0666. Christ the Interpretation of the Father

Christ the Interpretation of the Father

"No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him" (Joh_1:18).

The Greek word for "declared Him," means, "interpreted Him," or, "told Him out." God the Father dwells in "a light which no man can approach unto." "No man hath seen God at any time." "No one hath heard His voice or seen His shape," but Christ has "told Him out."

The heathen of other lands, who have never known God; and many among those in this country, blessed with some knowledge of God, hold altogether erroneous ideas concerning Him.

Illustration: A woman, who had lost a beautiful, golden-haired girl, once said unto us: "Please don’t talk to me about God, for He is cruel, He hates me; but you may talk to me of Christ, for I know He loves me." How can any one imagine that there is any distinction toward us, in the heart of God, and in the heart of Christ?

Jesus Christ and the Father are one. Jesus Christ was with the Father from before the foundation of the world. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God"–"And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us" (Joh_1:1, Joh_1:14).

The Word with the Father was God, and the Word manifested on earth was God. Thus, in beholding the Word, we behold "the glory of the Father, full of grace and truth."

When Jesus Christ came to the earth, He was God manifested in the flesh, for we read: "Great is the mystery of Godliness; God was manifested in the flesh" (1Ti_3:16).

Jesus Christ was "the forthshining of His (the Father’s) glory, and the expression of His being" (Heb_1:3). No wonder then, that, when Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father" Christ answered, "Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known Me, Philip? He that hath seen Me, hath seen the Father" (Joh_14:8-9).

Jesus also said, "He that seeth Me, seeth Him that sent Me" (Joh_12:45). Again He said, "I am not alone, but I and the Father * * if ye had known Me, ye should have known My Father also." Jesus Christ was, in very deed, the interpretation of the Father.

"In grace the Holy God

Did full salvation plan,

Electing in His sov’reign grace

To save rebellious man.

This grace of God appears

In Jesus Christ His Son,

He, lifted on the Cross of shame,

The grace of God makes known.

To all who do believe

In God, through Christ revealed,

By grace they full salvation have,

And ‘sons of God’ are sealed."

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR