John 14:8-9 - Homilies By B. Thomas

The desired vision.

We have here—

I. A DIVINE VISION REQUESTED . "Show us the Father." This implies:

1. A special vision of God .

2. That such a vision is the great want of man .

3. That such a vision , they believed , Jesus was fully able to furnish . "Lord, show us," etc . Of his ability to do this they are quite confident, of his willingness they have but little doubt; hence the prayer is direct, confident, but reverential. Their request is addressed to the proper Person, and their confidence is well founded. Jesus was able and willing to furnish them with a vision of the Father, and struggled hard to prepare them for it.

4. That such a vision would be most satisfying . "It sufficeth us."

II. THIS DIVINE VISION HAD BEEN GIVEN .

1. It had been given in Christ . "He that hath seen me," etc .

2. It had been given , but not fully realized .

3. Their confessed ignorance of Jesus called forth from him very significant and valuable expressions . "Have I been so long time with you," etc.?

III. THIS DIVINE VISION CAN BE ONLY REALIZED BY FAITH . "Believest thou not," etc.?

1. By faith alone the Son and the Father can be seen and known . In the days of his flesh the Godhead of Jesus could not be seen in his Person by the material eye. To the carnal and material sight he was only an ordinary man. Faith alone could see his glory and Divinity. Divinity in the Father or the incarnate Son can only be seen and known by spiritual insight—by faith, the eye of the soul.

2. To faith , Christ and the Father are in essential , close , and Divine union . In this spiritual vision the Son is seen first in the Father, then the Father in the Son. The order depends upon the standpoint from which faith looks; but whether viewed in their essence, nature, and glory, or in relation to the scheme of redemption, the Son is seen in the Father and the Father in the Son.

3. Faith in relation to this vision is supported by the strongest evidence .

4. The evidence of faith is promised a substantial increase .