John 14:22-24 22Judas said to him (not Iscariot), “Lord, and what has happened that you will reveal yourself to us and not to the world?” 23Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24The one who does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.
Judas was the last of four disciples to ask Jesus a question at the supper. The dialogue between Jesus and his disciples shows 1) Jesus’ teaching method through dialogue and 2) the attentiveness, curiosity, and struggles of the disciples. Jesus had two disciples named Judas. The one in this verse is likely the one mentioned in Luke 6:16 and Acts 1:13, where he is mentioned as the “son of James.” The New Testament mentions several James. It is possible that he was also called Thaddaeus, who is mentioned in Mark 3:18 and Matthew 10:3. The New Testament does not give much description about this disciple, but we know that he was one of the twelve apostles and was listening carefully to what Jesus said. His question assumes that he saw a contradiction in what Jesus said. On the one hand, Jesus said he would be going away; but on the other hand, he would be coming and revealing himself.
At this point, the disciples did not have any concept of Jesus’ resurrection or what the future might hold. Judas’ question focuses on the crucial theological distinction between believers and the world. Why would not the world experience Jesus? Did he not come to reveal himself as the Messianic King? He had just ridden into Jerusalem in great praise and acclaim. Everyone in town seems to have heard about him. He had stirred up the Sanhedrin, and likely by this time, the Romans had caught wind of him. Surely, the world would come to know about him.
Jesus shifts Judas’ thinking back to the essential element of love. There will be a time in the future when Jesus will reveal himself as the judge of all people, but that would come in the end. Meanwhile, only those who love him and obey his word will experience him. Jesus repeats these two conditions multiple times in this last meal together. Our love for Jesus is proven by obedience to his word. Claims of love without obedience are meaningless. Verse 23 repeats the ideas of 21. Somehow, the answer to Judas’ question is found in both verses.
God’s special love is given to those who love Jesus and obey his words. God’s special love for those who call him Father and who love his Son is shown in relationship. The Father and Son will come to the obedient disciple and make a home (monē, related to the keyword “abide” or “remain”) there. Jesus does not say in these verses how this dwelling will be done but the broader context implies that this will happen through the Holy Spirit. The presence of the Triune God is promised to those who keep Jesus’ words.
Experiencing the Almighty God, Creator of the Universe, is not mystical but is based on the historical event of Jesus’ death and resurrection and experienced in daily living out Jesus’ command to love. Jesus’ words were not his own but the Father’s because Jesus was the revelation of the Father and lived in perfect obedience to him. All that Jesus said, particularly the call to love, came directly from God the Father. Jesus reminds his disciples of the essential response faith ought to take and repeats the same ideas multiple times. Their understand was slow but eventually, they would come to know and live out the command to love one another.
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