John 14:1-3
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God ; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”
John 14:1-3 NIV
We live in a world that is filled with stresses and strains, and although we are not able to prevent the pressures of life, we have an assurance from the Lord Jesus Christ Himself that because He overcame the world, the flesh, and the devil, we too are overcomers in Him.
He's coming back. As much as the world likes to remember Jesus first coming during the Christmas season, we need to remind them that His Second Coming will be even greater. We want to be prepared, lives dedicated to His glory and hearts full of expectation at His coming.
The disciples had heard what the Saviour said, but their logical, human understanding could not discern what He meant. They had heard that the Son of Man must be lifted up and suffer many things, and yet they knew that this was the Messiah of Israel who had come from God to set up His kingdom, the kingdom that the Jewish nation had been promised so many years before.
Let us take a moment to put ourselves in the shoes of the eleven disciples who remained with Jesus on the evening of the Last Supper after Judas left to betray Him. These men had just heard Jesus predict that Judas would turn on Him and then watched the traitor depart to do his evil deed.
They had also heard that Jesus was going away and that they would not be able to follow Him, at least not yet. Furthermore, they had also heard Him tell Peter that he would deny Him three times before the rooster crowed.
If we had been in their place, we would certainly have been greatly troubled. As the truth of Jesus predictions regarding His own passion began to be fulfilled, we would worry about our own future without His presence. Knowing that His disciples felt such fear and anxiety, our Savior gave them words of comfort that encourage us also today. Today’s verses gives us these words, telling us that ultimately, Jesus departure was for the benefit of His people.
The idea here is not so much that Jesus was going to heaven to get things ready in heaven for His disciples arrival, though that idea is a legitimate inference from the verses we are considering. Instead, the emphasis is on the fact that Jesus would be preparing a place for the disciples in His passion. In His death and resurrection, He would be opening up the way for His disciples to be citizens of the kingdom and inherit eternal life in God’s blessed presence.
There are many rooms in the Father’s house, which means there is ample space in glory for all who trust in Jesus alone. Even now, Jesus is preparing a place for us, a place that will be far better than the best this life has to offer. When we are discouraged, we should remember this promise that Jesus is preparing a place for us, for it will help us press on in faithfulness to Him.
What a comfort to know that soon and very soon, Jesus will be coming back for His Bride the church, you and I. How we long for that day when we will see Him face to face and be with Him for eternity.
Let us occupy until He comes and tell all who may listen to the glorious truth of the gospel so that more can be part of His Bride, welcomed into His presence, and always be with Him!!!
Father thank You for this day and these wonderful words of comfort. Lord pour out Your abundant blessings over my friend and family today. Lord enable us in the power of the Spirit, to hold fast to the truth of Your Word. Lord we know You will come again, may we be found faithful and expectant when You return. Lord use my friend to be a bold witness of the Gospel to those in need of its hope today. Be a blessing.
Father, we love You. Amen!
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