December 15

Judas saith unto him (not Iscariot), Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? - John 14:22.

OBSERVE, first, By whom this inquiry was made. It was Judas, but not Iscariot. Not that base wretch who had sold his Master for thirty pieces of silver, and who did not wish for any manifestation of him; the very thought of meeting him again plunged him into despondency and perdition.

But the inquirer was another Judas, the brother of James; Judas, called Jude, who wrote the last of the inspired epistles; a bold and severe writer, and who in his style much resembled Peter. A good name is sometimes of very great advantage; it may prove a stimulus. There are some names that are odious; and there are other names that seem almost opinions. And it must have been very painful for Judas, the servant of the Lord, to have borne the name of this infamous traitor. It is worse than bearing the name of Nero or Robespierre.

We may here also learn a moral admonition; namely, that in relating things we should not confound persons; for want of this distinction what is said of one is often applied to another, and so mistake and mischief ensue. There is great importance in circumstantial truth; and yet there are few who pay proper attention to it. Some are dull of hearing, and never hear anything accurately; and how can they state it so? Others have bad memories, and scarcely ever report a thing as they heard it; and others have a lively imagination, and are almost sure to add circumstances to dress up the fact, so differently as hardly to be known.

Observe, secondly, The principle of the inquiry. It is not always easy to ascertain the source of an action. A late statesman was accustomed to say that no action ever proceeded from a single motive; and perhaps it was so as to this inquiry, “Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?” What was it? Perhaps it was the language of admiration resulting from surprise and gratefulness. Why are we to be so distinguished and indulged? This is the temper of a real Christian. He admires and adores the free and sovereign grace of God, but he pities others and says-

“Why was I made to hear thy voice,

And enter while there’s room,

While thousands make a wretched choice,

And rather starve than come?”

Or was it the language of doubt? He seems to question whether the Lord could appear to them without others seeing and knowing it too. A little consideration would have convinced Judas of the folly; but he spake in haste, and without thinking.

How much need have we to pray, “Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.” We, alas! fail to distinguish between our Lord and others; and therefore we say, “How can these things be?” “But what is impossible with men, is possible with God.” Was this question the result of curiosity? He not only wished to know the possibility of the thing, but also something of the mode and reality of the manner of it.

Oh, how many good and great men too have indulged themselves in speculation and useless inquiries concerning the purposes of God, the fate of the heathen, the accordance of foreknowledge with free agency, and of the origin of moral evil,-none of which can ever be answered, but which have devoured much of their precious time, and often greatly injured their temper and drawn them away from the simplicity that is in Christ Jesus.

Oh, let us guard against this disposition, which if not checked may seriously affect the whole character of the individual indulging it. Or it might be the language of lawful desire. The privilege was a very important one; and Judas with a very fair design might wish to know more about it. Therefore our Saviour does not blame him. Yea, he gave him an answer, and explained himself.

Let us observe that, while we should check a doubtful and curious temper of mind, we would foster and cherish an humble and useful inquiry; “And if any man lack wisdom let him ask of God, who giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him.”