Articles
Jesus And His Father
How much alike are Jesus and the Father? Some would suggest that they are nothing alike, but complete opposites. However, read carefully the words of Christ to His disciples.
“If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.” Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves” (John 14:7-11).
Paul wrote that Jesus “is the image of the invisible God” (Col. 1:15). The word “image” is defined as: “a likeness, that is (literally) statue, profile, or (figuratively) representation, resemblance” (Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionary). So how is Jesus the “image” of the Father?
Consider how both Jesus and God love us (Rom. 8:35; 5:8; I John 4:8). Both are forgiving toward us sinners (Eph. 4:32; Col. 3:13). Both the Father and Son are merciful (Luke 6:36; Heb. 2:17). Both become angry with men who harden their hearts and rebel against their will (Mark 3:5; Heb. 3:7-13). Both the Father and Son will demonstrate their wrath towards the disobedient (John 3:36; Rev. 6:16). Both are described as taking vengeance on the wicked (Rom. 12:19; 2 Thess. 1:7-8). And yet, neither the Father nor the Son wants anyone to be lost, but to repent (Matt. 18:14; 2 Peter 3:9).
Clearly Jesus and the Father are not opposites whose attributes conflict with one another. No, Jesus is the EXPRESS IMAGE of the Father (Heb. 1:3). The Greek words here meaning “an exact copy of” (Strong’s). Jesus and God are in perfect unity with one another. “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me” (John 17:20-21).
The Bible teaches us: “Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:17). When one understands the relationship and nature of the Father and Son, it makes perfect sense that we are told to be imitators of both (Eph. 5:1; I Cor. 11:1), for to imitate One is to imitate the Other!
