What Jesus Reveals About His Father's Ethos

In Part 1 of this study, we explored 6 Key Aspects of God’s Ethos. Last week in Part 2, we discovered 5 Ways Jesus Perfectly Reveals God’s Ethos, and today we're going to look into Part 3—What Jesus Reveals About His Father's Ethos.

We learned that the Ethos of God is evident in His character, heart, and ways. We've seen that Jesus is not just a reflection of God's nature but the exact imprint of it (Hebrews 1:3).

​Today, we dive into one of the most profound statements Jesus ever made about this connection: “Whoever has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9).

Let’s take a closer look at what this means and how it shapes our understanding of God.

In John 14, Philip makes a heartfelt request: “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us” (John 14:8). ​It’s a request many of us have echoed in our own ways. We long for a clear, unmistakable glimpse of God—to see Him, know Him, and understand His heart.

And Jesus answers with love, patience, and deep truth: “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know Me, Philip? Whoever has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). This is more than a gentle correction. It’s a revelation. Jesus is saying, “Philip, the Father you seek—He’s been with you all along. You’ve seen Him in Me.” You see, Jesus doesn't just represent God's ethos. He is God’s ethos in human form. Everything Jesus did—every act of compassion, every word of truth, every confrontation of injustice—was a direct expression of God’s nature.

Here’s what that means for us:

• God is kind to sinners because Jesus was.
• God is compassionate to the hurting because Jesus was.
• God is holy and just because Jesus upheld truth.
• God is forgiving because Jesus forgave, even from the cross.

To know Jesus is to know the Father. Not partially. Not symbolically. But completely. “He is the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15). “In Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell” (Colossians 1:19).

This moment in John 14:9 isn’t just a powerful teaching—it’s a fulfillment of prophecy:

• Isaiah 7:14 – “Immanuel” means God with us.
• Isaiah 9:6 – The child born to us is called Mighty God.
• John 1:14 – “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”

In Jesus, the invisible became visible. The ethos of God—His holy, faithful, merciful nature—walked, spoke, healed, and sacrificed Himself among us.

So when you read the Gospels, you are not just reading stories about a good man, you're seeing God’s heart revealed:

• His kindness toward the woman caught in adultery.
• His compassion for the leper who dared to believe.
• His righteous anger toward religious hypocrisy.
• His unshakable love poured out on the cross.

Every word Jesus spoke and every tear He shed show us the Father.

​“Whoever has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). This truth changes everything. If you’ve ever wondered what God is really like, the answer is simple: Look at Jesus.

So, what’s next? We’ve now learned of God's ethos, seen how Jesus perfectly reveals God’s ethos, and what He reveals about His Father's ethos, but it doesn't stop there. Jesus didn’t leave us alone after His resurrection and ascension into glory. The next step in our journey? Exploring how the Holy Spirit continues to reveal God’s ethos to us today. It all fits together like a beautiful, spiritual puzzle—The Father, Son, and Spirit revealing the One, unchanging, faithful heart of God.

If seeing Jesus is seeing the Father, how might our understanding of God's character deepen by carefully studying the life, words, and actions of Jesus in the Gospels?

Read also:
6 Key Aspects of God’s Ethos
5 Ways Jesus Perfectly Reveals God’s Ethos
5 Ways the Holy Spirit Reveals God’s Ethos to Believers

---

Thank you for joining the InstaEncouragements weekly Christian link-up! We’d love it if you could grab our IE link-up button, add it to your blog, and link back to this post. We truly appreciate your support. 

​If you’re new to link-ups, be sure to check out our IE LINK-UP page for a brief explanation and a list of other link-ups you can participate in. Have an amazing week!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

---