The Question of Judas

John 14, is overshadowed by Jesus', "where I am going you cannot come" (13: 33) and then with the issue of Peter's predicted denial. The chapter begins with the promise of Jesus' preparation of a new home in heaven for them, of his coming to take them to himself and of his being himself the very Road to the Father's house. He moves to the idea that the Father is in him and he in the Father. The works of the Son are the works of the Father but then the works of the disciples are going to be greater 'because I go to my Father.' Then comes the wonderful promise of the Holy Spirit, the other Counsellor/ Comforter/ Advocate, who is another, 'just like' (so the Greek) Jesus. This Counsellor will strengthen them when they are brought before tribunals to bear witness to the Resurrection and will be not only with but in them. Jesus then said that he and the Father would love the one who has and keeps Jesus' commandments, which is equated with loving Jesus and having Jesus manifest himself to the disciples.

Then Judas (not Iscariot) asks, 'Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?' (Jn 14. 22). What a wonderful, probing question from Judas who was obviously following carefully what Jesus was saying. Jesus repeats the issue of obeying his commandments out of love and then says, "and my Father will love him and we will come to him and make home with him".

Ah, so now the disciples are going to have Father and Son residing within by the power of the Spirit and this residence will be a manifestation of the presence of the Lord to us all. This is experiential, inner knowledge of the Lord God.