Judas Thaddeus

“Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourselves to us and not to the world.”

John 14:22

Judas Thaddeus is a disciple of Jesus other than Judas Iscariot. In Luke and Acts he is described as the son of James. In Mathew and Mark, he is identified with Thaddeus. All efforts by the evangelists are to differentiate him from Judas Iscariot. Whatever his identity, the only event the Gospels record of his career is John 14:22. It is his doubt regarding the manifestation of Jesus only to them not to the world.

A disciple always is to be curious and feel free to ask his doubts to his teacher.  Jesus answered that the way of power can never substitute for the way of love. He saves the deepest revelations of himself for those who love and obey him.  He offers a mystical relationship with the God the Father and the Son, making home with those who love him and keep his commandments.

In the Jewish world, the commandments (Law) gave people heavy burden and in Jesus he offered his yoke easy and burden light. In Old Testament, we see obedience out of fear of punishment and the hope of reward. In New Testament, obedience is out of love and is not blindly following. Discipleship is following the footsteps of Jesus. Commandments are important to a disciple because the One who gave them are important to him, that is why he wants to follow them.