Charles Ellicott Commentary John 14:9

"Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and dost thou not know me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; how sayest thou, Show us the Father?" — John 14:9 (ASV)

Have I been so long time with you, and yet have you not known me, Philip?—More exactly, ... have you not recognized Me, as in John 14:7. Compare the reference in John 14:8, from which it will be seen that Philip was one of the first-called disciples, and had occupied a prominent position in the group of Apostles.

There is in our Lord’s words a tone of sadness and of warning. They utter the loneliness of a holiness and greatness which is not understood.

The close of life is at hand, and Philip, who had followed Him from the first, shows by this question that he did not even know what the work and purposes of that life had been.

They speak to all Christian teachers, thinkers, workers. There is a possibility that men should be in the closest apparent nearness to Christ, and yet have never learned the meaning of the words they constantly hear and utter; and have never truly known the purpose of Christ’s life.

He that has seen me has seen the Father.—Compare Note on John 14:7, and Philip’s own answer to Nathanael, “Come and see” (John 1:46).

The demand of Philip is one which is constantly being made, and the answer is one that constantly holds good.

Men are ever thinking and saying, “Show us the Father and it suffices us.” “Give us something in religion on which the soul can rest.

We are weary of the doubts, and strife, and dogmas which are too often called religion. We want something which can be real food for the soul.

We cannot feed upon the husks which the swine eat; and we believe that in the Father’s house there is, even for the hired servants, bread enough and to spare. We are not irreligious, but we are impatient of what is put before us as religion. Give us truth! Give us life! Let it be free and open as the air of heaven, and we will gladly accept it, embrace it, live it.”

All this is the heart of the child seeking the presence of the Father. That Father has been manifested in the person of the Son.

In the Life and Truth revealed in Him is the full revelation of God. In Him is the Bread of Life to satisfy every want of every man.

He that has seen Him has seen the Father. How then can men say, Show us the Father? (Compare Note on John 12:44-45.)