A reconciled reconciler

In John chapter 14, verses 8 – 10, Philip said to Jesus:

“‘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 are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.’” (NIV)

That brings up three aspects of the relationship of Jesus with the Father. First of all, Jesus did not speak His own words, but He spoke words that had been committed to Him to speak by the Father who sent Him.

Secondly, Jesus did not do anything in His miraculous ministry through His own power or ability. He said, "Really, it isn't I who am doing it, but it's the Father who is performing His works through Me." And thirdly, and this is even more amazing, to see Jesus was to see the Father. He said, "You don't need to see the Father. You've seen Me. And if you've seen Me, you've seen the Father."

Third, to see Jesus was to see the Father. Now, here's the application. Jesus said, "Just as the Father sent Me, I'm sending you. In other words, the relationship that existed between the Father and Me, will be the same relationship that exists between Me and you, My disciples."

What does that mean? It means that exactly what was true of the relationship of Jesus to the Father should be true of us to Jesus. First of all we do not speak our own words. We speak words proceeding from Jesus. Secondly, it isn't we who do what's done in any significant sense, it's Jesus in us performing His works, just as it was the Father in Jesus performing His works. Third, to see us is to see Jesus. Isn't that a challenge and a responsibility?