|
In John 14:1-6 there is amazing insight to what Jesus was doing for us as believers. If we confirm this passage of scripture with others in regards to what Jesus is talking about, we get a very clear revelation indeed.
John 14:1-6 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4. And where I go you know, and the way you know.” 5. Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” 6. Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
So now lets break these verses up and delve into it more deeply.
We will leave verse 1 for the moment and bring that in with verses 4-6.
“In My Father’s House” To get clarity into what Jesus is referring to let us begin and investigate what the Father’s House is. Genesis 28:16-17 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it.” 17. And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!” And we know that in verse 19 he called the place Bethel that translated means The House of God. It was here, in this place, that Jacob was afraid, or, had reverence for God. Exodus 40:34-35 Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 35. And Moses was not able to enter the tabernacle of meeting, because the cloud rested above it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. His house is a place of meeting and a place that His glory fills. 1 Samuel 1:9-10 So Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat at the door of the tabernacle of the LORD. 10. And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the LORD and wept in anguish. Psalm 27:4 One thing I have desired of the LORD, That I will seek: That I may dwell I the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in His temple. His house is a house of prayer and enquiry. …“My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations?”… Mark 11:17. Psalm 5:7 But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy; In the fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple. The Father’s house is a house of mercy, fear (reverence) and worship. Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Psalm 27:4a One thing I have desired of the LORD, That I will seek: That I will dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life. It is a place that not only our Father dwells, but for us to dwell also, all the days of our lives.
Lets look at this house now in the New Testament -
1 Timothy 3:15…I write to you so that you may know how to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. The church is the New Testament house of God. Ephesians 2:21-22 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22. in whom you also are being fitted together for a dwelling place for God in the Spirit. We know that according to the Old Testament that the House was a dwelling place of God, Bethel Genesis 28:16-17. We as believers are being built together that dwelling place today. Hebrews 3:6 but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing firm to the end. Ephesians 1:22-23 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23. which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. The Lord, His presence and His glory still fills the temple, for we now are the spiritual house. 1 Peter 2:5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices God through Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 6:16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God and they will be my people.” So we can begin to see that the Father’s house according to the New Testament is the Church. So what of these mansions?
“There Are Many Mansions” This translation, mansions, can easily leave a lot to the imagination, but it comes from the Greek word mone (mon-ay) – a staying, i.e. residence, (the act or place): - abode, dwellings, mansion. So according to the translation Jesus is saying, “In My Father’s house there is many dwellings or abodes.” According to the New Century Version it reads, “There are many “rooms” in My Father’s house.” So what are these mansions, dwellings or rooms? In the Temple of Solomon, that was erected on Mount Moriah, there were many chambers that were for storage or for rooms that the priests on duty would stay in. Each priest, according to tribe and family, was appointed a time to serve in the Temple and would be required to stay for the duration of his service. It was the same for Ezekiel’s Temple, chambers placed around the outer court for the same purpose. Not only were these storage and retirement chambers, there were also many other different chambers and areas of the Temples used for specific services. So if we look at the Old Testament and see the Temple is a prophetic reference to the New Testament Temple, the church, what are these rooms to us? John 15:4 If you abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. John 15:7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. There is a mutual abode here; we abide in Him, how? By abiding in the body of Christ, the church or, the New Testament temple and in turn He abides in us. Romans 8:9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And, Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. 1 Corinthians 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own. 1 Corinthians 12:12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. And remembering that 2 Corinthians 6:16 talks of God dwelling in us, and, Ephesians 2:20 we are being fitted together as a dwelling place for God in the Spirit. We are not only the living stones of the house, but as believers we are also these mansions, dwellings or rooms.
“I Go To Prepare A Place For You” This is Jesus’ redemptive work through His death on the cross and His burial. 1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit. Ephesians 1:7 In Him we have the redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. Colossians 1:22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight. There is also something else that was done through His death, the preparing of a place. John 2:19-22 Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy the temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20. Then the Jews said, “It has taken forty-six years to build the temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” 21. But He was speaking of the temple of His body. 22. Therefore when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said. Acts 2:23-24 Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified and put to death; 24. whom God raised up, having loosed the *pains of death (*birth pangs), because it was not possible that He should be held by it. This is a major work of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. As put in brackets the translation of pains of death is actually birth pangs, or as we know today labour pains. What was this labour in regards to, the birth of the church, the raising of the Temple, His body in three days. Yes Jesus rose physically, but what was raised with Him was the Spiritual Temple of the body of Christ, the church of the firstborn from the dead. Colossians 1:18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the pre-eminence. Hebrews 12:22-24 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, 23. to the general assembly and the church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24. to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel. This is the place that has been prepared for us, a place in the church.
“I Will Come Again And Receive You To Myself” Jesus returned to the disciples in John 20 and received them to Himself. John 20:19-23 Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples where assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20. When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21.So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 22. And when He has said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” We can see according to scripture that Jesus had come to them, appearing to them and receiving them to Himself. 1. Jesus appears to them in the room 2. He bears witness of the scars to them, that they also may be a witness. 3. He commissions them, “So I send you.” 4. He breathes on them to receive the Holy Spirit. 5. Then explains their commissioning some, in regards to the forgiving of sins. This is not their baptism of the Holy Spirit, for this was the disciples’ born again experience, the forgiveness of their own sin, preparing them to receive the Holy Spirit. Even though they walked with Jesus for three and a half years, their salvation could not come until Jesus had died and rose again, Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead you will be saved. When we are born again Jesus receives us to Himself. Jesus’ redemptive work on the cross reconciles us to God, Romans 5:10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
“That Where I Am, There You May Be Also” Although salvation brings eternal life as a promise, 1 John 2:25 And this is the promise that He has promised us – eternal life. A major purpose of salvation is to be placed into a resurrected life with Him. We are saved from sin that we may dwell with Him, and He with us. This is the importance of repenting and being baptised for the remission of sins, that we receive the promise, not that of eternal life, but of receiving the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you will receive the promise of the Holy Spirit. If we continue on in John 14 and read the whole chapter we will begin to this very pattern. The first six verses that we are looking at now, is our being born again and given a place in the church. A reaffirmation that Jesus is the revealed God manifest in the flesh, verses 7-11, through to the Holy Spirit coming in verses 15-18. Through the Holy Spirit and the keeping of His word, Jesus is manifested to us, and through this obedience and love They, or the fullness of God, will come and make a home here with us, verses 19-24, Romans 14:17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. So where is this place that we may be also? Well, firstly we know that the place prepared for us is in the Father’s house, the church, but where is this church? Philippians 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Luke 17:20-21 Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; 21. nor will they say, ‘See here’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is with in you.” Heaven is not a geographical place but rather a spiritual place. The kingdom is according to Romans 14:17, in righteousness (right standing with God) in peace (wholeness) and in joy (a calm assurance or delight) in the Holy Spirit, a spiritual reality here and now. Again in Luke 17:20-21 Jesus says that it is not in observation, but is within you. Now lets look at this in context here, Jesus is not saying that the kingdom of God is inside you, but actually in your midst. He was talking to Pharisees and we know that we are called to righteousness greater than these men. These were self-righteous men so this kingdom could not be inside them as such, but more that Jesus, the Christ (Messiah, appointed King) was standing in their midst. This place is in the spiritual realm of the Holy Spirit, not seen by the physical eye but in fact a spiritual reality none the less. When we receive Jesus as Lord and Saviour and as ‘the Christ’ we become part of this kingdom, given a heavenly citizenship and made to sit in a heavenly place together in Him. Matthew 18:20 For where there are two or three gathered in My name, I am in the midst of them. As we receive Him and He receives us to Himself we are brought into the church, which in the Spirit is this heavenly place.
“You Believe In God, Believe In Me Also” As stated at the beginning of this study we would look at verse 1 with verses 4-6. But in verse 1 Jesus is stating something very specific. He is asking, or commanding that we are to believe in Him the same way that we would believe in God. 1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory. So if this is Jesus that in truth is God manifested in the flesh, then we are to think of Him the same way as we would think of God as portrayed all through the Scriptures. Colossians 2:9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. So according to this verse Jesus is the fullness of the Godhead bodily (in bodily form, God manifested in the flesh). Godhead is mentioned three times in the New Testament, Acts 17:29, Romans 1:20 and as quoted Colossians 2:9. There is a slight diversity in each word, theiodes Acts, theiotes Romans and theotes in Colossians. Even with the diversity of pronunciation they all mean the same thing, divinity or godhead. They are all derived from the one word theos Gr#2316 Strongs, a deity (Supreme Divinity), fig. a magistrate; by Heb. Very: - X exceeding, God, god[ly-ward] If this is the case should we not say, instead of God being the Father, Son and Holy Spirit that according to the word Jesus is the Father, Son and Holy Spirit? Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, ‘Everlasting Father’, Prince of Peace. Psalm 2:7 I will declare a decree: The LORD has said to Me, ‘You are My Son’, Today I have begotten You. Romans 8:9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the ‘Spirit of God’ dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the ‘Spirit of Christ’, he is not His. If we look at Jesus in this light and also add to it we are to believe in Him that same way we would believe in God, would it be true to say that Jesus is not only Father, Son and Holy Spirit, but also Elohim (Creator God, Genesis 1 – John 1:3, Colossians 1:16) and El Shadai (The Lord Almighty, Almighty God Genesis 17:1, Revelations 1:8) and many more such as El Roi, the God who sees, Yehovah Yireh, Lord God provider and a massive twenty-nine more revealed names in the Old Testament alone. This is what the fullness of the Godhead is in Jesus Christ, the fullness of God’s divine nature in bodily form. This is why Jesus is sating, “You believe in God, believe in Me also.”
“And Where I Go You Know, And The Way You Know” And where I go you know – Jesus was referring the disciples to where He was going and that they knew the way. Yes, Jesus was talking of His death and resurrection, but Jesus had also spent so much time teaching them about the kingdom of God and that He would be sitting on the throne. Peter’s amazing revelation in Mathew 16:16 saw who Jesus was, His transfiguration on the mountain in Matthew 17 where Jesus took Peter, James and John and they were told, “This is My beloved Son, hear Him”. The prophecy fulfilled in regards to the King from the seed of David had come to pass, now it was approaching the time for this King to take His throne, Hebrews 10:12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God. Jesus had stated something wonderfully explicit to Nicodemus in John 3:13 No one has ascended to heaven but He who came from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. John had an understanding as he wrote In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God John 1:1 and, And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth John1:14. Jesus was telling them that all He had taught them was about to come to pass, that He, the King was about to reside upon the throne forever over His kingdom. Isaiah 9:7 Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. Luke 1:32-33 He will be great, and He will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end. Acts 2:34-36 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, 35. Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” 36. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord (Adonai-God) and Christ (Appointed King).
The way you know – Jesus was referring to His death and resurrection that it was by this they would know who He was and what was to come. Isaiah 42:1-4 Behold, My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles. 2. He will not cry out, nor raise His voice, Nor cause His voice to be heard in the street. 3. A bruised reed He shall not break, And smoking flax He will not quench; He shall bring forth justice and truth. 4. He will not fail nor be discouraged, Till He has established justice on the earth; And the coastlands shall wait for His law. Isaiah 50:6 I gave My back to those who struck Me, And My cheeks to those who plucked out My beard; I did not hide My face from shame and spitting. Isaiah 53:3-5 He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He is despised, and we did not esteem Him. 4. Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. 5. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. Psalm 22:16-18 For dogs have surrounded Me; The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They have pierced My hands and My feet; 17. I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me. 18. They divide My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots. Zechariah 12:10 And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn. Psalm 16:10 For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. Isaiah 53:11 He shall see the labour of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities. Psalm 68:18 You have ascended on high, You have led captivity captive; You have received gifts among men, Even from the rebellious, That the LORD God might dwell there. He was to die, rise again conquering death and to ascend on high to take the throne or as Jesus puts it in John 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was, and through His death and resurrection and ascention this was accomplished.
“I Am The Way, The Truth, And The Life” I am the Way – After Thomas refuted Jesus’ statement with, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” Jesus continues to explain them the way. Jesus said, “I am the way.” John 1:17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. Romans 5:21 so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is a gift from God. Philippians 3:9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; It was no longer through the workings of the law we obtain salvation and righteousness (right standing with God), but through faith alone in Jesus Christ, and through this we have been given access to the Father. Hebrews 10:19-20 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20. by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh. Romans 5:1-2 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2. through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
I am the truth – John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John 8:31-32 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 18:37 Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”
I am the life – John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 5:21 For as the Father raises from the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. John 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world. 1 John 5:11-12 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. The way, the truth and the life are all a person, the one person - Jesus Christ!
“No One Comes To The Father Except Through Me” It is only through faith in Jesus, His death and resurrection do we come to the Father, remembering that Jesus is the revealed name of God in the New Testament. 1 Timothy 2:5-6 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Jesus, 6. who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. Hebrews 9:15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. John 10:7-9 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 9. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. Ephesians 2:18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.
Jesus is truly the way, the truth and the life. He is the eternal doorway into the Father’s house, the church. He has come to us and received us to Himself and has made us sit together in Him in heavenly places. He has cleansed us, forgiven us and has given us access to the kingdom. He is the eternally blessed God, Romans 9:5, and His salvation is true and just. It was in the upper room in John 20 that they finally knew who Jesus was, Thomas proclaiming it aloud, “Oh my Lord and my God.”
Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved, Acts 4:12.
Grace and peace to all.
|
Comment by leeatoz on 2009-08-12 20:18:03 Hi Ian, Very good article. This statement however "Heaven is not a geographical place but rather a spiritual place." is not strictly correct. A better way to say it would be "Heaven is not only a physical place but also a spiritual place. There are multiple heavenlies and one of them is the physical plane we live in. We are in a physical body and if Heaven is within us then by that statement it indicates there is a physical aspect to heaven somehow. The Kingdom of God is layered, and when we get revelation as to one layer of the Kingdom we can get into sticky ground making definitive statements that discount the other layers, revelation, or explanations of their perspectives. There are of course absolutes in the Bible, and when declaring absolutes then we must make definitive statements. Doctrin of Heaven though is not really in this category. Some references in the Bible about heaven are talking about spiritual places, however, there is al least one aspect of heaven that is a physical place. Love Lee | Comment by leeatoz on 2009-08-12 20:21:49 Ian I just thought I should add - FANTASTIC ARTICLE FULL OF AWESOME REVELATION..... Keep them coming |
Please login or register to add comments |