“I go to prepare a place for you.”

— John 14:2

These words are the living speech of a dying Christ to his dear apostles; and, in them, to all his people even to the end of the world.

This is his farewell sermon preached a little before his departure out of this world, and therefore deserves a most serious regard from all Christ’s friends. This valedictory sermon begins at verse 1, of this chapter. It is begun with a solemn exclamation from inordinate and immoderate heart trouble, “Let not your heart be troubled.” He foresaw the troubles that were ready to rise in their hearts at the loss of his personal presence, as well as the troubles they were likely to endure after his departure. After this follows many directions or grounds of support, comfort, and encouragement. These are, first to believe, “Ye believe in God, believe also in me.” Here he sends them to faith, and sets before them a double object of faith in God, that is, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, as well as an emphasis on himself, as mediator. 

That our faith may be supported, we have him to believe on who supports heaven and earth. Second, he directs them to take into their mind the place where he was going, “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so I would have told you” (v. 2). These were not for himself alone, but for all his also. Third, they are directed to observe the end of his departure, which we have in the text, “I go to prepare a place for you.”

In these words you may notice who proposes this ground of consolation. It is the Lord Jesus Christ. He gave this encouragement when he was leaving this world. To who was this proposition made? It was made to the apostles, whom he was leaving in a very troublesome world. What was the matter and ground of comfort? That he was going to heaven for them, “I go to prepare a place for you,” not by a new creation of anything in heaven, or by a new purchase when I arrive in heaven. Rather, by my passion, resurrection, ascension, and intercession. I die to obtain a place there, I ascend to take possession of it, and keep that place for my people for their coming. 

DOCTRINE: That Jesus is gone to heaven for all true believers. He went in their name, and his business was for their happiness, “Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest forever after the order of Melchisedec” (Hebrews 6:20). “For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us” (Hebrews 9:24).

Why has he gone for us? To open the gate of heaven, and make way for our entrance.

– Henry Pendlebury, Christ Ascending

Artwork: Richard Nicolaüs Roland Holst, “Design for a window in the Dutch Pavilion at the Arts Décoratifs exhibition in Paris, 1925”