Bringing glory to God

John 14:8-14

8 Philip said to him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.’ 9 Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, “Show us the Father”? 10 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; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. 12 Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.

Philip’s question shows just how outside the expectations of the disciples is Jesus’ claim in vs. 7, that to know Jesus is to see God the Father. Philip’s question has us asking, “Were you not paying attention to what was just said?” But to our ears the idea that Jesus and God the Father are one is not new. To think of God being in Jesus and at work in Jesus is not a new idea for us, we have heard it over and over again. But to the disciples this was new. And it was so new that it took time to assimilate that idea into their thinking.

Jesus speaks the words of God (vs. 10). God “dwells” in Jesus (vs. 10) and Jesus is in the Father and the Father is in Jesus (vs. 11). And finally, the signs/miracles that Jesus has done prove that there is a power at work in him that is beyond human ability. All of this is offered as evidence of the claim in vs. 9 – to see Jesus, to know Jesus, is to see and know God.

Then vs. 12-14 take a surprising turn. The relationship that God the Father and Jesus have is one that we are invited to join. In joining that connection, our works, our lives, our actions bring glory to God just as Jesus works, life and actions brought glory to God. As the Shorter Catechism says, “Human beings’ primary purpose is to glorify God, and enjoy God forever.” As we live into our highest purpose of bringing glory to God, we bring to Jesus takes our requests, our desires for a transformed world, for transformed lives, that God’s name would be glorified.  

PRAYER:

God of glory, shape our lives, our actions, our desires, to fulfill our highest purpose as human beings, bringing glory to your name. Transform us that we would live lives that honour and glorify you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.