Close to His heart
Reflections on John 14:8–12
From Wonder to Connection
When I open Your Word this morning, the words I read touch me deeply. One of Your disciples, Philip, asks You a question: “Lord, show us the Father, and that will be enough.” What a beautiful question. I recognize it. I, too, want to see You.
I can see Your majesty when I look up, Your glory in a child, and Your beauty in a flower. But it is not enough. Philip wants more than just to look. He longs for fellowship with the Father, for true connection. Only then will it be enough. That longing dwells in every person: to know that God is love—so exalted and yet so close, so powerful and at the same time as vulnerable as a child.
Looking Beyond
And then Jesus answers, and His answer is simpler than Philip expected: “I have been with you all this time, and you still do not know Me, Philip? Whoever has seen Me has seen the Father.” There is no detour, and no other proof is needed. He is the One.
Sometimes we see something and do not recognize God. Then we see a human being, a prophet, or a preacher. Some thought Jesus was Elijah or another prophet, but Peter said, “You are the Son of the living God.” Jesus asks us to look further, deeper, into His heart. John did just that. He was reclining at the table close to His chest. Anyone who lies that close hears His heartbeat and knows who He is.
Earlier in this chapter, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Through Him, we may see the Father and follow Him in faith. It is the way of suffering, but also the way of the resurrection. He is the truth, and whoever remains in Him may receive His Spirit and understand the truth. Then our hearts can be purified of the lie of rejection and of feeling inadequate. He is life. Thank You, Lord Jesus, that I have found life in You.
He is grace
Hear Him calling Philip, and me, and you: “Come closer, Philip. Set aside every doubt and come to My heart. I have gone to prepare a place for you. Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? I tell you this because I want to save you, embrace you, press you to My chest, and pour out My grace into your life.”
“Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me. And if not, then believe Me because of the works.”
Not the miracles
But I don’t want to believe in You because of the works, no matter how unique Your healings, deliverances, and words may be. I want to believe in You because I know You. So many came to follow You for the miracles and signs, but You made it clear that that’s not what it’s about. Knowing You and being known by You goes so much further than the works.
And yet Jesus says: “Whoever believes in Me will do the works that I do, and even greater ones, because I am going to the Father.” Not in a theater with grand spectacles, but in complete silence. Blessing a child to bring healing, comforting a woman to strengthen her, encouraging a person who is alone. Jesus has gone to the Father, but He has given His Spirit so that His work may continue through us.
More Than Jesus
You can do that, Philip. And you who are reading this, whoever you are, can be used by God. Of course, even more so, because the Lord walked on earth for only three years, and He has commissioned us to continue His work: healing the heart, the body, and the soul.
To those weighed down by guilt, like David, who cried out to God, the Lord says: “Though your sins are as red as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” Whiter than snow. Thank You, Lord Jesus, that You speak those words to me as well.
I want to do the works that You have done, so that I may be a blessing—not only for myself, though that is also allowed, for whoever enters that stream of love will experience Your grace flowing through them to others.
Thank You for going to the Father and pouring out Your Spirit upon us. I don’t need to see You to know who You are. I know You.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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