The Father’s House (John 14:1-3)

This sermon was preached on 3/12/2011 as part of a communion weekend

A question that should cross our minds at this time of communion is, ‘What did Jesus speak about on the first occasion of the Lord’s Supper?’ Surprisingly, the Gospel that gives the most information regarding an answer is the Gospel that does not even mention the Lord’s Supper. Several chapters of John’s Gospel record what was said by Jesus on the evening of his betrayal, which was when he commenced the Lord’s Supper. So when we read John 13-17, we can see what Jesus spoke about. For example, he stressed the importance of humble service, which he exemplified when he washed the feet of his disciples. He also spoke about the necessity of brotherly love, which would be a very effective means of witness to the world (John 13:35). Other themes about which he spoke were that of peace (John 14:27), of fellowship with God (John 13:23), or troubles and opposition (John 16:1-4).

The themes that I would like us to consider this evening are found in John 14:1-3. These verses have been favourite ones with the Lord’s people because they have given to them a wonderful view of heaven as their eternal home. Home is wonderful imagery for most people, and of course heaven was the eternal home of Jesus. Spurgeon commented, when preaching on this passage, that the words were better than any sermon as far as spiritual consolation is concerned. So we will look first at the consolation Jesus gives, then we will consider the description he gives of heaven, and third we will think briefly about the future welcome he would give to his disciples when they reached there. And we should remember that he is speaking to disciples while they were taking part in the Lord’s Supper.

The consolation Jesus gave to his disciples

Verse 1 is obviously connected to the previous statements of Jesus which concerned the imminent denial of Jesus by his friend Peter (John 13:36-38) and some of them may also have been confused by what Jesus had said about Judas betraying him (it looks as if all the disciples did not hear the conversation about Judas in John 13:23-30). No doubt the disciples were disturbed by this prediction about Peter because if brave Peter could fail, then the same could denial could be committed by all of them. Perhaps Jesus was seeing the concern on their faces. This consolation was given to a group who were preoccupied with their own place in an imagery kingdom, who were about to deny him, who were not listening to his teaching. Jesus knew all this about them, but because he loved them he proceeded to comfort them.

Jesus encourages his disciples by telling them not to focus on their surroundings but on his divine ability. Although he was facing the most difficult situation ever known by a person, of being abandoned by God because he was the substitute of sinners when on the cross, he showed his compassion by dealing with their concerns. Things might seem unusual to them, but they should take their eyes of these matters and focus on what he was able to do. He claims to be equal with the Father and as much an object of their trust as the Father was.

Jesus does not only direct his troubled disciples to think about his ability, he also points them to his divine aims or purpose. This purpose involves their arrival in heaven. If they would concentrate on heaven, they would enter into a similar expectation that Jesus was experiencing, because these verses make clear that Jesus is longing for them to be in heaven with him. Heaven was much on his mind as he sat with them at the Lord’s Table.

This description of Jesus’ desires also reminds us of his divine affections for his people. His heart was full of loving sympathy as he noted their increasing consternation and apprehension. These divine affections had been set on them in eternity past, had been shown to them during the months and years they had been together, and even although they were not what they should have been, Jesus was glad to be with them. This occasion of the first Lord’s Supper was a time of love.

It is good for us to consider these three aspects of Christ when we find ourselves in situations of spiritual difficulty. Think of his divine ability, his divine aims, and his divine affections as directed towards you.

A beautiful picture of heaven

There are many pictures given in the Bible of heaven. It is likened to a city, to a better country, to a place of rest. Jesus on the cross calls heaven by the name of Paradise, the place of true delights. Heaven is the remade universe, the new heavens and new earth in which righteousness will dwell. Here Jesus employs a title for heaven that is only used by him, the Father’s house.

In passing, we can note that Jesus affirms that there will be a large number of people in heaven because he says that there will be ‘many’ rooms there. This emphasis on the size of the redeemed is stressed elsewhere, as in Revelation 7 where the crowd surrounding the throne is described as being ‘a number that no one can count’. Let us not become over-depressed by the apparent smallness of the church in our day. At the end of the story, Jesus will have redeemed billions of sinners.

We may wonder why the word ‘mansion’ was used by the Authorised Version translators because it is evident that it is impossible to have many mansions inside a house. In the seventeenth century, the word ‘mansion’ was used not for a large house but for a lodging-place where travellers would spend the night. The term comes from the Latin translation, the Vulgate. These lodging-places would usually comprise just one room. The translators thought that Jesus was saying that there were many lodging-places in his Father’s house.

The home Jesus is preparing

What is meant by the term ‘Father’s house’? Several suggestions have been made. One is that heaven is a world of variety, with each room containing details not found in the others. I suppose if we were to apply the rooms found in an everyday house, we could say that in the Father’s house there is the heavenly dining-room in which God’s people feast at the celestial banquet, with Jesus as the host. Also in the Father’s house, there is the library in which are kept records of all the earthly progress of the people of God. In this room, believers can review their earthly journey and give thanks to the Shepherd who led them safely through the desert. Another room in the Father’s house is the lounge where the residents meet together to discuss the events of that day. We could list a wide variety of rooms.

A second suggestion that is made is that the rooms indicate progression. As we noted above, the term translated ‘rooms’ was used in the past for lodges in which travellers stayed on their journeys. As they went from lodge to lodge, they made progress until they reached their destination. The progression that believers will enjoy in the eternal world is one that will never come to an end; there will be an infinite number of rooms to go through for these believers as they advance in the knowledge of God.

A third suggestion is that the term points to the eternal reunion of the Saviour and his people. It is customary for family members to meet together in the family home on special occasions. Similarly the Father’s house will be the place where all the children of God will meet in eternal festival to enjoy his enduring presence and to know his ongoing blessing.

Obviously all these suggestions contain truth and describe the realities of heaven. But they don’t explain all that Jesus might have meant by this illustration. ‘In Jesus’ day, many dwelling units were combined to form an extended household. It was customary for sons to add to their father’s house once married, so that the entire estate grew into a large compound (called insula) centered round a communal courtyard’ (Kostenberger). Jesus is referring to the practice of additional rooms being added to a home as a family increased in number.

The existing rooms in the Father’s house

The first thing that Jesus tells us that there are already some rooms in the Father’s house. In these rooms, at the time Jesus told this passage, were all the believers of the Old Testament era who had died in the faith. We can read about them in the Old Testament. Several of them are mentioned in Hebrews 11, where a very strong emphasis is placed on the heavenly aspect of their faith. At one stage, there were no residents from the earth, but the happy day arrived when Abel, the first martyr, reached the Father’s house. What a story he had to tell. All his life he had looked at the earthly Paradise that was barred to sinners. He knew that there was not a way back to Eden. But he had looked forward to a more permanent Paradise, to heaven. And he entered in and began singing the song of redemption to the delight of the angels. He is the oldest human resident in the Father’s house.

Since his entrance, many others have joined him. Enoch came in a unique manner, without having to taste death. Noah, Shem, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Aaron, David and Isaiah, to mention some, also reached the Father’s house. They each have their own story to tell as they meet in the heavenly courtyard, of how the Lord had initially met with them, giving them peace and forgiveness, and then led them through the earthly valley until the day came when they went to the Father’s house. And when they reached the Father’s house, they discovered that there was a personal room for each of them.

The additional rooms in the Father’s house

Having referred to those already in rooms in the Father’s house, Jesus turns to his disciples and says that one of the reasons he is leaving them is to go and prepare a place there for them. This statement has often been taken as a reference to the work done by the Saviour on the cross. Yet, given the likely illustration that he has used, I suspect he is referring to some form of heavenly activity in which he is engaged in preparing a particular place for each of his disciples in the Father’s house.

Jesus’ words are a reminder of the unity of the family of God. New Testament believers are going to be with Old Testament believers in the Father’s house. All together are going to be in the company of the Elder Brother.

His words are also an illustration of the uniqueness of each member of the family of God. Just as there are differences between believers on earth in terms of their spiritual experiences, so there will be differences in heaven. Thinking of the illustration of a large house, there would be two places for the residents to meet others – the courtyard and their own rooms. They could illustrate two types of contact with Jesus in heaven: one occurs corporately with all of God’s children (in the courtyard) and the other occurs privately with Jesus (in our room). This private type of heavenly interaction with Christ is found also in the promise that Jesus makes to the overcomers in one of the seven churches of Asia: ‘To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it’ (Rev. 2:17). These words describe a personal intimacy with Jesus in heaven.

In some way the room in the Father’s house will reflect the reward given by Jesus to his people for their faithful service on earth. We are accustomed to giving a valuable item to a person who has done something for us. The room is a picture of the glory that will be given by Jesus to his people. Retaining the illustration of a room, perhaps the furniture in it will be items that Jesus, in his grace, will give as permanent and personal reminders of his joy over our service for him in this life. Little things we did for him, long forgotten by us, are recorded on high and will be connected to the degree of glory that we will enjoy with Jesus in the Father’s house. It is a question to ask ourselves, ‘Am I doing something today that will contribute to my state of glory in the next world?’ We don’t merit the degree of glory by our obedience to Christ, but it is connected to it.

The welcome Jesus will give

Jesus tells his disciples that when he has finished preparing a place for them, he will come and take them there. This promise has two fulfilments. One occurs at the death of believers and the other at the Saviour’s second coming. On both occasions, believers will receive from Jesus a rich welcome. He will say to them, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master’ (Matt. 25:21). ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world’ (Matt. 25:34).

These announcements indicate both the personal nature of the Saviour’s welcome and the permanent presence of Christ into which they are introduced. They are to be Christ’s eternal companions, enjoying his fellowship, experiencing his provision, sharing his inheritance. What a prospect for poor, sinful creatures! What a Saviour they have! And it was what Jesus wanted to speak about during the first occasion of the Lord’s Supper.