Faith without religion.
Divine Connection: Knowing the Father Through the Son
In a recent teaching, we delved into the profound words of Jesus in John 14:17, exploring His relationship with the Father and our connection to Him. Jesus, addressing His apostles, emphasized that knowing Him is akin to knowing the Father. This spiritual knowledge, or “gnosko,” transcends mere intellectual understanding, inviting us into a deeper, more intimate relationship with the divine.
The discussion highlighted the Greek terms for “know,” illustrating the difference between seeing, understanding, and truly knowing in a spiritual sense. Jesus’ words to His apostles were not just about physical sight but about perceiving and discerning the divine nature within Him. This perception is crucial for understanding the invisible God, who is fully represented in Jesus.
Philip’s request to see the Father revealed a common human desire for tangible proof, yet Jesus pointed him back to Himself, underscoring that to see Him is to perceive the Father. This teaching challenges us to move beyond seeking physical manifestations and to embrace the spiritual reality of God’s presence in Jesus.
The journey from faith to knowing is a transformative process. Initially, we walk by faith, trusting in God’s promises. Over time, as we mature spiritually, we begin to “know” with certainty, moving beyond faith into a realm of spiritual knowledge. This progression reflects a deeper relationship with God, where faith transitions into knowing, preparing us for the ultimate knowledge of God in eternity.
In this teaching, we are reminded that through Jesus, we encounter the fullness of God. By knowing the Son, we know the Father, and this knowledge is the foundation of our spiritual journey. As we grow in this understanding, we are invited to leave behind the elementary principles and move toward spiritual completeness, where faith becomes knowledge, and we stand in the presence of God with certainty.
