Tag: show us

18.j. “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do”

John 14:4   And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “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’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.

 “Thus we notice how they speak to him with a natural, easy familiarity; and he talks to them in full sympathy with their weakness, teaching them little by little as they are able to learn. They ask just such questions as a boy might ask of his father. Often they show their ignorance but never do they seem timid in his presence, or ashamed to let him see how shallow and hard of understanding they are.” (Spurgeon)

Jesus didn’t say that He would show us a way; He said that He is the way. He didn’t promise to teach us the truth; He said that He is the truth. Jesus didn’t offer us the secrets to life; He said that He is the life. (Guzik)

“Without the way there is no going; without the truth there is no knowing; without the life there is no living. I am the way which thou must follow; the truth in which thou must believe; the life for which thou must hope.” (a’ Kempis, cited by Bruce)

Jesus explained why He was the only way to God; because He was and is the perfect representation of God. To know Jesus is to know God. (Guzik)

Thomas asked a simple but deep theological question and Philip made a deep theological request.  How can we know the way? And Show us the Father.  They had both been with Jesus for over 3 years.  They had witnessed miracles, wonders, and signs.  They heard the words of truth He spoke, and yet, it is as though the dots were not connecting.  Do you ever wonder if we are any different?  How many prayers have been answered and yet we still harbor room for doubt?  How many blessings have been graciously given and we leave room for unthankfulness?  How many times have we been protected from Satan’s attacks and yet we leave room for the question, is Jesus near?  

I usually say to make sure you stay in His Word every day, but I am consciously thinking that it is understood you must believe (rely on, cling too, and trust in) Jesus and you must exercise heart, mind, and soul-deep faith in line with what you are reading.   We can believe in what we read but if it has no root in our heart then it is meaningless to our soul.  Just imagine what impact God’s Word would have on and in our lives if we truly desired it to change our lives every single day.

Signs and Wonders

“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

John 4:48  So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.”

John 2:18     So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?”

John 12:37    Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him,

John 15:24    If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father.

Numbers 14:11    And the LORD said to Moses, “How long will this people despise me? And how long will they not believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them?

Matthew 16:1  And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven.

Luke 16:31     He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”

1 Corintians 1:22  For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom,  but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,  but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.  For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Unbelieving souls are everywhere.  The field is ripe and ready for harvest.  Yet there are some plantings that just did not take and grow.  The seeds were planted and watered but did not grow.  This metaphor was given multiple times to try to explain the stumbling block of those looking for signs or finding Christ through wisdom/philosophy.  Unbelieving unbelievers.  And then there are those who “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” However there is more to being a believer than believing.  Imagine you have been given $10 million.  You place it securely in the bank.  You are a millionaire.  If someone asked you if you were a millionaire you would say yes but other than that no one would know other than the one who gave you the millions and where you deposited it.  You spend none of it and for all of those around you none would know you’re a millionaire.  Some make come by your house and see a bank statement if it was left out but other than that no one would know.  What good is this money? What benefit does it have?  It has little to no value to you and certainly does not meet the expectations of one who gave it to you.  I fear the christian walk of many are similar.  Our purpose this side of eternity is more than believing.  Learn to humbly server, honor, follow and obey our Heavenly Father.