Written by Pastor Jack Wellman– S.D. Gordon
Knowing God
The Bible seems to be a progressive revelation of God, beginning with His being the Creator in Genesis one. The language says that God was “we” and it says, “let us,” showing that God in Three Persons worked in unity and harmony in the creative process, which is why Jesus is referred to as the Creator of all things (John 1:1-3). The further along in the Old Testament we read, the more we come to know about God.
Knowing the Son
Jesus said to those who refused to believe in Him, “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), just “as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep” (John 10:15). You cannot even have access to the Father except through Jesus Christ (John 6:44).
Seeing the Father
When Philip asked Jesus, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us” (John 14:8), Jesus said, “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’” (John 14:9). All of the marvelous attributes of Jesus are also attributes of the Father. When we see Jesus in Scripture, we can see the Father as well.
Conclusion
Mr. Gordon, in saying “Jesus was God spelling Himself out in language humanity could understand,” makes a lot of sense because God has chosen to reveal Himself over time and in Scripture, and then making Himself more fully known in Jesus Christ, and He is it Who lets us see what the Father is like, at least to an extent. We are finite and God is infinite, so we could never learn all there is to know about God, but it’s still good to know as much as we can today.
