When we first became parents, it was a delightful day. The same was true for the other children birthed into our household. The house was our home and became their home. What we did in the house they did in the house (eat, sleep, wash, etc.). The life we lived they lived too. This picture in true of all homes where there is love and togetherness. This dynamic is also true in another family … the Family of God.
1) Jesus speaks of a home for His People.
Jn 14:1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 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. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”
These words follow the previous chapter where Jesus taught about servanthood (washing the disciples’ feet), predicted his betrayal and Peter’s denial. In chapter 12 He spoke about His eminent death and the type of death He would face. This shows the reason for Jesus speaking as He did in chapter 14:1-4 with His opening Words “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.” Comfort, security, trust, faith and confidence is what they needed. Their comfort was to trust God … and God’s Son. This is the reason He takes the conversation to another level speaking about heaven and the assurance of heaven for the followers of the Lord Jesus. But what is crucial here is that He does not just talk about heaven, giving believers assurance of it, He says He went to prepare a place for us. I recall how we painted a room and decorated it for our first baby. In a greater and more permanent way Jesus went to prepare more than just heaven. Heaven is His Father’s House and in the House are many Rooms. It was there that Jesus went to prepare a place for each of His Blood Washed Saints! If we prepared our baby’s room so lovely, think about the way Jesus has prepared a room for you in glory! That room is saturated with the beauty and glory of heaven itself. He might collect you through death. He might collect you when He returns (which could be before death) … and how do we know where that glorious place is? Verse 4 implies the way is through faith in the Gospel.
2) Jesus speaks about our occupation whilst we wait for our eternal home.
Jn 14:12 “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.”
The words … “do even greater things than these” referring to greater works that Jesus’. What does this mean? Remember God is One Being, yet Three Persons. Jesus says:
Jn 14:10 “Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. 12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.”
The Father in the Son is doing “His work” (v10). The evidence is the “miracles” or the “works” (v11). So often some people only see “miracles” translated “works” in the revision of the NIV. What would be the works that are greater than what Jesus is referring to? You take the Gospel and share it (or preach it) with someone, coupled to prayer for salvation (v13) … and when the result is salvation, that work is greater. In Jesus day He had few true followers. Today, when Christians share the Gospel correctly accompanied with believing prayer, God saves souls … and many through the last 2000 years have had the privilege of seeing many souls saved. That is greater works … greater miracles!
When a dead soul confesses, repents, believes and is saved … that soul is born again. That soul becomes alive to the things of God. That is the reversal of Adam losing “life” in the garden. As we wait for our departure to our heavenly place, we serve God through getting the Gospel out to as many as possible so that many will believe and experience the miracle of the New Birth.
3) We will enjoy the same place in Glory and whilst we wait for that we are busy with the same occupation, getting the Gospel out so that souls might be saved. Now I want you to see we enjoy the same life. In the following passage you will see the Three Persons of Trinity:
Jn 14:15 “If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.”
The Counselor Jesus would send is the Spirit of Truth who “lives with you and will be in you”. Jesus will send the Spirit … yet He says “I will come to you”. This is another proof of the reality of the Trinity … but my main point here is that not only does the Spirit live in you, Jesus says … “Because I live, you also will live.” The life Jesus lives is the life you as a believer. He is the Eternal God and you as a Christian have eternal life. He lives eternally and you too live eternally. Note this is present and future … Your eternal life does not start once you are in heaven. Your eternal life started the moment you were born again! Your assurance of this is the indwelling Spirit. Consider these three glorious truths: You and Your Saviour enjoy the same place in Glory. You and your Saviour enjoy the same occupation … saving souls … and you and your Saviour enjoy the same eternal life together forever. Remember He did not leave us as orphans. He came to us and lives with us. He is our heavenly parent.
Glorious God, You are our life, now and always. Without You life is meaningless. Since we, Your children enjoy the same eternal life You enjoy and since we are destined for the same eternal home where You live, grant us a greater evangelistic passion to make Your Gospel known to reach more souls for Jesus and His sake. Amen.