Philip’s request is bigger than he realizes when he asks Jesus to “show us the Father.” He doesn’t know that his question, and Jesus’ response, is a signpost pointing toward the Trinity. Similarly, John, recording Jesus’ response, is laying the groundwork for how all Christianity will understand God.
Jesus’ simply says, “If you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father.” - John 14:9
The center of all that is, is God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And God is love.
Robert Jenson’s little quote below, is a brief and helpful summary about the life of the Trinity and our encounter with God.
The whole doctrine of the Trinity can be explained by simply remarking that Christians pray to the Father, with the Son, in the Spirit, and are convinced that by so doing they are properly caught up in the story that God lives with his people. - A Theology In Outline
The Trinity is not an explanation. It is the gift of prayer.
*From Google’s AI Summary:
"Like a cow at a new gate" is an idiom that describes someone who is confused, hesitant, or unsure about a new or unfamiliar situation. It evokes the image of a cow standing before a gate that has been moved, unsure of how to proceed.
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