Scripture: John 1:18 (ESV) – “No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, He has made Him known.”
John 1:18 declares a profound truth about the revelation of God: “No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, He has made Him known.” In this verse, we come to understand the unique role of Jesus Christ as the One who makes the invisible God known to us. It is only through Jesus, the eternal Son, that we can truly know and understand the Father.
God, in His essence, is spirit and dwells in unapproachable light. His holiness and glory are so overwhelming that no human being can see Him and live. Even Moses, the great prophet, was only permitted to see the back of God’s glory, for no one could behold His face and survive (Exodus 33:20-23). Yet, what humanity could never achieve by its own efforts—an intimate and clear understanding of God—has been graciously given to us in Jesus Christ.
Calvin emphasizes that Jesus, who is “at the Father’s side,” possesses an intimate and eternal relationship with the Father. He is not a mere messenger but God Himself, fully divine, and perfectly equipped to reveal the Father to us. In Christ, we see God’s character made visible. His love, grace, holiness, wisdom, and power are all on display in the person and work of Jesus. As Paul says in Colossians 1:15, Jesus is “the image of the invisible God.” He is God made knowable, relatable, and accessible to humanity.
This truth has immense implications for our faith and life. If we want to know who God is and what He is like, we need only look at Jesus. His teachings, His miracles, His compassion for sinners, and His willingness to suffer and die on our behalf—all of these reveal the heart of God. We no longer need to grope in the darkness, searching for an understanding of the divine. In Christ, we have a full and perfect revelation of God’s nature.
Moreover, Jesus’ role as the One who reveals God is deeply personal. He does not merely give us information about God; He invites us into a relationship with the Father. Through His sacrificial death and resurrection, He has opened the way for us to become children of God, to approach the Father with confidence, and to experience the depths of His love.
Reflect on this incredible privilege: the God whom no one has ever seen has chosen to make Himself known to you through His Son. Are you seeking to know God more intimately? Are you spending time in His Word, learning from Jesus, and growing in your understanding of the Father’s heart?
Reflection Questions:
- How does knowing that Jesus perfectly reveals the Father change your understanding of who God is?
- In what ways can you draw closer to God, relying on Jesus to deepen your relationship with Him?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we are in awe that You, the invisible and holy God, have made Yourself known to us through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Thank You for revealing Your love, grace, and truth so perfectly in Him. Help us to know You more deeply and to live in the light of this revelation. May our hearts be transformed as we learn from Jesus and grow in our relationship with You. In His precious name, Amen.
*edited and modernized from John Calvin’s sermon on John 1:18*
Covenant Presbyterian Church 