The Mystery of Revelation

Scripture: Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, "Lord, how is it that you will reveal yourself to us and not to the world?" Jesus answered him, "Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words, and the word that you hear is not mine but is from the Father who sent me." John 14:22-24

Observation: In Jesus' final teaching, he discusses the fact that all who believe in him will be able to understand his teaching and even better know his words. It is these people who will continually experience his love, and the love of the Father. However, those who do not love Jesus will not experience these things, and in fact will not be able to perceive Jesus at all. This confuses the disciples, with Judas asking how this is logistically possible ... how can some people see, hear, and know Jesus, and others cannot?

This is the mystery of the human experience with the Lord. A person's ability to experience the Lord is greatly influenced by their freewill decision to pursue the Lord. Those who choose to seek the Lord experience his presence and love. Those who reject a relationship with the Lord fail to experience him. This is not to say he isn't present around them, but that they refuse the experience they should have with the Lord.

The disciples saw this was true within their lifetimes. As they told others the gospel message, they saw people accept it, love Jesus, and then know the truth of the Lord. Likewise, they saw people reject the good news, and even though some of them believed in the Lord, they failed to understand the truth and the word of God.

Faith in Jesus begets knowledge about the Lord, and active decisions to reject Jesus creates a division from that knowledge.

Application: High on the list of 'supernatural' things that reveal the truth about God's existence is this ... those who reject the idea of faith tend to struggle to even understand general knowledge and wisdom found in the bible. I have seen general misunderstanding of biblical information in secular commentaries, and I have seen fairly uneducated believers who can discover interesting wisdom within the bible. This can only be understood within a supernatural context.

Somehow, faith is a determinant in one's ability to find revelation in the word of God. Those without faith lack a key element to understand the Lord.

I do not consider myself 'wise' when it comes to the bible. However, I do know that I have found truths I could not have uncovered on my own. In this, I am so thankful, for those truths have involved comfort, help, advice, instruction, and correction. I hope I continue to find God's revelation in his word all the days of my life.

Prayer: Lord, your word is indeed a light unto my feet and a lamp unto my path. May I walk in your way, following your word, daily. Thank you for your revelation, and for your love through Jesus. Amen.