John 14:22

‘Judas, (not Iscariot), said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will fully reveal yourself to us and not to the world?” '

Like all the disciples the other Judas (‘Judas of James' not Judas Iscariot) was puzzled. It was anticipated by most that the expected Messiah would make himself known to the world in a great outward show, so that the world would follow him, and it would appear that in spite of Jesus' clear teaching of the opposite that is what the disciples have mainly assumed up to this point. For men have always assumed that once God works He will do it spectacularly and everyone will respond. Their view is that all that is needed is a boost. But it has never been so. Such spectacular happenings may produce a temporary change of attitude, but they never change the heart. Always it has been the comparatively few who have truly responded, for the response must be a true one from the heart, not one produced by mass hysteria. The change required to be brought about is not superficial. God had made many spectacular demonstrations of His power in the past, but in no case had it resulted in a full hearted continual response from those who claimed to be His people.

This is the mystery of ‘the elect', those who respond to God and are chosen by God. They come to God as God reveals Himself in their hearts. Jesus Himself had said that only the minority would enter the ‘narrow', the ‘pressed in', way (Matthew 7:14). So while man's glory is in huge movements, and in the swaying of the masses, God works in individuals. It is, however, understandable that Judas was mystified. Who could foresee at that time what was to come?

Again it began with the resurrection appearances, but it continued as He personally revealed Himself in their hearts in their day by day lives, as the powerhouse within. As Paul could say, ‘yet no longer I but Christ lives in me' (Galatians 2:20). That is why Jesus could promise them, ‘Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world (age)' (Matthew 28:19).

(In Luke 6:16 this Judas is called ‘Judas of James' i.e. probably ‘son of'. He is also called Thaddaeus (Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18). Having two names, often a Greek and an Aramaic one, appears to have been commonplace).