Today's encouragement comes from John 14:22, where we read these words:
"Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him [Jesus], 'Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?' "
This is the only time in the Gospel accounts (I know of) where Judas (not Iscariot) is quoted. His question is a good one. Jesus Christ *is* "manifest[ed] to the whole world" in a gospel proclamative sense. We especially see this happen at Christmas--as the angels declare that Christ's good news is for "all people," (Lk. 2:10).
And yet Judas' query *is* legitimate, and Jesus does not correct him. Christ manifests Himself to His church in a covenantal way that is completely foreign to all those who are outside of her (the church). In light of this, let us all be found in Christ, which is the same thing as being in the church (properly-covenanted).
[Puritan quote of the day: "Christ may be called 'the Word' because He is the great Revealer of the secrets of heaven." --John Colquhoun, in his sermon, "The Incarnation of Christ"]
