Show Us the Father
Bible Study Guide
(Verse 5) In this verse, Thomas is recorded a second time in John’s gospel. Interestingly, in the synoptic gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, Thomas is only mentioned when the other disciples are mentioned together in a list. Examples of this can be found in Matthew 10:3, Mark 3:18, and Luke 6:15.
In John’s gospel, Thomas begins to layout his role as the doubter which eventually leads to his nickname as Doubting Thomas. In Thomas’s first scene in John 11 at the death of Lazarus, we can see him begin to establish his role as the doubter of Jesus’ disciples. At the same time, he demonstrates his dedication to his Messiah as he’s willing to go and die with Him.
“Then Thomas (also known as Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” (John 11:16)
In this passage, Thomas shows his lack of understanding in what Jesus is teaching them.
I AM the Way, the Truth and the Life
(Verses 6-7) Jesus introduces the sixth of seven “I AM” statements that we see in John’s gospel. Christ explains to his disciples that He’s “the way” back to the Father, the truth of God’s word and the deliverer of salvation which brings eternal life.
Show us the Father. But Christ tries to teach them that they’ve already seen the Father. Everything the disciples have
seen Jesus do is from the Father. Thus they’ve seen the Father in the Son, Jesus Christ.
(Verses 8-11) There are four different Philip’s in the New Testament. The one in this passage is the disciple of Christ.
Jesus pleads with His disciples, for if they don’t believe in Him, then believe in the works that He did in order that the Father would be glorified. Jesus makes the same plea to the Pharisee’s and the crowd around Him in John 10.
“But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.”
(John 10:38)
They Will Do Greater Things Than These
(Verses 12-13) Jesus uses the “Very truly I tell you” phrase in this passage to make an amazing statement.
“Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.”
(John 14:12)
When we look at the thousands that Jesus fed, the healing of the sick and lame and the raising of the dead, how can we expect to do greater things than these? Even the disciples performed miracles but nowhere near the extent of their Teacher.
Jesus was not speaking of believers having the same power of working miracles that He had. He was speaking of something greater. But what can be greater than what Christ did?
Jesus was speaking of the power of converting sinners into believers in Him. Christ performed miracles of the flesh and not all came to believe. But believers will lead unbelievers to spiritual works of the Holy Spirit that will save the soul by pointing people to Him who was crucified.
Remember, Jesus’ followers numbered in the hundreds at the end of His ministry. When we explore the Acts of the Apostles, we can see that within days of the apostles spreading the word of Jesus, new believers were coming in by the thousands. In no time, the gospel had reached Rome.
All of Heaven Rejoices
This is likely why Luke wrote the details of how many were saved when they began to spread the word as recorded in Acts 2:41. Luke also recorded the importance to God of even one soul being saved and how all of heaven rejoices. Imagine what must’ve occurred and still occurs in heaven when thousands turn to Christ.
“I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”
(Luke 15:7)
This spreading of the gospel continues today. This is why it’s important that the light of Christ is shown through us and into this dark world. The power of the Holy Spirit in us is the only light left shining in a world filled with spiritual forces of evil.
This gospel spreading will be capped off very soon when the 144,000 evangelist spread the gospel to all four corners of the earth so that every ear can hear and make a decision for Christ. We know this will indicate the end of our current age spoken of by Christ.
This is according to what Jesus spoke to His disciples about on the Mt. Of Olives in His Olivet Discourse.
“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:14)
He was referring to the 144,000 evangelist and the first of three angels He spoke to John about which was recorded in Revelation 14.
Ask For Anything In My Name
(Verse 14) We see in this passage that Jesus shows the disciples much more than just responding to their statement, “Show us the Father.”
“You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” (John 14:14)
Jesus didn’t mean that He would grant every prayer request of the disciples. The purpose of prayer is to glorify God in His power and blessings through Christ for us. This is why Jesus refers to making prayer request’s in His name. And this is also why James reminds us that we should pray in accordance with God’s will.
“Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”
(James 4:15)
<< John 14:1-4 “What’s the Rapture in the Bible?” | “Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit” John 14:15-31 >>