Judas asks how it is that Jesus will ‘manifest’ himself to his people (14:22). Jesus’ reply sets the word at the centre again: ‘If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words’ (14:23–24). The ‘manifestation’ of Jesus after his departure will be through his word. The response of the disciples to Jesus’ word counts as a personal response to him, because Jesus is so intimately bound up in his word.
Faith: reason why believing Christ’s words is believing in Christ
