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A Valid Question

Text: John 14: 22

A VALID QUESTION

There were two Disciples who were called “Judas”. He was also known as Lebbaeus Thaddaeus (Matthew 10:3). John called him “Judas”. He was identified as Judas son of James (Luke 6:16). Judas had a question for Jesus.

“Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, ‘Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?’”

John 14:22

1. “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?”

2. What is “manifestation”?

A number of things need to be noted in order to understand the idea of “manifestation”.

a. Illumination

i. This is general giving of light in the midst of darkness.

ii. Jesus spoke of being the Light of the world (John 9:5).

iii. Manifestation is giving special light to the person who loves the Lord.

b. Enlightenment

i. This is a step up from illumination.

ii. There is greater clarity in understanding.

iii. This is a special work of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:17).

c. Manifestation itself

i. This is a privilege.

ii. It is not given to everybody.

iii. It is a special blessing from the Lord.

iv. It is a great honour given by the Lord to the person who truly loves Him.

3. “Not to the world”

a. Why the Lord would not manifest Himself to the world is actually painfully obvious.

i. The world denies Jesus.

ii. It has rejected Him as the Saviour of the world.

iii. It has chosen to remain in darkness rather than turn to the Light.

b. The Lord will give a Presentation of Himself to the world

i. As the Saviour.

ii. As the good Shepherd.

经文：约翰福音 14：22

一个合理的问题

有两位名叫“犹大”的门徒。他也被称为达太《马太福音 10：3》。约翰称他为“犹大”。他被识别为雅各的儿子犹大《路加福音 6：16》。犹大问了耶稣一个问题。

“犹大（不是加略人犹大）问耶稣说：‘主啊，为什么要向我们显现，不向世人显现呢？’”

《约翰福音 14：22》

1. “主啊，为什么要向我们显现，不向世人显现呢？”

2. 什么是 “显现”？

若要理解“显现”的概念，就必须注意几个事项。

a. 照明

i. 这一般指的是在黑暗里给予光明

ii. 耶稣曾说过衪是世上的光《约翰福音 9：5》

iii. 显现就是给爱主的人特别的光

b．蒙了光照

i. 这比照明更高一层

ii. 蒙了光照后，理解也更清晰

iii. 这是圣灵的特别工作《以弗所书 1：17》

c．显现

i. 这是一种荣幸

ii. 不是每个人都能享有的

iii. 这是主给予的特别赐福

iv. 这是主给予真正爱衪的人的至高荣耀

3．“不向世人显现”

a.主不向世人显现的原因其实是使人感悲痛且明显的

i. 世人不承认耶稣

ii. 他们弃绝衪为世人的救主

iii. 他们不投向光明，反而选择留在黑暗中

b．主将会以下列的方式，把自己呈现给世人

i. 为救世主

ii. 为好牧人