Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary John 14:8

"Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us." — John 14:8 (ASV)

If Thomas was a skeptic, Philip was a realist. Having determined in his thinking that the Father of whom Jesus spoke must be the Ultimate Absolute, Philip demanded that he and his associates might see him. Philip was also materialistic; abstractions meant little to him. Nevertheless he had a deep desire to experience God for himself. If he and the other disciples could only apprehend God with at least one of their senses, they would be satisfied. Perhaps Philip wanted to have an experience such as Jacob (Genesis 32:24, 30), Samson’s parents , and Moses (Exodus 34:4–8) had had.