"Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be. Where (I) am going you know the way." Thomas said to him, "Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him." Philip said to him, "Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father. (Jn 14:1-12)
Thomas represents the group of people who follow Jesus yet search for ways. Thomas has been with Jesus for three years (the time of his public ministry) and he walked with him the length and breadth of Galilee and Judea. Jesus has made them follow him. He had an aim (a goal) in all his journeys. His journeys were leading them to Jerusalem and in turn to the Father.
Philip represents the group of people (followers) who see Jesus as the son of God and revealer of God and doer of God’s activities and so on. Yet he has that bit of doubt in him to see God beyond and away from Jesus. Many see Good’s presence (indwelling) in Jesus and yet they long to see God. All the words of Jesus and all the activities of Jesus should make one realize that God in Jesus.
Believers of Jesus will be like Jesus and they will do and live like Jesus. They may even do greater things than Jesus. Belief is what makes the disciple to see that Jesus is the way to the Father and the same belief is what makes the disciple to see God in Jesus. Belief will make the difference.
