“He Who Has Seen Me Has Seen the Father”: The Confession of Christ’s Divinity
By Dr. Maxwell Shimba, Shimba Theological Institute
Introduction
The words of Jesus in John 14:9—“He who has seen Me has seen the Father”—are among the most profound Christological statements in all of Scripture. They are not the words of a mere prophet, teacher, or rabbi, but the very self-disclosure of God incarnate. These words affirm that in the person of Jesus Christ, the fullness of God is revealed. This article explores the theological depth of this confession, its biblical foundations, and its implications for faith and worship.
1. The Biblical Context of Jesus’ Confession
In John 14, Jesus is preparing His disciples for His departure. Philip, struggling to understand, pleads: “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us” (John 14:8). Jesus responds with divine clarity: “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know Me, Philip? Whoever has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9).
This statement cannot be reduced to metaphor or symbolism. It is not merely saying that Jesus represents God’s values, but that He is the visible manifestation of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15). Jesus does not point beyond Himself to another; He reveals that to look upon Him is to behold the very nature of God.
2. Old Testament Foundations: The Invisible God Made Visible
Throughout the Old Testament, no one could see God and live (Exodus 33:20). God’s glory was concealed, His presence shrouded in cloud and fire. Yet the prophets spoke of a coming Messiah who would reveal God’s character in fullness (Isaiah 9:6, Micah 5:2).
The statement of Jesus fulfills this anticipation. In Christ, the invisible God becomes visible without mediation. John affirms this truth at the very beginning of his Gospel: “No one has ever seen God; the only begotten God, who is at the Father’s side, He has made Him known” (John 1:18). Jesus is not merely a messenger of God but God Himself in human flesh.
3. The Theological Implications of Jesus’ Words
a) Christ’s Equality with the Father
By declaring that seeing Him is seeing the Father, Jesus affirms ontological equality with God. This is a direct assertion of His divinity. No prophet, not even Moses or Elijah, could make such a claim. They bore witness to God; Christ embodies Him.
b) The Doctrine of the Trinity
This statement illuminates the mystery of the Trinity: one God in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. While distinct in personhood, they are united in essence. Thus, to see Christ is not to see another god but to encounter God in His fullness.
c) The Exclusivity of Salvation in Christ
If Christ is the visible God, then He alone is the way to the Father (John 14:6). This negates pluralism and relativism. To reject Christ is to reject God Himself, for there is no knowledge of the Father apart from the Son.
4. Historical Witness of the Early Church
The early church fathers recognized John 14:9 as a central proof of Christ’s divinity. Athanasius, in his defense against Arianism, declared: “The Son is in the Father, and the Father in the Son, for the Son is the very image and radiance of the Father’s essence.” Likewise, Augustine argued: “When you see Christ, you see God, for the Father is in Him, and He is in the Father.”
The Nicene Creed (325 AD) echoes this truth by affirming that Jesus is “God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one essence with the Father.”
5. Practical Implications for Faith and Worship
If Jesus is the visible revelation of God, then:
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Worship of Jesus is Worship of God. To adore Christ is not idolatry but true worship, since He shares the divine essence.
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Knowing Jesus is Knowing God. The quest for God ends in Christ; He is the final and full revelation.
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Living in Christ is Living in the Father’s Presence. Believers, united with Christ through the Spirit, participate in the divine life of the Trinity.
Conclusion
The confession of Jesus in John 14:9 shatters all attempts to reduce Him to a mere prophet or moral teacher. His claim is divine, absolute, and exclusive. To see Christ is to see the Father, for He is God incarnate. This truth calls us to worship, surrender, and proclaim Him to the world.
Sermonic Exhortation
Beloved, hear the voice of Christ today: “He who has seen Me has seen the Father.”
This is not a suggestion but a declaration of His deity. If you want to know the Father, look to Jesus. If you want to see the glory of God, gaze upon Christ. If you desire eternal life, come to the One who is the way, the truth, and the life.
Therefore, let us worship Him, proclaim Him, and live in Him, for in Jesus Christ we see the face of God.
✝️ By Dr. Maxwell Shimba
Shimba Theological Institute
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