August 16, 2022
A Mansion in Glory
There is more than enough room in My Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with Me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.” Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. (John 14:2-4, 6 NLT)
Beloved one do you remember the old hymnal lyrics, ‘I heard about a mansion He has built for me in glory. And I heard about the streets of gold beyond the crystal sea, about the angels singing, and the old redemption story. And some sweet day I’ll sing up there a song of victory. When I was growing up my grandparents were my Pastors. They had a small country church, and in the early days it had a sawdust floor. I remember many times my Dad would make our entire family come to the podium and sing this song with him. Another hymn you might remember, my mother loved and sang, I’ve got a mansion just over the hilltop, in that bright land where we’ll never grow old; and someday yonder we will never more wander but walk the streets that are purest gold.
In the Greek the word ‘mansion’ means ‘many rooms or a dwelling place.’ In John 14 Jesus had His final conversation with the disciples. He’s already had the Passover meal with them, He spoke of His betrayal, His death, and even that the disciples would abandon Him. (John 13) The mood was very solemn, so Jesus encouraging the disciples asked for their trust. He said, ‘Let not your hearts be troubled. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? (John 14:1-3 NLT) God is not a man, so He does not lie. He’s not human, so He does not change His mind. Has He ever spoken and failed to act? Has He ever promised and not carried it through? (Numbers 23:19 NLT)
When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with Me where I am. (John 14:4) In the meantime, He has given to the disciples and us something far greater; namely, the indwelling Spirit of God. Then Jesus said, ‘Anyone who loves Me will obey My teaching, My Father and I will come to them and make Our home with them. To fully understand this verse, we must understand the culture in which Jesus spoke these words. During the of Jesus on , the ‘father’s house’ would have consisted of three generations living together. Imagine you living with three generations of your family! It was customary during the betrothal period for the bridegroom to go and prepare a place for his bride to be. Once he was prepared, he would return and claim his bride. It is probable that similar language is being used here.
Jesus was telling the disciples that He is preparing a place for them to be together, and He will return. It doesn’t mean Jesus was going to build many individual houses. We should recognize and focus on that it was by His very going, by His betrayal, crucifixion and exaltation, that He made it possible for us to dwell in the presence of God. What’s more, Father God is with you, and He will protect you wherever you go. He will not leave you until He has finished giving you everything, He has promised you.” Keep your eyes on the Eastern sky for the soon coming King. He has gone to prepare a dwelling place for you and me!
