My Father’s Child 我父亲的孩子

[Dexu Xia]

My Father’s Child

Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. John 14:9

They looked down at the faded photograph, then up at me, then over at my father, then back at me, then back at my father. Their eyes were as wide as the proverbial saucers. “Dad, you look just like Papa when he was young!” My father and I grinned because this was something we’d known for a long time, but it wasn’t until recently that my children came to the same realization. While my father and I are different people, in a very real sense to see me is to see my father as a younger man: tall, lanky frame; full head of dark hair; prominent nose; and rather large ears. No, I am not my father, but I am most definitely my father’s son.      

A follower of Jesus named Philip once asked, “Lord, show us the Father” (John 14:8). And while it wasn’t the first time Jesus had indicated as much, His response was still cause for pause: “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (v. 9). Unlike the physical resemblances between my father and me, what Jesus says here is revolutionary: “Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me?” (v. 10). His very essence and character were the same as His Father’s.

In that moment Jesus was being straightforward with His beloved disciples and us: If you want to know what God is like, look at Me.   

What are some of the characteristics of Jesus (and the Father) that resonate strongly with you, and why? How has He been molding your character?

Jesus, when things seem overwhelming, remind me that to see You is to see the Father. Help me keep my eyes fixed on You.

我父亲的孩子

人看见了我，就是看见了父。—约翰福音14章9节

    孩子们低头看着褪色的照片，然后抬头看着我，再看看我父亲的照片，目光不停在我和父亲之间来回扫视。过后，他们不敢置信地睁大眼睛，惊讶地说：“爸爸，你跟爷爷年轻的时候简直一模一样！”我和父亲都笑了，因为我们很早就知道这个事实了，但直到最近我的孩子们才发现这一点。虽然我和父亲是不同的个体，但确切地说，看到现在的我，就像是看到我父亲年轻的模样。我们都同样有高大瘦长的骨架、一头黑发、突出的鼻子，以及一双大耳朵。当然，我不是我父亲，但我绝对是我父亲的儿子。

    耶稣的门徒腓力对祂说：“求主将父显给我们看”（约翰福音14章8节）。耶稣却告诉腓力：“人看见了我，就是看见了父”（9节）。虽然这不是耶稣第一次直接指出自己的身分，但祂的回应仍然令人深思。这对当时的门徒来说是个全新的概念，耶稣接着说：“我在父里面，父在我里面，你不信吗？”（10节）耶稣的本质和属性与天父完全相同，不像我跟我父亲仅是外表相像。在那一刻，耶稣向祂所爱的门徒（以及我们）清楚表明：如果你想知道上帝是什么样，请看着我。

    耶稣，当困难重重、事事不顺的时候，求祢提醒我，看见祢就是看见天父。帮助我定睛仰望祢。

    耶稣（和天父）有哪些特质深深地吸引你？为什么呢？

    祂如何塑造你的性格使你象祂?