Knowing the Father 认识天父

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Dexu Xia

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Mar 9, 2021, 11:55:45 PM3/9/21

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Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” John 14:9

According to legend, British conductor Sir Thomas Beecham once saw a distinguished-looking woman in a hotel foyer. Believing he knew her but unable to remember her name, he paused to talk with her. As the two chatted, he vaguely recollected that she had a brother. Hoping for a clue, he asked how her brother was doing and whether he was still working at the same job. “Oh, he’s very well,” she said, “And still king.”

A case of mistaken identity can be embarrassing, as it was for Sir Beecham. But at other times it may be more serious, as it was for Jesus’ disciple Philip. The disciple knew Christ, of course, but he hadn’t fully appreciated who He was. He wanted Jesus to “show [them] the Father,” and Jesus responded, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:8–9). As God’s unique Son, Christ reveals the Father so perfectly that to know one is to know the other (vv. 10–11).

If we ever wonder what God is like in His character, personality, or concern for others, we only need to look to Jesus to find out. Christ’s character, kindness, love, and mercy reveal God’s character. And although our amazing, awesome God is beyond our complete comprehension and understanding, we have a tremendous gift in what He’s revealed of Himself in Jesus.

How well do you know God’s character? How does it match your perception of who Jesus is?

Dear God, help me to grow in my knowledge and appreciation of who You are.

耶稣对他说：“腓力，我与你们同在这样长久，你还不认识我吗？人看见了我，就是看见了父。”—约翰福音14章9节

根据传说，英国指挥家汤玛士 · 毕勤爵士曾在酒店大厅见到一位外表出众的女士。毕勤爵士觉得自己认识她，但却忘了她的名字，于是便驻足与她攀谈。聊天时，毕勤爵士依稀记得她有个兄弟，为了想起她的名字，所以就问起她哥哥的近况，是不是仍从事同一份工作。这位女士回答说：“喔，他很好，他还是在当国王。”

搞错别人的身分的确令人尴尬，就像毕勤爵士那样。但在有些时候，情况可能更为严重，就像耶稣的门徒腓力一样。腓力身为门徒，当然认识耶稣，但他还没有完全明白耶稣的身分。腓力希望耶稣将父显给他们看，耶稣却回答说：“人看见了我，就是看见了父”（约翰福音14章8-9节）。身为上帝的独生子，耶稣完美地展现了天父的形象，以至于认识子就是认识了父（10-11节）。

如果我们还不明白上帝的特质、属性或对人的关顾，只需看看耶稣的作为，就能对上帝有所了解。因耶稣的特质，例如恩慈、慈爱和怜悯都彰显了上帝的属性。虽然上帝的奇妙和伟大完全超出我们的理解范围，但上帝已赐给我们宝贵的礼物，就是藉着耶稣显明祂自己，让我们可以认识祂。

你认识上帝的哪些特质？
这些特质如何符合你对耶稣的认识呢？