Jesus is God — “If You’ve Seen Me, You’ve Seen the Father”

By Dr. Maxwell Shimba, Shimba Theological Institute

Introduction

The question of Jesus’ divinity lies at the very heart of Christian theology. Among His most striking declarations is found in John 14:9: “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father.” This statement reveals that in Jesus Christ, the fullness of God’s being and nature is manifested. Unlike prophets, patriarchs, or angels who served as mediators of God’s word and presence, Jesus speaks as the incarnate God. This chapter examines the biblical, theological, and historical dimensions of this claim, showing why the Church affirms that Jesus is God.

1. The Biblical Context

1.1 Old Testament Longing for God’s Presence

Moses pleaded, “Show me Your glory” (Exod. 33:18). Yet God replied, “You cannot see My face, for no man shall see Me and live” (Exod. 33:20). Israel experienced God’s presence in veiled forms: the burning bush, the cloud of glory, the tabernacle. The divine essence remained inaccessible.

1.2 Fulfillment in Christ

In the New Testament, this longing is fulfilled in Christ. Paul proclaims, “He is the image of the invisible God” (Col. 1:15). Likewise, Hebrews 1:3 declares, “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being.” Thus, when Philip requested, “Show us the Father” (John 14:8), Jesus responded that seeing Him was equivalent to beholding the Father.

1.3 Unity of Father and Son

Jesus’ unity with the Father is explicit throughout John’s Gospel:

“I and the Father are one” (John 10:30).
“Before Abraham was, I AM” (John 8:58).
“All that the Father has is mine” (John 16:15).

These are not metaphors of closeness alone, but ontological claims of shared essence.

2. Theological Foundations

2.1 The Trinity and Homoousios

The doctrine of the Trinity articulates that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct persons yet of one essence (homoousios). The Nicene Creed (AD 325) affirmed Christ as “true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father.” John 14:9 therefore functions as a doctrinal anchor: to see the Son is to encounter the Father’s being.

2.2 Patristic Witness

Athanasius, in On the Incarnation, argued that only God Himself could save humanity, hence Christ must be fully divine.
Augustine, in De Trinitate, emphasized that the Son reveals the Father’s essence, not merely His works.
Gregory of Nazianzus proclaimed, “What is not assumed is not healed.” Since Christ assumed full humanity without losing divinity, salvation becomes complete.

2.3 Christ’s Divine Works

The Gospels attest to divine prerogatives exercised by Christ:

Forgiveness of sins (Mark 2:5–7), a right belonging only to God.
Authority over nature (Mark 4:39–41), calming storms with divine command.
Reception of worship (John 20:28; Matt. 28:9), which would be blasphemy if He were not God.
Resurrection power (John 11:25), declaring, “I am the resurrection and the life.”

3. Christ as the Revelation of the Father

3.1 Compassion and Mercy

In His healing of lepers, His mercy toward sinners, and His embrace of the marginalized, Jesus reveals the Father’s love.

3.2 Holiness and Justice

In His rebuke of hypocrisy and cleansing of the temple, He embodies the Father’s holiness and justice.

3.3 Sacrificial Love

The cross is the ultimate revelation of the Father’s heart. In giving His Son, the Father reveals His love for the world (John 3:16). Jesus’ obedience unto death displays divine self-giving love.

4. Implications for Faith and Worship

4.1 Worship of Christ as God

Since Jesus reveals the Father, worship directed to Christ is worship of God. This is why the earliest Church prayed in His name and sang hymns exalting Him (Phil. 2:6–11).

4.2 Assurance of Divine Presence

Believers need not search for hidden revelations of God. In Christ, God is fully present. The believer’s relationship with God is secured in the incarnate Son.

4.3 Hermeneutical Lens

Christ becomes the interpretive key to understanding God. Any conception of God must align with His revelation in Jesus Christ. To see Him is to see the Father.

Conclusion

Jesus’ declaration, “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father,” is a cornerstone of Christian faith. It reveals that in Him, the invisible God becomes visible, the transcendent becomes immanent, and the unknowable becomes intimately known. To confess Jesus as God is not merely doctrinal precision but the foundation of salvation, worship, and eternal hope. The fullness of deity dwells bodily in Him (Col. 2:9), and in Him the Father is revealed.

References

Athanasius. On the Incarnation. St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 1998.
Augustine. De Trinitate (On the Trinity). Translated by Edmund Hill. New City Press, 1991.
Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV).
Holy Bible, Amplified Bible (AMP).
Kelly, J.N.D. Early Christian Doctrines. Harper & Row, 1978.
Oden, Thomas C. Classic Christianity: A Systematic Theology. HarperOne, 2009.
The Nicene Creed, Council of Nicaea (325 AD).
Torrance, Thomas F. The Trinitarian Faith: The Evangelical Theology of the Ancient Catholic Church. T&T Clark, 1988.
Wright, N.T. Jesus and the Victory of God. Fortress Press, 1996.

Monday, September 15, 2025