Saturday, April 2, 2011

April 2, 2011

"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. You know the way to the place where I am going.” John 14:2-4

Do you have a place? Places are important. It is good to have a place. Having a place makes you feel special and significant. Having a place makes you feel as though you belong. Having a place makes you feel safe and having a place makes you feel secure.

While Jesus was here with His disciples for those three years, they really didn't have a place. They DID have a significant Person to hang out with! They were itinerates who traveled regularly from place to place. Now His time with them is coming to a end as He will soon be arrested, beaten savagely and then nailed to a cross. As He has come to town for that purpose. It is in the context of His impending suffering and death that He shares these comforting words. Certainly at a time when they should be comforting Him for what He is about to face, He is concerned for them. They left all to follow Him and have been His committed disciples for three years. Now He has to break the news to them that He will be arrested, savagely beaten and nailed on a cross on the next day. The center of their universe is about to drastically change. They are facing the fearful prospect that not only will they not have a place, they won't have a leader.

So, when Jesus breaks the bad news to them He also shares some good news, "I go to prepare a place for you."

As the disciples heard these words, they heard something that the typical modern Westerner misses. These were the words of great significance for the Jews. They are words of great joy for they are the words a newly engaged young man would says to his betrothed. Once he had asked the father for the hand of his daughter and permission was given, he would promise his wife to be "I am going to prepare a place for you". In joyful anticipation of sharing life with his beautiful new bride, he would eagerly begin building a home where they could live their lives together in marital bliss. This "place" would be a "love nest" for the newlyweds.

This is the spin that Jesus puts on death because of His resurrection and His life. Since the time He returned to His Father following His resurrection, He has been building a place for you in eager anticipation of being with you forever! Like an anxious bridegroom, He awaits your arrival. Jesus has conquered death and turned your funeral into a wedding! Such is the love of Jesus! So powerful is His resurrection that He removes the fear of life's final moments and replaces it with joy!

I pray that you will enjoy many more healthy and happy years in your place here in this life. But even more so I pray that when death takes you from your place you will arrive joyfully at His place - the place He has been preparing for you!



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