John 14:1-4

Many Dwelling Places

“Do not let your hearts be distressed. You believe in God; believe also in me. There are many dwelling places in my Father’s house. Otherwise, I would have told you, because I am going away to make ready a place for you. And if I go and make ready a place for you, I will come again and take you to be with me, so that where I am you may be too. And you know the way where I am going.”

— ‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭1‬-‭4‬‬ 

One of those passages that make me like John’s gospel a little more. Of course, we usually hear this at funerals—almost exclusively at funerals, unless a pastor is preaching through John (or an end times study). But John LOVES double meanings and word plays.

Distress is actually a recurring theme towards the latter half of the book. This is the same emotion Jesus feels in 11:33; 12:27; 13:21, all of it revolving around the effects of sin/death and leading to the cross. Once He dies, the disciples would be “alone,” especially if they didn’t understand the plan. 

The mood of “believe” in v. 2 is debated (both occurrences). They could be statements or commands. Though we may want them both to be the same, see the NET note for extensive discussion on why it makes sense for the first to be a statement and the second to be a command (there’s even an option of their being questions, but that’s least likely). The point is that the Jews/disciples had no problem with YHWH. Committed followers. Yay, law. But the purpose and mission of Jesus was throwing them off. He is reminding them that belief in YHWH is identical to following Him. The two cannot be separated.

Oh, the mansions. Thank you, Latin. This may be one of the greatest mistranslations or misleading translations in the Bible. (I digress). Still some debate about monai. Some point to temporary resting places and make theological arguments out of that idea (whether purgatory or something else). But John’s favorite word is “abide” (meno). This word for dwelling place is the noun form of the verb, so Jesus is going to prepare many places to live/abide. There’s no reason to comment on the temporary/permanent nature of the abiding based on the word alone because either one is possible. Context will show this is probably a more permanent situation.

Father’s house: John has already redefined this term in chapter 2. Anytime we see “house of God” in Bible, it’s the temple. That’s where God lives. In ch 2., Jesus argues with leaders about making “Father’s house” a horrible place. They get offended by His words and say something about building the temple in 46 years. Jesus says, “Destroy this house and I will rebuild it in 3 days.” And then John defines the “house.” “He was talking about His body.

So Father’s house is code for Jesus’ body in John.

I.e., all of those times that Jesus says “abide in me” (it’s a lot), that’s described here in ch. 14 as “living spaces in the Father’s house”. Same concept. If you love Paul more, it’s the phrase “in Christ” all over the place.

I go to make a place—John uses the word “place” in Revelation 12:8 to talk about a place in heaven, so perhaps same concept. Wait, I thought this wasn’t heaven, but Jesus’ body.

This is where John’s double meanings come in. Jesus says throughout these 3-4 chapters “I’m leaving.” Coming/going are very common ideas. The question is, “Where is He going?” John 12:32; 13:33 answer that He is going to the Father. But the path He takes—His “way”—is the cross. So He’s also coming/going to the cross and returning to the disciples.

They can’t go with Jesus to the Father until He “returns.” Well, this could be the ultimate 2nd coming, but it’s also His return after resurrection. After He’s prepared the “way” and built many dwelling places in “Him”. 

They know the “way.” His way is the cross. Their way is in v. 6 after Jesus talks to Philip. “I am the way.”