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7
So I was struck with the way in which the Lord Jesus speaks
of seeing the Father. There is a remarkable reference earlier in
the gospel when He says, “Ye have neither heard his voice at
any time, nor have seen his shape”, John 5: 37. I would not
attempt to enlarge upon that, but just to leave it where the
scripture leaves it in the words of our blessed Lord Himself.
But it seems to indicate that there is that which is substantial in
expression. The Lord Jesus had been here, and through the
course of His ministry He had found His pleasure in the
revelation of the Father, as He says, “nor does anyone know
the Father, but the Son, and he to whom the Son may be
pleased to reveal him” (Matthew 11: 27); it was His pleasure
here to reveal the Father. But not only was there the revelation
of the Father in His teaching and what He said, but there was
what was there in substantial expression, and so He says to
His own here, “henceforth ye know him and have seen him”.
They saw Him in Jesus. Think of how Jesus could speak to
His own and refer to them as children. Think of how He could
speak to one and say, “Daughter”. Think of these feelings of
tender love and compassion which were in the heart of the
Lord Jesus coming into expression, all that was in the heart of
the Father coming into expression in that blessed Man.
So He says here, “ye know him and have seen him”. “Philip
says to him, Lord, shew us the Father and it suffices us”. How
the Lord Jesus must have felt it; you can almost sense the
depth of feeling as He says, “Am I so long a time with you, and
thou hast not known me.
Philip? He that has seen me has seen the Father”. You see it
is not only a question of what was heard and what was done,
but what was seen, what was seen in Jesus. And I believe that
what has been seen, what has been in evidence, in our
beloved brother has been this feature of fatherhood. Those of
us who are younger have especially felt it. I would say simply
that when beloved Mr. P. Lyon was taken from us in London
the loss was felt greatly, the loss of a father, but it was not long
before one felt that his place was, in measure at least, and in