Published by Jerry Baysinger on 19 March 21 at 12:45pm.
SHOW THEM THE FATHER
There is so much trouble in the world today, if it isn’t caused by disease, or hunger, or evil people, then it’s caused by our own mind. It’s hard to have peace in your life if you’re like a ship on the sea with no anchor, being blown about by every storm. Back in the days when Jesus was ministering on earth, there were storms too, maybe not a lot different than the ones we deal with today.

The disciples were Jews, and when they started following Jesus, the “establishment” turned on Jesus and started looking for ways to kill him, because they feared losing their position of authority among the Jews, as well as the Roman government. As we follow the ministry of Jesus, we see how the Scribes and Pharisees were laying traps for Jesus at every opportunity, and therefore His followers were in just as much danger. And yet, Jesus was always at peace within himself. Though there were storms “outside”, there were no storms “inside”.
But how many of us can say that even though the storms rage outside, we have none inside? We become troubled inside because we don’t know the heavenly Father well enough. I’d like to use John 14:1-14 today for my text.
1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
It’s easy enough to say, “I believe in God”. Yet why did Jesus tell the disciples to not let their heart be troubled? He acknowledged they believed in God. Is that not enough? Jesus went on to say, “Believe also in ME”. The disciples saw Jesus as just another man among them. Yes, they were amazed by the healings and miracles done by Him, but somehow they weren’t getting the connection between Jesus and His Father.
2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
The King James translation uses the word “mansions”, while the Greek speaks of “dwelling places, offices, residences, abodes, mansions, and of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in believers. The part where Jesus said He goes to prepare a place for us is significant, because it means He doesn’t intend for us to be apart from Him. How long is that period of time? Jesus talked about “everlasting life”; that is life without end.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Well, He was leaving for “a while” by necessity to go prepare their place with Him, so that they could all be together with Him. Jesus spoke of His death, burial, and resurrection, telling them He would rise again after three days. So His absence from them would be for three days, and three nights, and then He would be back. And of course we can skip ahead a few chapters and read about that in John chapter 20 of how He appeared to them in a locked room where they were assembled for fear of the Jews. After Jesus was crucified, they figured they were next, and were in hiding for their lives. Yep, there was a storm outside, and the disciples were afraid. At that time they had not yet realized Jesus was alive again, just as He said. Let’s look at John chapter 20:
1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.
2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.
3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.
4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.
5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.
6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,
7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.
8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.
9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.
10 Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.
11 But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,
12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.
14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.
19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.
21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

Now back to John chapter 14:4.
4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

What a statement Jesus made there: if you had known Me, you should have known My Father also. Hadn’t Jesus shown them His Father every day already? And yet, we, like them, don’t recognize the Father, who is now living inside of every believer by the Holy Spirit. Back then, until the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit only “visited”, but since that day, He “indwells” us. The disciples didn’t have that indwelling until the day of Pentecost, so it’s only natural they were troubled by the events going on around them. We have no such excuse since that day, that is if we are truly “BELIEVERS”. Many are “believers” in name only, and that’s because we allow ourselves to become troubled. We simply don’t know the Father enough to fully trust Him, there can be no other reason. And it isn’t because He is hiding himself from us, it is WE who are not putting forth the effort to fully know and trust Him.

8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

Do WE believe that the Father, through the Holy Spirit REALLY lives in us, as He lived and worked through Jesus? There it is folks, we DON’T!
11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.
12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

The proof is in our own heart and mouth. Jesus cannot lie. His Father cannot lie. He said, Truly,TRULY, emphasizing TWICE, pay attention here, HE THAT BELIEVETH ON ME, THE WORKS THAT I DO HE SHALL DO ALSO….

So, if you believe, you’re doing it. And if you don’t? Well, the works speak for themselves. How can we do those works, unless He dwells in us? We can’t, plain and simple. BUT, if He DOES dwell in us, WHY are we not doing those works? Is the blood of Jesus WASTED ON US? Or do we still abide in unbelief? It has to be unbelief on our part, for the blood of Jesus cannot fail. The Word of God cannot fail, there is no fault on His part, the failure is ours, and ours alone. What can we do to resolve that? We can confess our unbelief and ask His forgiveness, and as the father of a boy who was possessed of a devil asked Jesus, HELP THOU MINE UNBELIEF!

13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

Here is our chance to be all that Jesus has for us. Unbelief will stop us from receiving His miracles in our lives. Overall, God WILL have His way, His plan of salvation is finished, and needs nothing added, except the sinner. And just who is the sinner? Anyone who does not believe upon Jesus.
Jesus showed them His Father. Now, if we are believers, and the Father dwells in us, then when people look at us, they should clearly see the Father. If they aren’t seeing the Father, then they aren’t seeing Jesus. And if they aren’t seeing Jesus in us, then we’re just another religious blabbing mouth, just as lost as every other sinner is. Our sins may be different, but sin is sin. Unbelief is just as much sin as adultery or murder is. There is only one CURE for sin, and that is for the sinner to believe in Christ Jesus. And if they believe, then signs and wonders will accompany them. And if not? Well, plain and simple, the blood speaks for itself.

When people say, “Show us the Father”, we should be able to say, if you’ve seen me, you’ve seen Jesus, and He and His Father are One. Though the storms of life rage all around us, the One who calms the storm is on the inside of us, that is, IF WE BELIEVE! We cannot show anyone the Father if He is not within us. So you know what needs to happen here, right? Then, what are you waiting for?