John 1:18 – No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.
John 1:18 is the conclusion of John’s opening to his gospel. This passage is bursting with revelation starting with “in the beginning was the Word” and ending with Jesus being the declaration of the Father. These 18 verses lay the spiritual message of John’s message, from the turning water into wine, feeding the multitudes, opening the eyes of the blind, and raising Lazarus from the dead every action and every word from the mouth of Jesus is an unveiling of God. John said that no one has seen God but the Word who became a man has revealed or described Him. So we can look at the life of Jesus like this, everything He said and did was a video and audio description of the Father. This is why I love the gospel of John, it carries in every page the revelation or unveiling of God Himself. Here is how one of John’s disciples, Iraneus, describes this verse.
“Clearly the Father is indeed invisible, of whom also the Lord said, “No one has seen God at any time.” But his Word, as he himself willed it and for the benefit of those who beheld it, did show the Father’s brightness and explained his purposes—as also the Lord said, “The only begotten God, which is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared [him].” And, he himself also interprets the Word of the Father as being rich and great. He appeared not only in one figure or in one character to those who saw him, but according to whatever purpose or effect he was aiming for in his plan of salvation.”
So Jesus is the love of God on full display. He showed His love to the despised Samaritans when He took time to tell the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well about Living Water. He showed the love of God again when He met with the Pharisee, Nicodemus, and unveiled the Father’s plan of redemption through His only begotten Son. He showed His love for the hungry when He multiplied the fish and bread. He showed His love for all of us when He was nailed to the cross in our place. No one has seen God at any time, but He is clearly seen in the life and message of Jesus.
