John 14:22
Afrikaans Bible (ABA) 2007 (Bybel vir almal)
Toe sê Judas vir Hom: “Here, ons verstaan dit nie: Hoe sal U net vir óns wys wie U is, maar nie vir die mense van die wêreld nie?” Dit was nie Judas Iskariot nie, dit was 'n ander dissipel, sy naam was ook Judas.
What Does This Mean?
In this verse from John's Gospel, Judas (not the one who betrayed Jesus) asks Jesus why He will show Himself to His disciples but not to everyone else in the world. This highlights how Jesus promised special revelation and manifestation to those who believe.
Explained for Children
Imagine you have a secret club with your best friends, and someone asks why you only share secrets with them and not others. That's kind of what Judas is asking here about Jesus sharing things with His followers but not everyone else.
Historical Background
The Gospel of John was likely written around the end of the first century AD for a mixed Jewish-Christian audience living in or near Asia Minor. It emphasizes Jesus' divine nature and personal relationship with God, reflecting a community grappling with its identity as distinct from Judaism.
Living It Out Today
This verse can be applied today when considering how we relate to our faith communities. Just like the early disciples had special teachings from Jesus, modern believers find deeper spiritual insight within their faith groups compared to casual observers outside of it.
Topics
discipleshiprevelationfaithsalvationcommunitysecret teachings
Related Verses
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Judas (not Iscariot) referring to here?
Judas, also known as Thaddaeus or Jude, was one of Jesus' twelve disciples but not the same person who betrayed Him. He's asking about why Jesus will only reveal Himself to His followers and not everyone else.
What does 'manifesting' mean in this context?
'Manifesting' refers to making something visible or known. Here, it means that Jesus would show Himself clearly to the disciples but remain hidden from those who do not believe.
How should we understand this concept of selective revelation?
Selective revelation in this context implies that deeper spiritual truths are revealed to believers through faith and relationship with God, which may not be fully comprehensible or accessible to those outside the community of faith.
Is there a lesson for today's Christians from John 14:22?
Yes, it encourages us to value our faith communities where deeper spiritual truths are shared. It also reminds us that not all spiritual insights will be evident or meaningful to those outside of this faith journey.