If You’ve Seen Jesus

New to the Space

by Rev James M. Armpriester, Jr 

Who is the Christian God?

WEEK 2 DAY 3 — IF YOU’VE SEEN JESUS

What It Really Means to Know the Father

John 14:8–9 (ESV)
“Philip said to him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.’”

Philip’s request is honest—and deeply human.

“Show us the Father, and that will be enough.”

In other words:

• Give me certainty.
• Give me something solid before everything falls apart.
• Give me one more reason to trust You.

Many people carry that same prayer quietly:

• “If God is really good, show me.”
• “If God is really loving, prove it.”
• “If God is really there, I need more.”

Jesus’ response is not harsh—but it is clarifying.

There is no version of God hiding behind Jesus.

When Jesus says, “Whoever has seen Me has seen the Father,” He removes a lifelong fear many people carry:
That God might be different—stricter, colder, less gracious—once you get past Jesus.

Christianity makes a stunning claim: Jesus is the clearest, fullest, and final revelation of God’s character.

Not just His power. Not just His authority. His heart.

Why This Matters

Many people admire Jesus but remain uncertain about God.

They like Jesus’ compassion—but fear God’s judgment.
They trust Jesus’ mercy—but suspect God’s disappointment.

Jesus dismantles that split. The way Jesus treats sinners is how God treats sinners. The patience Jesus shows doubters is the patience of God. The grace Jesus offers the broken is the grace of the Father.

There is no harsher God waiting behind Christ.

The Old Testament shows us what God is like—holy, just, faithful. Jesus shows us who God is like—personally.

If you want to know how God responds when people fail, look at Jesus.
If you want to know God’s posture toward shame, look at Jesus.
If you want to know whether God moves toward you or away from you—look at Jesus.

Jesus does not soften God’s image. He reveals it.

What assumptions about God are you still holding that don’t actually come from Jesus?

Action Step

Identify one belief you’ve carried about God that creates distance—
harsh, disappointed, demanding, unreachable.

Then ask this simple question:
“Do I see this in Jesus?”

Let Jesus—not fear—define who God is to you.