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John 14:1-3
Joh 14:1 “Don’t let your heart be agitated. Put your trust in God; and put your trust in me.
Joh 14:2 In my Father’s house are many rooms to stay; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going away to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3 Since I am going away and preparing a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may be as well.
Permanent digs
First as a student, then as a pastor, then as a soldier, then as a missionary, now as a student again — I have lived all of my adult life in temporary places. I have to admit a bit of envy of those who own their own homes. I have problems relating to the idea of a permanent residence. But I understand the desire for a personal home.
The disciples of Jesus had been moving around with him, and they probably were wondering if they were going to do that for the rest of their lives. Jesus promised them many μοναὶ – which is a noun related to the verb μένω, which means to stay, to continue. It would have been especially significant for these disciples at this time to know that although Jesus was leaving them, that when he returned it would be to set up permanent digs.
Yes, I said when he returned. When you take away all the extraneous elements of this passage, it reads like this: “Trust me…I will come again.” It’s not about mansions in heaven. It’s about Jesus coming again.
Lord, thank you for the promise of permanent digs.
