Infinite Solace - Part 2

Third Consolation: Perceive What Jesus Did for You

“I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2).

This is Jesus’ explanation for leaving the disciples. He’s going to prepare a place for them. We read, “In my Father’s house are many rooms” (John 14:2a). Therefore, the phrase “to prepare a place” must mean something else, since the rooms are already there.

The word “prepare” doesn’t necessarily mean to construct a building. This verb often refers to making preparations for someone’s arrival (cf. Matt 22:4; 26:19). Paul writes in Philemon 22, “At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping that through your prayers I will be graciously given to you.”—This is what the Lord has done for us.

Hebrews 6:20 tells us that Jesus precedes us, having “…entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption” (Heb 9:12).

Jesus left in order to pay the price for your sins and mine on the Cross at Calvary. All of your lying, thieving, cheating, sexual sin, evil thoughts, but also your sins of omission (where you could or should have done good and failed to do so) … He took all of your sins upon Himself because of love. “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).

Our transgressions are so grievous that the Cross was the only way to restore the pathway to the Father. Jesus took every sin that separates us from God upon Himself. “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). It cost Jesus everything to pave our way to the Father’s house: “he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Phil 2:8b). “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). And with His cry from the Cross—“It is finished” (John 19:30)—the way was cleared and the place prepared. That is why John 14:6 is an eternal truth: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Ephesians 2:19 applies to us only through Jesus: “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.”

When we perceive what Jesus did for us, it comforts and encourages us, even if following Him “costs” us something. That cost will never be a fraction of what He did for us.

Fourth Consolation: Expect Jesus’ Return

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself…” (John 14:3a).

This statement is the heart of Jesus’ consolation. Let’s not forget that the disciples were faced with a big question: “Lord, where are you going?” (John 13:36). Jesus’ answer was, “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again.”

The Greek uses the present tense, which indicates the immediacy of the Lord’s return. It can occur at any time. What a comfort! The disciples should be expecting Jesus to return soon. A completely new, previously unknown truth opens up to them: “I will come again.”

This wasn’t fulfilled when the disciples encountered Jesus after His resurrection, or at the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, because Jesus didn’t fulfill the remainder of the promise on either of those occasions: “…and will take you to myself.” This also isn’t fulfilled when a Christian dies, because he goes to Jesus and not the other way around.

From the earliest days of New Testament exegesis, Christians have viewed this promise from the Lord eschatologically, believing that it could be fulfilled at any time. Even though the Lord’s second coming was already proclaimed in the Old Testament, this promise is a new one, referring to a completely different coming. Jesus isn’t speaking about returning in glory for the Jewish remnant, in order to establish His kingdom and judge the nations. He speaks only of coming to take those who belong to Him. Our Lord first revealed this wonderful truth—the hope of every Christian—on the eve of His crucifixion. It was given as consolation to His frightened disciples, who were immensely grieved at His departure.

This is the first place where the Rapture is mentioned in the Bible. The Apostle Paul reveals this teaching in more detail about 20 years later, in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. Interestingly enough, the circumstances were also very similar. Paul was comforting the Thessalonians about the passing of their loved ones, just as Jesus had comforted His disciples in the Upper Room concerning His imminent death.

The connection becomes even more astoundingly clear if you compare John 14:1-3 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 in detail:

• The words or phrases almost exactly parallel each other.

• The sequence aligns perfectly.

• Both passages refer only to the righteous.

• There is no inconsistency in the sequence of the words, from the first to the last.

• Finally, both texts lead the believer’s focus from the hardships of earth to the glories of heaven.

John Walvoord called the Rapture the first prophetic event of the new Millennium. The Church of Jesus has been waiting for this moment for 2,000 years. How much longer will it be?

Sadly, instead of joyful expectation, we see two responses in our generation: extreme neglect, due to failure to teach it at all; or extreme overemphasis, through making specific claims about a precise date, despite Scripture having quite deliberately concealed it.

Let’s just stick with what’s written: “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again.”

Dear friends, God’s redemptive history has a beginning and an end. God is bringing everything to conclusion for the glory of His name. Everything will be fulfilled exactly as it is written, including this unique event. The certainty of Jesus’ impending return should comfort our hearts through whatever may come, because it can happen today. Are you ready?

“But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil 3:20).

Fifth Consolation: Look Forward to the Glorious Results of His Return

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also” (John 14:3).

Jesus promised to bring us to Himself. First Thessalonians 4:16-17 gives us a peek behind the curtain as to how this will take place: We will be caught up in the clouds, together with those who have fallen asleep, to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with Him forever. And it continues, “Therefore encourage one another with these words.”

This is the infinite solace that brings true consolation. The goal and purpose of Jesus’ coming is solely that you too can be where He is. He used such plain words to express the glorious results of His return.

“That where I am you may be also.” That is His desire: to have the ones who belong to Him, bought by blood—you and me—with Him in eternity. You are meant to be where He is. The past may have been awful, the present may be bleak, but: “Let not your hearts be troubled.” Rejoice, because you have an indescribably glorious future ahead of you: eternal fellowship with Jesus. Could anything be more beautiful? Jesus’ promise demonstrates His interest in you. What a comfort that the Lord wants to have fellowship with you. This is also our solace for every broken fellowship here on earth.

Conclusion

The Lord Jesus is calling to you today: “Let not your hearts be troubled” (John 14:1).

No matter what situation you find yourself in, no matter how hopeless it is, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”

If you are God’s child, trust in Him. No matter what’s oppressing and threatening you, endure! Hold on! The consolation with which the Lord comforted His disciples way back then, still applies to you personally today: Believe what Scripture says; look toward the goal; perceive what Jesus did for you; expect Jesus’ return; and look forward to its glorious results!

This is consolation that truly comforts, and how God removes our fear—today in our hearts. You’re headed toward a wonderful future; a room has been prepared for you; eternal fellowship with Jesus awaits you. Will you be ready if Jesus comes today? Or are there things in your life that still need sorting out?

Do it: Go all in with Jesus today, so that you’ll be ready when He returns. But if you don’t believe in God and His Son Jesus Christ, then you have every reason to fear. Because, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him” (John 3:36).

I’ll conclude with one of the simplest prayers, which is also one of the most moving professions of faith in the Bible: “Our Lord, come!” (1 Cor 16:22). Amen.