Answer
In John 14:21, Jesus declares, “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him” (ESV). Here, Jesus promises to manifest Himself to those who love and obey Him. The Greek word for “manifest” is emphanisō, meaning “to reveal, to show, to declare” (Strong’s Lexicon).
Jesus frequently encountered hostility and rejection (see John 1:10–11; 5:16; 7:12). The unbelieving Jews even went so far as to say that Jesus was demon-possessed (John 8:48). They could not receive Him because their hearts were hardened (John 12:40). They did not recognize who Jesus was. In contrast, the manifestation mentioned in John 14:21 is a special revelation reserved for those who love and obey Jesus.
In John 14:15–17, Jesus distinguishes between those who cannot receive the Spirit of truth (i.e., the Holy Spirit) and those who can:
If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. (ESV)
Due to unbelief, the world cannot receive the Holy Spirit. But to those who come to the light (John 3:21) Jesus promises to grant a full measure of His Spirit. This is how He will manifest Himself to believers but not to the world. Jesus will be known by His children.Jesus’ manifestation to believers is linked to their love and obedience. He emphasizes that those who love Him and keep His commandments will experience a unique and personal manifestation. Note the use of singular pronouns: I will love him and manifest myself to him (ESV). When Judas (not Iscariot) asks how Jesus will manifest Himself to the disciples but not to the world, Jesus says, “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” (John 14:23, ESV). Both the Father and the Son will make their home inside of believers through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, who is promised in verse 26.
This connection of love, obedience, and divine manifestation highlights the relationship of the disciple and master. Obedience is the commitment of the disciple to the master and is the natural outflow of love for the master. The result is a greater knowledge of the master.
Jesus’ promise to manifest Himself to believers is not a reward for good behavior; rather, it is the consequence of a deep and genuine love for Him, expressed through obedience. Obedient, loving believers enter a unique and intimate fellowship with the triune God, experiencing a revelation of Jesus that transcends intellectual knowledge.
John 14:21 challenges us to examine the authenticity of our love for Jesus and the diligence of our obedience to His commandments. The hope is that we will have fullness of joy, both in this life and in the one to come.
