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... read more
(a) Jesus the full Revelation of the Father . read more
(5) The question of Philip , with the reply . read more
Philip's questioning. This disciple, one of the earliest, seizes upon the last word of our Lord and asks for a bodily sight of the Father. I. PHILIP 'S DEMAND TO SEE THE FATHER . "Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us." 1. It is hard to decide how much of ignorance is compatible with saving grace . 2. Evidently Philip thought of such a revelation of God as was vouchsafed to Moses in answer to the request , " Lord , show me thy glory ." 3. He... read more
I am the way - See Isaiah 35:8. By this is meant, doubtless, that they and all others were to have access to God only by obeying the instructions, imitating the example, and depending on the merits of the Lord Jesus Christ. He was the leader in the road, the guide to the wandering, the teacher of the ignorant, and the example to all. See John 6:68; “Thou hast the words of eternal life;” 1 Peter 2:21; “Christ - suffered for us, leaving us an example that ye should follow his steps;” Hebrews... read more
If ye had known me - By this Jesus does not intend to say that they were not truly his disciples, but that they had not a full and accurate knowledge of his character and designs. They still retained, to a large extent, the Jewish notions respecting a temporal Messiah, and did not fully understand that he was to die and be raised from the dead.Ye should have known my Father also - You would have known the counsels and designs of my Father respecting my death and resurrection. If you had been... read more
Lord, show us the Father - Philip here referred to some outward and visible manifestation of God. God had manifested himself in various ways to the prophets and saints of old, and Philip affirmed that if some such manifestation should be made to them they would be satisfied. It was right to desire evidence that Jesus was the Messiah, but such evidence “had been” afforded abundantly in the miracles and teaching of Jesus, and that “should” have sufficed them. read more
John 14:5-6. Thomas saith Taking him in a gross sense; Lord, we know not whither thou goest “As their thoughts turned very much on a temporal kingdom, they might imagine that their Master intended to remove to some splendid palace on earth, which he was to prepare for their reception, making it the seat of his court.” Jesus saith, I am the way, the truth, and the life Christ was his own way to the Father, inasmuch as by his own blood he entered into the holy place, Hebrews 9:12; and he... read more
John 14:7. If ye had known me As ye might and ought to have known me. If ye had earnestly sought and obtained that knowledge of me which is communicated by the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, (Ephesians 1:17,) ye would have known my Father also In his various perfections, and in those blessed relations in which he stands to such as believe on Christ with a living faith, and are accepted through him, the beloved. “If you had had an adequate idea of my character, from the miracles I... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - John 14:8
Philip has been introduced in John 1:44-46 ; John 6:7 ; John 12:21 , etc. (see notes), as one early acquainted with the sons of Zebedee, with Andrew and Nathaniel. He is described as convinced of the Messianic character of Jesus, and able, by what he had seen and heard, to overcome all prejudices. Philip, with practical mind, took part in the conversations and preparations for our Lord's great miracle on the loaves. Philip was thought of as a suitable person to introduce the Greeks to... read more