In My Father’s House
John 14:1 – 3
1 "You must not let yourselves be distressed—you must hold on to your faith in God and to your faith in me. 2 There are many rooms in my Father’s House. If there were not, should I have told you that I am going away to prepare a place for you? 3 It is true that I am going away to prepare a place for you, but it is just as true that I am coming again to welcome you into my own home, so that you may be where I am.
[J B Philips]
I. THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE OCCASION
1) The Keeping Of The Feast
Luke 22:7-8 7 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover."
2) The Revealing Of The Betrayer
John 13:21 After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, "I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me."
3) The Foretelling Of His Departure
Mark 14:27 "All of you will desert me," Jesus told them. "For the Scriptures say, ‘God will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ [NLT]
4) The Prediction Of The Denying
Luke 22:34 Jesus answered, "I tell you, Peter, before the cock crows today, you will deny three times that you know me."
II. THE CONCERN OF THE DISCIPLES
They were anxious because . . .
1) Judas Had Gone Out
John 13:30 Judas took the piece of bread and went out quickly—into the night.
2) Peter Had Been Told He Would Deny The Lord
Luke 22:34 Jesus answered, "I tell you, Peter, before the cock crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.
3) The Lord Was Leaving Them
a) Where Was He Going?
John 14:5 4 And you know where I am going and how to get there." 5 “No, we don’t know, Lord," Thomas said. "We haven’t any idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?"
b) Was He Speaking of His Death?
If so, He must be stopped
John 13:36 & 37 36 Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, where are you going?" "I am going," replied Jesus, "where you cannot follow me now, though you will follow me later." 37 “Lord, why can’t I follow you now?" said Peter. "I would lay down my life for you!" [JBP]
Peter had not yet understood the purpose of the Lord’s death.
III. THE CARE OF THE LORD JOHN 14:1-3
1 "You must not let yourselves be distressed—you must hold on to your faith in God and to your faith in me. 2 There are many rooms in my Father’s House. If there were not, should I have told you that I am going away to prepare a place for you? 3 It is true that I am going away to prepare a place for you, but it is just as true that I am coming again to welcome you into my own home, so that you may be where I am. [JBP]
1) Faith Is Stronger Than Fear
V 1b. "You . . . —you must hold on to your faith in God and to your faith in me. [JBP]
Ro 10:17 Faith, you see, can only come from hearing the message, and the message is the word of Christ. [JBP]
Psalm 42:5 Why am I discouraged? Why so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Saviour and my God! [NLT]
a) True Faith Is Not Doubtful
It is not uncertain – it is not unrelated to life.
John 20:27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."
b) True Faith Is Definite
V 1b. ye believe in God, believe also in me.
pisteuo pist-yoo’-o; to have faith - Implies a real commitment.
This kind of faith – a faith correctly placed – will banish doubt.
2) The Provision Is As Sure As The Promise
His promises are based on . . .
a) Truth - He Cannot Lie
Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfil?
Matthew 24:35 Earth and sky will pass away, but it is certain that my words will not pass away. [Wey]
b) Love - He Cannot Change
John 13:1 It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.
Romans 8:38 & 39 38 I have become absolutely convinced that neither death nor life, neither messenger of Heaven nor monarch of earth, neither what happens today nor what may happen tomorrow, 39 neither a power from on high nor a power from below, nor anything else in God’s whole world has any power to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. [JBP]
c) Power - He Cannot Fail
i. The Divine Anointing
Acts 10:38 And no doubt you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the Devil, for God was with him. [NLT]
ii. The Divine Authority
Matthew 28:18 Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
3) The Promises He Made
a) He Promise To Go
v 2. I am going away to prepare a place for you?
He did this! They saw Him die, they saw Him resurrected, and they saw Him ascend to heaven.
b) He Promised To Return Himself
v. 3 It is true that I am going away to prepare a place for you, but it is just as true that I am coming again
I Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven
c) He Promised To Receive His Own
v 3 I am coming again to welcome you into my own home, so that you may be where I am.
II Thessalonians 2:1 Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled . . .
IV. THE COMPANY OF THE REDEEMED
1) The Place - The Father’s House
a) There is room for all
v 2. There are many rooms in my Father’s House.
II Corinthians 5:1 Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.
b) There is provision for all
v. 2. I am going away to prepare a place for you
I Corinthians 2:9 "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"
2) The People - The Lord’s People
He was speaking to His disciples
a) The Lord’s coming - to receive His own
v. 3. I am coming again to welcome you into my own home,
I Corinthians 15:23 Christ the firstfruits; afterward, those that are Christ’s at his coming.
b) The Lord’s Companionship – To be with His own
v. 3. so that you may be where I am.
John 17:24 Father, it is my desire that these whom you have given to me may be by my side where I am, so that they may see my glory which you have given to me, because you had love for me before the world came into being. [BBE]
