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Day 30 - Knowing The Father

Today's reading is from John 14: 6 - 14.

John 14:6-14 (NIV)
6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
7 If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."
8 Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us."
9 Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?
10 Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.
11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.
12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.
14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Jesus' response to Philip reminds each of us that the goal of our lives is to live in such a way that God is real to us. Jesus says to know Him is to know the Father. Many a believer has wondered what the Father is like. Pictures of a Charlton Heston prophet like old man, with long white hair, and flowing robes, who holds lightning in his hands and looks stern, judging, unbending...those were the pictures I had of God. Jesus says, if you see me, know me, you'll know what the Father is like.

Philip Keller wrote the book, The Prodigal God, to remind us that the Father is like the Prodigal son's Father. He is faithful, kind, forgiving, merciful and loving...and loves to throw a party to his children.

John's gospel used the word "know" over 140 times. Yet, he uses that word in four different ways.
> There is the "knowing" that has to do with facts. I know 2 + 2 = 4
> There is the "knowing" is to understand the truth behind the knowing. In otherwords, you not only know something, but understand how/why it works that way.
> There is the "knowing" that is of relationships where we get to really know a person. That in itself is a knowing that is personal, believing things about the person.
> Finally, there is that "knowing" that means to have a deep relationship with the person, a oneness of knowing deep down. This kind of knowing is like a husband and wife.
It was Paul who wrote to the Philippians that he wanted "to know Him".

It is our great need, wouldn't you agree? There are so many things that draw us away in life. There is money, ambition, goals and plans...the desire to be significant, to be important, to have money, etc...
Jesus isn't rebuking Philip in answering him. He's simply reminding him, and us, that to know him - deeply, personally, intimately - is the most fulfilling thing we can do with our lives.

Peace,

If you're reading along in through Bible-in-a-year with me, today's readings are from 1 Kings 6 & 7.

Comments

Paul said…
Who knew that there was so much to know.
April 13, 2011 at 2:26 PM
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