“Show us the father” -Philip to Jesus

A doubt/struggle that is comforting

John 14 1 Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God ; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” 9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

This is a very familiar passage with quite a few famous and popular verses. Thomas asks a very sensible question to Jesus regarding where he is going, and which is the way (Destination and path). Jesus responds with a beautiful phrase that he is the way and the truth and the life; everyone comes to the father through him. Till now it is relatively okay.

Philip comes with a question, which seems stupid in some way. Or it seems that he doesn’t want to follow the process/way Jesus offers, but to reach the destination. It can be like the tendency of us Christians — we want to reach heaven, but don’t want to live the life as Christians. Surely that tendency is something to be avoided, but is Philip and his question so bad? (Philip is my baptismal name; I should atleast try to defend him).

Jesus’ response to Philip shows a certain upset Jesus might have had after hearing that question of Philip to show the father. Surely Jesus has every reason to be upset. But the struggle of Philip is a real struggle of many believers. We find it difficult to believe. We are speaking of realities not easy to believe. Hopefully, in our moments of doubts, struggles — characters like Philip (even after all their personal experience with Jesus) who struggled and doubted offer us comfort. Surely the seemingly upset Jesus definitely doesn’t leave Philip. He still loves him. He accompanies him.