Winter 1997
Preparing our Mansions
Luther Cronrath

"If a man loves Me, he will keep My Word. And
My Father will love him, and We will come to
him and make Our abode with him" John 14:23.

This love is a determined, committed love that is measured by obedience - "he will keep My word."

Our keeping His Word is two-fold.

(1). The eternal expression of God, which is Jesus Christ,
as revealed in the written Word of God.
(2). A present word, as communicated to us by the Holy
Spirit.

In whatever way the Lord may communicate with us, we are to be obedient to that word by taking up our cross and following Him. When we do this, the Lord will not only make His abode within us, He will also manifest Himself to us. In this manifestation of His presence, only those who have met these conditions for His appearing will see Him.

The word "abode" also has a deeper meaning.

"Let not your heart be troubled. You believe
in God, believe also in Me. 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" John 14:1-2.

We are these mansions. The Greek word that is used for "mansions" (mone) in this verse, and the Father and Jesus making their "abode" (mone) within us in John 14:23 are the same. Thus, there are many mansions, or, many who are keeping His word, within whom the Father and Son will abide.

Many think that these mansions are in Heaven because they are looking for Jesus to come and take them away. But the Word tells us that He is coming "to receive us unto Himself." In verse 23, He clearly says, "I and My Father will come and dwell in you."

"I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go
and prepare a place for you, I will come again
and receive you to Myself, so that where I am,
you may be also" John 14:2b-3.

The Geek word (erchomai) that is translated "come again" in the above passage of Scripture means "to come, to appear and enter in." It is usually translated simply as "coming." Thus, in John 14:22-23, Jesus is saying, "This is how I will come (erchomai) and you will see Me, but the world will not see Me." This is because He will enter into each person who has been prepared to receive Him.

When Jesus said, "I go to prepare a place for you, He is saying that He is going to the cross to make this possible. The Greek word for this literally says, "I am going through a piercing to prepare a place for you." Jesus was pierced upon the cross in our behalf, to accomplish our redemption and prepare the way for His togetherness with us.

Then He, being the first to rise from the dead, will return and enter into His people and surround Himself with them, and they with Him. Jesus is saying, "When I have completed your redemption upon the cross and have risen, you will see me again, but the world will not see me.

Then I will receive you and surround you with Myself. As your mansion is being prepared, I and My Father will come and we will abide in you." This has nothing to do with our having a "room" in heaven when we die.

Jesus will receive us to Himself. The word "receive" means to "come, present oneself, and take hold and receive one." In its fullest meaning, Jesus is saying, "You come and you take, and then I will come and I will take, and we will both receive something." When Jesus knocks on the door in Rev 3:20, He is seeking to fully reveal Himself to us by eating with us, and then we eating with Him.

This experience of His personally coming to us and revealing Himself to us is presently available to us, and marvelous to experience. He will not only come as a guest, but He will become the Host and bring the food.