“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 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. 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.” John 14:1-3
Jesus told the disciples that he was soon to go and that they could not follow him now, but they will later. They had walked with him for three years; three wonderful, miracle working, exciting years of walking with the Son of God. Now he announces his soon departure! The disciples were obviously disappointed and confused. What? Where? Can we come? Not yet.
The words Jesus used in the verses above to describe his departure and return were intentionally picturesque of the typical events before the Jewish wedding, something his disciples would readily pick up on. In Jewish tradition, once a man and a woman were engaged the man would immediately begin preparing a room within his father’s complex. He did so with the anticipation that one day, a day only his father knew, he would hear the call of his father to go get his bride. There would be a joyous marriage ceremony and then the son would take his bride into the house he built just for her. Jesus specifically uses the Jewish wedding event to encourage his disciples. Just as a groom promises his bride a home and that he will come back to get her for himself, Jesus is making that same promise to his disciples. “I will come back.”
What is the motivation of Jesus for these words of encouragement? It is only to cheer up the disciples? Or, is it also to reveal something of his nature and something of his deep, deep love toward these twelve men who have committed their lives to following him?
Looking at the disappointment of his guys, Jesus encourages with with some astonishing revelatory words. “Trust in God, trust also in me.” It might also be translated from the original Greek as “You trust in God, now trust in me.” Incredibly Jesus is putting himself on the same level as his Father. Just as the Father is faithful to his word, the Son is faithful to his word. When the Father makes a promise, you know He will fulfill his promise. So also, when the Son makes a promise, he will fulfill his promise. When Jesus said he will return you can be certain that he will return.
Most assuredly, there is the element of encouragement and revelation of his nature, but perhaps the greatest motivation of Jesus is his passionate love – the same love a groom has for his bride. He longs for her to be forever by his side – a permanent presence in a home prepared just for the two of them. In this case, not just one room, but many rooms! As many rooms as needed for those who love Christ and long for his appearing.
When you are fighting discouragement, or trouble of any kind remember this truth: Your Lord and Savior is out of sight but you are forever in his mind. Just as he came once as promised, he is coming again and today you are one day closer to forever being with him!
