John 14:22 Commentary and Bible Study

This is not Judas Iscariot, John explains. This is Judas, elsewhere called the brother or son of James, Judas of James. He could be the brother, or he could possibly be the son. ‘Judas saith unto him, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?’ He does not get it at all. Christ has said I am going. Another person of the Godhead, the Spirit of truth, the Holy Spirit will come and abide with you and dwell in you and with you, and by him I will be manifested to your heart and revealed to your mind and be present with you. ‘By him’. Lord, ‘how can you reveal yourself to us and not to the world?’ Why should Judas of James or any other disciples – he probably represents others; Why should they not get it? Well, because Judas still has in his head the idea that Christ is a political deliverer. He is almost saying, Oh Lord, you mean you are not going to reveal yourself to the masses? You are not going to reveal yourself to absolutely everyone so that they will crown you and embrace you and follow you for the deliverance of this poor and oppressed country? He still has not got rid of that idea. So he scratches his head, and he says how can you tell just us and not everyone else?And the Lord answers by carefully repeating the teaching. He will get it soon, but not at once. But we have the advantages of New Testament light. We can see these wonderful things at once. He will come to them by his Spirit and reveal himself to believers only.