²² Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us and not to the world?”

Unfortunate to have the same name as the traitor, this disciple presents the fourth and last question to their Lord in the Upper Room. In John 16:17, they had wished to ask another question for clarification, which the Lord knowing, answered anyway even though they didn’t actually ask Him. We know little about this disciple, except that he is distinguished as the son of James (Luke 6:16) and possibly went by the name Thaddaeus (see Mark 3:18 where only one Judas is named among the twelve).

In actuality, of the twelve, we know virtually nothing about four of them (Bartholomew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Matthias, who replaced Judas Iscariot)). Such does not make them insignificant in the least. As part of the twelve, they were privy to the Master’s teachings and were the faithful band of men Jesus deputized as His official witnesses (Acts 1:8). It was to their teaching that the early church was “continually devoting themselves” (Acts 2:42). Although the history of what happened to the twelve apart from the biblical record is sketchy and based on what is called “tradition,” that is, other writings beyond scripture, it is believed that this Judas died as a martyr in 65 A.D. in Syria.

His question, probably on the minds of the others as well, was one for clarification. How will it be that the followers of Christ will see Him but not the world. At this juncture, the disciples probably were still imagining Christ’s coming in the fullness of the kingdom, victorious over the Roman system which had subjugated the Jews in their own land. Not since before the Babylonian captivity had Israel been an independent nation, with aspiration to influence the world, and in the terms of the Abrahamic promise, be a blessing to the world. How could this happen, in Judas’ mind, if Jesus was not going to disclose Himself to the world?

Isn’t this a question we all ask, in one form or another? How often have we wished God would manifest Himself in a tangible way by speaking with a booming voice out of heaven or performing an incontrovertible miracle or even coming in person – then people would believe in Him. Yet, to this day, God has not disclosed Himself to the world. He only reveals Himself to those who come by faith, who become His followers. He is not hiding, for He taught that those who seek will find. Seeking Him in faith is required for the disclosure of God.

Lord, thank You for revealing Yourself to me through Your Son the Lord Jesus Christ. I desire to learn more of You, so therefore I seek You all the more.