Gospel in Art: If you had known me, you would have known my Father also

The Heads and Hands of Two Apostles, drawing by Raphael, 1519 © Courtesy of Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 17 May 2025
John 14:7-14

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, 'If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.' Philip said to him, 'Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.' Jesus said to him, 'Have I been with you so long, 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 say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.

'Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me for anything in my name, I will do it.'

Reflection on the Old Master Drawing

I've always loved these kinds of Gospel readings, where we're given a glimpse into what feels like a Q&A session between Jesus and His disciples. By this point, they've been walking with Him for nearly three years, still holding on to the hope that Christ would soon establish an earthly kingdom where they might rule alongside Him. But as they begin to realise that they don't yet grasp the full picture, they start asking questions. They are seeking clarity, perhaps even reassurance as to what that new kingdom may look like. It is then that Jesus delivers what must have felt like a bombshell: He speaks of His impending death and His return to the Father in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Yet, it is a quieter sentence at the beginning of the reading that holds profound meaning: "If you had known me, you would have known my Father also." The repetition of the word 'know' is striking. Jesus isn't speaking here of intellectual knowledge or facts; He is inviting us into something far deeper. True knowing, as we experience with close family or friends, comes through intimacy: sharing life's joys, struggles, and vulnerabilities. It is this kind of relationship, rich in emotional and spiritual closeness, that Christ desires us to have with Him.

For today's artwork, we turn to a delicate drawing by Raphael, created in 1519, just a year before his untimely death at the age of 37. There is something uniquely personal about a drawing; unlike grand finished paintings, a drawing reveals the immediacy of the artist's mind at work. It captures the raw process of thinking, searching, observing, and imagining. In every line and contour, we see not only the expressive heads and hands of two apostles, but also something of Raphael himself. Drawings offer us an intimate window into the artist's world, allowing us to 'know' them in a way that polished masterpieces often conceal. We witness the moments of inspiration, the hesitations, the creative flow and those private exchanges between hand and heart that give rise to art.

The posture of the apostles, leaning forward with intent expressions, mirrors the attitude of Philip in today's Gospel-eagerly leaning towards Jesus, seeking understanding and answers. This subtle gesture captures the very essence of discipleship: a posture of attentiveness, openness, and a genuine desire to grasp the deeper truths that Christ reveals.

This idea of knowing through intimacy brings us back to Jesus' words. Just as we come to understand Raphael better by contemplating his drawing, so too are we called to engage personally and deeply with Christ: not from a distance, but through ongoing relationship, prayer, and shared experience. The 'knowing' Jesus speaks of is not theoretical; it is lived, relational, and transformative. It is only by entering into this closeness with Him that we come to truly know the Father.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/john-14-7-14-2025/ (with audio)