The Greek word γινώσκω (ginosko), meaning to know, is used 141 times in John’s Gospel. It is used in different ways, because there are different levels of knowing and different reasons for knowing something. The first stage is knowing a fact. The next level is understanding the truth. And the essence of this knowledge and understanding is to be in a relationship, which will definitely lead to a communion of life between the knower and the known.
The Human Endeavour
There are various ways people seek to know and understand God. For instance, through the study of written texts, through the reading about the experience of others, or about natural events. This human effort is, however, sometimes limited to mere knowledge of God as the initial Being that is responsible for the created world. It does not always end with an intimate relationship with Him.
The Divine Desire
The fact that God sent his son into the world shows us that he wants to be known, and desires that we experience his love. By sending his son, he concretizes his interest in entering into relationship with humanity. Thus, with the event of the incarnation, he cannot be regarded as a distant or an impersonal God.
Jesus’ earthly presence serves as a bridge between the divine and the human. That is the reason behind Jesus’ word: he who sees me has also seen the Father. Augustine of Hippo, in a sermon on this passage, notes how Jesus identifies Himself with the Father while distinguishing himself from the Father. Thus, Jesus does not mean that he as the Son is also the Father, but that the Son in no respect disagrees with the likeness of the Father.
Thus, the Father and the Son are identical in essence, but they differ with respect to their personhood. That means, if we want to see the goodness, wisdom, and power of God the Father, we must look to how they are manifested in the life of Jesus.
The Disciples’ Way of Knowing the Father
Just as we come to know a person through spending time with him/her, understanding God requires intentional efforts. By spending time with Jesus, the disciples are expected to have known him and the Father too, because through his teachings, and sacrificial life, Jesus reveals the essence of God’s character and purpose. That is applicable in our time. Just like the disciples, it is important to spend time with God through the study of the scripture, communal worship, and other religious services, so as to be able to perceive the depth of the love of God.
The Divine Purpose Regarding This Self-Revelation
Central to the creation of mankind, the incarnation and the redemption is that we share in God’s life and reality. That implies seeing things just as God sees them. That implies loving as he loves us. And this is only possible when we encounter the love, wisdom, and power of God manifested in Jesus, especially regarding our redemption. May this Easter period help us to encounter the love of God, so much so that we not only share in his life but are able to show the world the Father, through our witness.
This reflection provided an awareness and understanding of how all good and mutual relationships should look – start with facts then to but to truly love we must do more than this. To better understand God ” it is important to spend time with God through the study of the scripture, communal worship, and other religious services, so as to be able to perceive the depth of the love of God.”
The quoted statement applies to any relationship, those between child and parent (me and God), siblings, husband and wife and neighbors. To better understand our family and friends, co-workers and neighbors and to love better, I will not only listen to facts about the person, I will do more to better understand the person and to learn to love as God through His son Jesus showed and shows his love for us.