19 Then they asked him, "Where is your father?"
"You do not know me or my Father," Jesus replied. "If you knew me, you would know my Father also." 20 He spoke these words while teaching in the temple area near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his time had not yet come.
Puzzled over His familiarity with God, His Father, in our verses for today, the Pharisees caustically cross examine Jesus regarding the whereabouts of His earthly Daddy. They wrongly assume Jesus to be referring to His flesh and blood relations in lieu of His heavenly Father on whose mission our Savior was now sent. Jesus’ response to them is searing and penetrating and one in which we should take heed of as well – if we know Jesus we will know the Father – Christ being the Door and the Way we are ushered into the fullness of the knowledge of God. Paul tells us in Colossians:
2 My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Col 2:2-3 (NIV)
The writer of Hebrews states the following Truth regarding our Savior:
1 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. Heb 1:1-3 (NIV)
The reason men remain ignorant of God is that they remain unacquainted with His Son. Jesus gives us the following Truth in Matthew:
27 "All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Matt 11:27 (NIV)
Indeed, in His great Priestly Prayer of John 17 we find the following Words of our Savior attesting to the definition of eternal life – to know the One and Only true God and Jesus Christ whom God has sent:
2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. John 17:2-5 (NIV)
Interestingly, the word translated “know” in verse 3 is from the Greek word “Ginosko” meaning “to come to know by experience, to gain or receive knowledge of; to know by trial and by examination and by observing; to understand secret doctrine, parables; to be aware of, familiarly acquainted with; to be assured of.” Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible New Testament Lexical Aids. It is God’s desire for us to know Him experientially. Through experiencing Him in our lives and circumstances – tasting Him, so to speak, we will find Him both faithful and good. As we become familiarly acquainted with Him we become thoroughly convinced – faith never being blind.
Our Savior’s enemies were both ignorant of Himself and of His Father in heaven. Even with all their prideful knowledge, privilege and pedigree these Pharisees were still found wanting – their thinking was amiss regarding both the Father and the Son. We find here that great familiarity with the letter of the Scriptures can certainly be compatible with gross spiritual darkness. The Pharisees were well familiar with Old Testament prophecies yet they neither knew Christ nor God.
“Their eyes were darkened that they could not see the light of his glory shining in the face of Jesus Christ.” Matthew Henry
One cannot have the Father without the Son – to reject One is to reject the Other. One who desires to have a relationship with God the Father and serve Him must begin with Jesus. He is our Access. Scripture teaches us the following:
23 No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also. 1 John 2:23 (NIV)