Thaddaeus – The Messiah’s Secret Revealed.
Judas the son of James also known as Thaddaeus, in his conversation with Jesus at the last supper Thaddaeus asked Jesus, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” Jesus replied, “If a man loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and will come to him and make our home with him.” John 14: 22-24. Luke 6: 16. Matthew 10: 2-4.
Jesus told his disciples that he was going away to prepare a place for them in his Father’s house. Thomas asked Jesus to show them the way to the Father. Jesus said that the way to the Father was to believe the words that he had taught them during his ministry. Truthful words, that were living words, that give eternal life. Jesus had previously told his disciples that his words were Spirit and life. John 6: 63.
Jesus continued to say while he was away, he would send the Comforter, the Holy Spirit to them, but the people in the world could neither see or know the Holy Spirit. The reason was because at that time, the people had not the words of Jesus abiding in them, only the disciples had heard the words from Jesus. The people could not understand the parables. Jesus explained the parables to his disciples.
Thaddaeus did not understand why Jesus would not show himself to the world by publicly stating that he was the Messiah. Jesus’ own brothers had thought the same, saying, “For no man works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, (healing and miracles) show yourself to the world.” John added that “his brothers did not believe in him,” John 7: 3-5.
There was confusion among the people because Jesus and his disciples did not publicly proclaim that Jesus was the Messiah. The Jews said to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we shall not find him? Does he intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks.” The Dispersion was reference to the Jews that had at some point in history exiled across the known world. For instance, after the second world war, many Jewish people living in European countries were displaced and came to live in Manchester, England. The Jews retain their identity as Jews. Polish Jews, Russian Jews etc. Peter wrote his first letter to the exiled Jews of the Dispersion in Pontius, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. John 7: 35, 36. 1 Peter 1: 1.
I believe that Jesus did not show himself to the world because he had to die at Jerusalem. The prophesies that revealed the death and resurrection of the Messiah God hid them from the understanding of disciples and people. The Jews were taught from the law that the Messiah would not die, “We have heard from the law that the Christ will remain for ever.” John 12: 34.
The man in in the crowd indicated that the Son of Man and the Messiah are the same person. “The crowd answered him, “We have heard from the law that the Christ will remain for ever. How can you say the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” The crowd, the people were taught that the Messiah when he was revealed would remain for ever on the earth.
This is confirmed when Jesus was dying on the cross, “The Chief Priests mocked Jesus to one another with the scribes, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Mark 15: 31,32. The leaders of Israel did not believe that the Messiah would die before completing his mission to save Israel and establish God’s kingdom, fulling John the Baptist’s and Jesus’ message “Repent, the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 3: 1,2. Mark wrote, Jesus said, “The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe the gospel.” Mark 1: 15.
In Acts 3 Peter speaking to the crowd gathered at Solomon’s Portico, informed the people that they had acted ignorance when they handed Jesus over to the Romans, who crucified Jesus. If they repented of their ignorance, then their sins would be blotted out, wiped clean and God would send the ‘times of refreshing’ the restoration of the land and throne of king David by the Messiah. “And that he (God) may send the Christ (Messiah) appointed for you, Jesus.” Now was the time for the Jewish leaders to accept Jesus as the Nation’s Messiah. To the Jews at that time, it was a national calling to accept Jesus as the Messiah. The Jews were a nation of priests, they were to take the kingdom message of the Messiah to the rest of the world. Acts 3: 17-21. Exodus 19: 6. Matthew 28: 19. Luke 24: 47.
Jesus’ promise the Holy Spirit came true when he came into the world at Pentecost. Also, the promise of God indwelling the believer through hearing and receiving God’s word spoken by Jesus to his disciples, “Those who believe on their word,” the disciples repeating and recording Jesus’ words that are found in the Gospels. These words in Jesus’ prayer recorded by John are true, “And this is eternal life, that they may know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou has sent.” Every Christian may know God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, the indwelling presence of God, through faith in Jesus. John 17: 3, 20.
Prayer.
God, please give me understanding of these words that Jesus gave his disciples recorded by John. “If a man loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and will come to him and make our home with him.” I want to be right with God, so I am sorry for sin in my life, please forgive me, and take me, fill me with your loving presence in Jesus’ name. Amen.