KJV Sermon Outlines

Show Me The Father

Text: John 14:8 - 14

Introduction: Like Philip many people say “show me the Father” or another words, prove it! If I can just see him with my eyes, feel Him with my hands I will believe.
Philip’s request was, “show us the Father”—a dazzling spectacular sight, a visible sight of God, a tangible God. Jesus had been discussing the fact that He was returning to the Father and that the disciples could not go with Him, not now (John 13:33-14:7). Philip’s request shows how the disciples interpreted His words.

They thought Jesus meant that He was going to some mountaintop or some other quiet place to meet God face to face just as great men of God had done in the past, men such as...
• Jacob (Genesis 28:12f; Genesis 32:24f).
• Moses (Exodus 3:1f; Exodus 24:9-11; Exodus 33:14-23; Exodus 34:5-9).
• Joshua (Joshua 5:13f).
• Gideon (Judges 6:21f).
• Elijah (1 Kings 19:4f).
• Isaiah (Isaiah 6:1f).
• Ezekiah (Ezekiel 1:1f; Ezekiel 10:1f).

Philip wanted to go with Jesus to see the Father as well. Why? Note two things.
1. Philip felt that a dramatic experience with God—that seeing God—would calm their troubled hearts and solve their problems...
• of strife and division (see notes—John 14:1-3; note—Luke 22:24-30).
• of betrayal and desertion (John 13:18f).
• of denial (John 13:38).
• of ignorance and misunderstanding (John 1:36; John 14:5).

2. Note the emphasis upon the dramatic experience: upon seeking the spectacular and the dazzling, the physical and visible—some sign that God is—that He actually exists. How many ask for the dramatic experience and the spectacular sign? They think that once they have had a dazzling sight of God, then...
• their peace will come.
• their problems will be solved.
• they will believe.
• they will serve God.
• they will change.
• they will do right.

3. Philip was not satisfied with what he saw in Jesus, nor with what He had received in Jesus. Walking by faith was not enough. Philip wanted to see some astounding and spectacular Person who appeared in dazzling form. Jesus, seated there before Philip, although the Son of God, appeared as a mere man in bodily form. He was not appearing in the dazzling, glorious Being of a heavenly Person. He was not in a spectacular form or vision as men of old had seen and as men usually think of God when they think of the Supreme Universal Being. Jesus was appearing and communicating and living as a mere human being. Philip wanted more than what Jesus was.

I. Show Me – V.8
A. Lacks Faith
B. Lacks Trust
C. Lacks Unerstanding

What an indictment against men! Men often say, “Jesus is not enough. More is needed. Jesus was a mere man; He could not be the Son of God. Perhaps He was a son of God in the sense that He was the best man who ever lived, but no more.” Such men walk through life being blind to the great love of God.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

“In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2 Cor. 4:4).

“[Men] having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart” (Ephes. 4:18).


II. Tell Me – V.9
A. Actions speak louder than words
B. The truth
C. By their fruit

The revelation was astounding—Jesus was the full embodiment of God. “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father.” When a man sees Jesus, he sees a Person...
• who is the very nature of God.
• who is the very character of God.
• who is the very substance of God.
• who is the very perfection of God.
• who is God in all of His perfect Being.

Jesus Christ is not the same Person as God the Father, but He has the same perfect nature. Jesus Christ is God the Son. Therefore, the person who has seen Jesus Christ has seen the Father in all the fulness of the Father’s nature—that person has seen in Jesus the very embodiment of perfection, the perfect embodiment of Being, both perfect love and perfect righteousness.

“He that seeth me seeth Him that sent me” (John 12:45).

“If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him” (John 14:7).

“All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you” (John 16:15).

“In Him dwelleth all the fulness of God” (Col. 2:9).

“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory” (1 Tim. 3:16).

“Who [Christ] being the brightness of God’s glory, and the express image of His person” (Hebrews 1:3).

III. Believe Me – V.11
A. Faith
B. Works
C. Faith = Works

Belief: the clear promise to those who believe Jesus. There are two promises to the believer. Note the words “verily, verily”—words that call one to perk up and listen closely. What was being said was of tremendous importance.
1. The first promise is the power to do great works: the power to do the very same works that Jesus did.
2. The second promise is the answer to all prayers.

IV. Prove Me – V.14
A. See for yourself what God will do
B. Give it a try
C. Believer Works

Conclusion: When you believe by faith that Jesus is God Incarnate or in the flesh, you can do greater works than He did on this earth.

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