He was the appointed one in the story to ask, and he does it in a crudely literal way, as if geography or architecture of Heaven were a prerequisite for being sure of ending up there. The next question comes from Philip, and it shows that the disciples still didn't get it. Lord, show us God, and we'll be satisfied. To follow the way, the truth and the life that he represented, simply takes more work. It takes more faith, it takes perseverance, it takes inconvenience.
General religion is always easier than the particularity of real love.
Real love has to do with real people, and you can't change real people. You can't make them follow your wishes. You can't make them to be better than they are. You just have to take them as they are and love them. That's what I hope I mean when I talk about hospitality as central to the mission of St. Bart's.