14:7
This verse reads a little oddly, and there is a textual variant. The main text in ESV seems to imply that up to that point they had not known Jesus, and then says that now they do know Him. The variant (see margin in ESV, NIV etc) puts it in a slightly more positive light. If we go with the main text what are we to make of it? What is the difference about now? Up to this point Jesus had mentioned His being handed over, and his death, but these things went right over the heads of the disciples. Now they are being brought face to face with these matters. They are forced to confront them, both in terms of Jesus’ teaching that they are now receiving, and in the events of the cross itself. It is only when we confront the cross, or rather let the cross confront us, that we know Jesus and know the Father.
14:8,9
Philip now pipes up, and seems to be as ignorant as Thomas was, asking Jesus to show them the Father. Have they not been listening at all? Jesus has spoken a lot about Him and the Father being one, etc. Indeed, this seems to be what Jesus says to Philip, “Have I been with you so long ...”. If we have seen Jesus then we have seen the Father, if we know Jesus then we know the Father.
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