Daily Devotions
John
John 14 : 12 - 31 "A MISTAKEN UNDERSTANDING"
Day 194 – John 14
A MISTAKEN UNDERSTANDING
What was in Philip’s mind as he spoke to Jesus? Clearly, he had followed the conversation between Jesus and Thomas. Their conversation ended with Jesus speaking about His Father. Philip went on to ask if Jesus could show them the Father. If they were shown the Father, then that would surely be “sufficient”.
Did Philip have in mind the request Moses made of God? He had asked to see the glory of God! Let us take time to read that soul-stirring text.
“And he (Moses) said,
Please, show me Your glory.”
Exodus 33:18
To this request, God replied,
“I will make all My goodness pass before you,
and I will proclaim the Name of the LORD before you…You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me,
and live…So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you
in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand
while I pass by…you shall see My back;
but My face shall not be seen.”
Exodus 33:19-23
Did Philip wish to see God as Moses did? If so, he had a mistaken understanding. Not even the great Moses was allowed to see the full “face” of God. The glory of God would be so great that a mere mortal would be slain! As a man would become blind if he stared at the sun, so man would be harmed if he were to stand in the fullness of God’s glory!
Philip was mistaken on another count! There was no need to ask to see the Father. If he truly had understood Jesus, he would also have understood that he had in fact “seen” the Father! Though they were distinct beings, yet they shared many things as ONE. Thus to see Jesus was the same as to have seen the Father.
If Philip had asked to see the Father, could it then be possible that he had not fully understood who Jesus really was – in all His fullness? Possibly! Let us consider what Jesus said to Philip once again.
“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’?”
John 14:9
THE PLACE OF FAITH IN COMPREHENDING JESUS
What went wrong? What was missing in the system of understanding that the Disciples possessed? Let us ponder afresh what Jesus said to Philip.
“Do you not believe that I am in the Father,
and the Father in Me?”
John 14:10
What was missing? Jesus identified the problem quite clearly. The Disciples seemed to have failed to exercise their faith as they should have when they sought to understand Jesus! Yes, when it comes to the matter of understanding Jesus, intellectual comprehension is just NOT ENOUGH! The element of faith must be applied. Let us take time to consider a passage that may throw some light into this matter. This text is found in the Book of Hebrews.
“For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them;
but the word which they heard did not profit them,
not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.”
Hebrews 4:2
Of course there must be intellectual comprehension in the first place! However, there must be more than mental understanding of what Jesus taught! There has to be an application of faith!
It requires faith to truly understand who Jesus really is. If we were to merely read the Scriptures without faith, we would never be able to fully comprehend it! Somehow, somewhere along the way, Philip failed to apply his faith and so his understanding of Jesus became dreadfully limited as well!
THE QUESTION OF FAITH IN APPLICATION TO OTHER ASPECTS OF LIFE
Jesus appealed to Philip to exercise faith in Him. Surely, He had given them ample proof as to who He was. His teachings and His works must have told them that they were not dealing with just an excellent human teacher! He was not just Messiah in the popular sense of the word! He was in His Father and His Father was in Him! It would require much faith to comprehend this great truth!
In order to help the Disciples appreciate the place of faith, Jesus went on to make an astonishing statement.
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me,
the works that I do he will do also;
and greater works than these he will do,
because I go to My Father.”
John 14:12
Jesus was not making it any easier for the Disciples to understand Him. He sought to stretch and to strengthen the faith of His Disciples! He promised them that they would be able to do the works that He had been doing and more! Could they believe that? It would take all their faith to understand what He had just declared!