John Calvin Commentary John 14:22

"Judas (not Iscariot) saith unto him, Lord, what is come to pass that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?" — John 14:22 (ASV)

Judas (not Iscariot) says to Him. It is not without reason that Judas asks why Christ does not cause His light to be shared with more than a few people.

Since Christ is the Sun of Righteousness (Malachi 4:2), by whom the whole world ought to be enlightened, it is therefore unreasonable that He should enlighten only a few and not shed His light everywhere without distinction.

Christ’s reply does not resolve the entire question, for it makes no mention of the ultimate reason why Christ manifested Himself to a few and conceals Himself from most people.

Certainly, He finds all people at first alike—that is, entirely alienated from Him. Therefore, He cannot choose anyone who already loves Him; instead, He chooses from among His enemies those whose hearts He turns to love Him.

But Christ did not intend, at that time, to address that distinction, which was far from His immediate purpose. His design was to exhort His disciples to the earnest study of godliness, so that they might make greater progress in faith. Therefore, He is satisfied with distinguishing them from the world by this mark: that they keep the doctrine of the Gospel.

Now, this mark comes after the beginning of faith, for it is the effect of their calling. In other passages, Christ had reminded the disciples of their being called by free grace, and He will afterwards bring it to their recollection. In this instance, He only instructs them to observe His doctrine and to maintain godliness.

By these words, Christ shows how the Gospel is properly obeyed. This occurs when our services and outward actions proceed from the love of Christ, for the arms, the feet, and the whole body toil in vain if the love of God does not reign in the heart to govern the outward members.

Now, since it is certain that we keep the commandments of Christ only to the extent that we love Him, it follows that a perfect love of Him can nowhere be found in the world, because there is no one who keeps His commandments perfectly. Yet God is pleased with the obedience of those who sincerely aim at this end.