Though I believe Jesus. (His spirit), is the first being the Father called into existence at some point in history before the world began I think John is stating before Jesus no man had seen God but the one who was in the Fathers presence in the beginning has made the Father known to us. That one with the Father in the beginning John calls God. So in Jesus they do see the Father for we know from Jesus that the Father living in Him was doing HIS work. Phillip asked Jesus to show them the Father.Here's some more food for thought. John said, the word was God. John also said, no one has seen God at any time. How do we reconcile these statements? The one who said the Word was God also said no one has seen God. We know people saw Jesus.
Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father
John 1:18
So before Jesus - No one, (mankind), has seen the Father except Jesus who was in the Fathers presence.
Jesus who was in the Fathers presence before the world began has made Him know to us
1John 1-4
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We write this to make our[a] joy complete.
John 17:6
I have shown you to the disciples you gave me out of the world. They were yours. You gave them to me. And they have obeyed your word.