Today's Passage - John 14:8-10

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english John 14:8-10    Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us." 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'? Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work."    I often hear people say, "If I can see God, I will believe." But we say this because we do not really understand God's nature. First of all, God is spirit. He is not limited by space or time and is not limited by perishable flesh. He is God from everlasting to everlasting. This is not to say that God is some kind of an illusory spirit. The Bible tells us that the God we believe in is a God who has personhood. Personhood means that he has an independent mind, will, and emotion. It means that he is sovereign and has the power to fulfill his work. Since God is spirit, it is natural that people can't see him. Even though people can't see him, it does not mean that he does not exist. This is like the electromagnetic wave that we can't see, but in reality, we are surrounded by electromagnetic waves.    In addition, God is also holy. In the Bible, there are several instances where God is especially merciful in allowing people to see him in a vision. This is a very fearfully reverent experience. Because how can a sinful person stand before a holy God? This is like when we turn over a large stone and see all the little worms hiding underneath immediately trying to flee because they can't stand the strong light shining on them. In the same way, it is like when people come before God. Actually, it is because of the mercy of God that we can't see him, otherwise there is no way we can stand in his holy light. In 2 Chronicles 7, it describes when Solomon's temple was completed, God's glorious light filled the temple, and the priests can't enter the temple because they were not able to stand in the midst of God's holiness.    In the New Testament, God in his mercy sent the Lord Jesus to our midst. John 1:18 says, "No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known."  Because of the work of Jesus Christ on earth, we can begin to understand God's work. Because of the teachings of Jesus Christ on earth, we can begin to understand God's heart and will. Therefore, the Lord says, "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father." Jesus is not referring to seeing by the natural eyes, but he is referring to the understanding of the heart. Because the Father is one with the Son, the Father speaks to the Son, and then the Son Jesus speaks to the world the will and the grace of God.    The reason we can enjoy the grace of God is because of the mercy of the Father and the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ through his incarnation. Brothers and sisters, whenever I think about all the grace that God has fulfilled for us, my heart can't stop being filled with thanksgiving, "O Lord! Who am I? That you would love me like this!" Let us offer up our thanksgiving to God in our everyday lives. If it were not for his mercy to us, we really would have no way to know him and we would not be able to enjoy this abundant grace.                           Pray with Pastor Tong           Dear Lord, I thank you for your ways are unfathomable in fulfilling for us this precious salvation. Your grace truly exceeds all that we can hope for or imagine. Because of this, once again I offer up all the praise and thanksgiving of my heart. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!