There is a sense of amazement in Jesus' response to Philip's question. For three years I have been near you, and yet you do not know me?
It is clear that this lack of understanding hurts Jesus. Yet, he lovingly repeats once again, Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.
He longs for his closest disciples to finally understand who he truly is. They must have no doubts about his identity. After all, they are soon to be witnesses of him. Once and for all, people must know who Jesus is through their testimony. In Jesus, we have to deal with the Father. He is truly God's Son on earth, the Immanuel: God with us. That is why a heavenly messenger (!) already told Joseph this (see Matthew 1:23). How exactly? That is beyond our human understanding—but it is definitely true. Whoever sees Jesus sees God the Father.
9 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’?