15-19).
Everything Jesus did from the Creation to the Cross and beyond was, is, and will be done because He is in the Father and the Father is in Him. Jesus is before all things and preeminent over all things because He and the Father are unified as One. Jesus holds everything together and reconciles all things to Himself through the Power and plan of the Father. Jesus is the image of the invisible Father because all the fullness of the Father dwells in Him. That is why Jesus answered Phillip with:
“‘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. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me, or else believe on account of the works themselves’” (John 14:10b-11).
Jesus’ words and His works prove His intimate connection with His Father. Jesus’ deepest desire is that the words and works of His disciples would prove their intimate connection with Him.
Knowing & Proving
As Jesus had been the physical representation of the invisible Father, Jesus’ disciples would soon be the physical representatives of the soon-to-be-invisible Jesus. Shortly, their words and works would prove their connection with Jesus. Jesus’ disciples would finally intimately know Him. They would be so experientially connected to Jesus that they could more easily perceive Jesus’ desires. They would be so wholly given to Jesus’ will that what the disciples did and said would reflect what Jesus would do and say. They would be so “pregnant” with Jesus’ wishes that their words and actions would “give birth” to His wants.
But, something entirely new would have to transpire for a miracle like that to happen! After indicating that if His disciples actually intimately knew Him, they would likewise know His Father, Jesus announced:
“‘From now on you do know Him and have seen Him’” (John 14:7b).
Upon Jesus’ return to Heaven, Jesus’ disciples would be given a Gift to help them prove their connection with Him. Soon they would see, know intimately, and be linked to Jesus in a new way and, through that way, to His Father as well. The Jesus who had been with them would soon be in them. Then, just as the Father worked through Jesus, Jesus would work through His followers.
The Eleven were troubled because Jesus had announced He was leaving them. Yet, because He was leaving something even greater could take place. They would receive a Helper. This Helper, the Holy Spirit, would introduce them to Jesus in a new way and aid them in becoming and accomplishing all Jesus intended for them. Later, in this very conversation, Jesus said:
“‘Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you’” (John 16:7).
Through the power of the Holy Spirit in them, Jesus’ disciples would continue what Jesus started and change the world.
Jesus with Skin on
At Pentecost, just days after Jesus’ ascension, the Holy Spirit was sent to work through Jesus’ disciples just as the Father had worked through Jesus while He was on Earth. Accomplishing the Father’s will on Earth did not end with the Eleven. God’s words and works continue to be displayed by the power of the Holy Spirit in and through all who believe in Jesus as Savior and Lord.
As Jesus continued with His Upper Room Discourse, He made this shocking statement:
“‘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. Whatever you ask in My name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it’” (John 14:12-14).
When He ministered on Earth, Jesus performed countless miracles. The Book of Acts records that the apostles performed some miracles similar to those of Jesus’ but those works can’t be described as being more amazing than what Jesus did. So, why did Jesus claim that those who have faith in Him would do greater things than He did? Does Jesus expect every genuine Believer to walk on water, raise the dead, and feed thousands with one person’s lunch?
No one has ever exceeded the might or majesty of Jesus’ miracles. So, Jesus’ statement can’t refer to the works His followers perform as being superior in power. Jesus meant that the works of His Followers would be greater in extent and time. When Jesus was on Earth, He could only be in one place at a time. His earthly ministry was limited to the area around Galilee and Judea. After Jesus departed and endowed His disciples with the Holy Spirit, they were able to spread the Gospel through the known world. The Holy Spirit is still at work through Believers to the present day. Since Pentecost, many people have been empowered by the Helper to continue God’s will throughout the ages all over the face of the Earth.
What each Believer accomplishes in Christ is not greater than what Jesus said or did, but the sheer number of those who allow the Holy Spirit to work through them throughout history extends the reach of those works over space and time.
But whose works are these and how are they accomplished? These are the Father’s works! Jesus began them when He was on Earth and the Holy Spirit continues to do them through those who intimately and experientially know Jesus. No great work can be done without the Power of God. And no greater work can be accomplished without God’s People staying connected to His Power.
Later, in the Upper Room Discourse, Jesus clarified:
“‘I am the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser … Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing … By this, My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be My disciples’” (John 15:1, 4-5, 8).
Jesus linked the ability to do the greater works with prayer. Immediately after He claimed that His Followers would accomplish amazing things in His Power, Jesus promised:
“‘Whatever you ask in My name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it’” (John 14:12-14).
Prayer is communication with God. It is the primary way to continue an intimate relationship with Jesus. Prayer acknowledges our reliance on God. It is a constant reminder of where the Power to do great things comes from. Through answered prayer, a relationship with Christ goes beyond informational to experiential.
When we truly ask for things in Jesus’ name, we pray for the same things He would pray for. Jesus could sign His name to our requests. We can pray in Jesus’ name only if we intimately know Him and are so experientially connected to Him that we can perceive Jesus’ desires. Then we want what He wants and we are so wholly given to Jesus’ will that what we say and wish to do reflects what Jesus would say and do. We can expect those prayers to be answered.
“‘If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you (John 15:7).
Prayers made in Jesus’ name are answered because they prove our connection with Christ. Like the Father was in Jesus, and Jesus was in the Father, Jesus is in us and we are in Jesus. When we, through the Holy Spirit, are “pregnant” with Jesus’ wishes our words and actions can’t help but “give birth” to His desires.
How About You?
How do you know Jesus? Do you know Him as intimately as He would desire? Are you in Christ and filled with His Spirit? By whose authority and power do you speak and act? What do your words and works prove about you? Do you wish to be so committed and submitted to Christ’s agenda that when people see you, they see Him? Do you want to be part of some greater works? Are you ready to explore the endless frontier of knowing Jesus? He is waiting for you!
1 Scripture quotations marked with ESV are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All Scriptures are taken from the ESV unless otherwise noted. To aid in understanding, I have capitalized references to God.
2 For more on this, check out: https://blueturtletrails.com/hope-for-troubled-hearts/
3 For more on this, check out: https://blueturtletrails.com/knowing-and-loving-the-one-and-only/
4 https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1097/kjv/tr/0-1/
5 https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3708/kjv/tr/0-1/
6 https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1166/kjv/tr/0-1/
7 https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1722/kjv/tr/0-1/