Does God live on earth?

Two well-known old gospel songs say: “An uninhabited apartment is waiting for me” and “My property is just behind the mountain”. These lyrics are based on the words of Jesus: «In my Father's house are many mansions. If it were not so, would I have said to you, 'I go to prepare the place for you?' (John 14,2).

These verses are often quoted at funerals because they promise that Jesus will prepare in heaven for God's people the reward that awaits people after death. But is that what Jesus wanted to say? It would be wrong if we tried to relate every word he said directly to our lives without considering what he wanted to say to the addressees at the time. On the night before his death, Jesus was sitting with his disciples in what is known as the Last Supper Room. The disciples were shocked at what they saw and heard. Jesus washed their feet and announced that there was a traitor among them. He declared that Peter would betray him not just once, but three times. Can you imagine how the apostles fared? He spoke of suffering, betrayal and death. They thought and wished that he was the forerunner of a new kingdom and that they would rule with him! Confusion, despair, dashed expectations, fear and emotions that are all too familiar to us too. And Jesus countered all this: «Do not be afraid of your hearts! Believe in God and believe in me!" (John 14,1). Jesus wanted to build up his disciples spiritually in the face of the impending horror scenario.

What did Jesus want to say to his disciples when he said, "In my Father's house are many mansions"? The appellation in my father's house refers to the temple in Jerusalem: "Why did you seek me? Didn't you know that I must be in my Father's business?" (Luke 2,49). The temple had replaced the tabernacle, the portable tent used by the Israelites to worship God. Inside the tabernacle (from the Latin tabernaculum = tent or hut) there was a room – separated by a thick curtain – that was called the holy of holies. This was the abode of God (tabernacle in Hebrew means «mishkan» = dwelling place or dwelling place) in the midst of his people. Once a year it was reserved for the high priest alone to enter this room to become aware of the presence of God. The word dwelling or living space means the place where one lives, but it was not a fixed abode, but a stopover on a journey that had led one to another place in the long term. This would then mean something other than being with God in heaven after death; for heaven is often regarded as man's last and final abode.

Jesus spoke of preparing a place to stay for his disciples. Where should he go? His path did not lead him straight to heaven to build dwellings there, but from the Upper Room to the cross. With his death and resurrection he was to prepare a place in his father's house for his own. It was like saying everything is under control. What is about to happen may seem terrible, but it is all part of the plan of salvation. Then he promised that he would come back. In this context he does not seem to be alluding to his second coming, although we look forward to Christ's glorious appearing on the last day. We know that Jesus' path was to lead him to the cross and that he would return three days later, risen from the dead. He returned once more in the form of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost.

Jesus said, "When I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you with me, so that you also may be where I am" (John 14,3). Let us dwell for a moment on the words "take to me" used here. They are to be understood in the same sense as the words that tell us that the Son (the Word) was with God: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. It was the same with God in the beginning" (John 1,1-2).

The choice of these words describes the relationship between father and son and points to their intimate relationship with one another. It is about an intimate and deep face-to-face relationship. But what does that have to do with you and me today? Before I answer that question, let me briefly review the temple.

When Jesus died, the veil of the temple was torn in two. This crack symbolizes a new access to the presence of God that opened up with it. The temple was no longer God's home on this earth. A completely new relationship with God was now open to every single human being. We have read: There are many mansions in my father's house. In the Holy of Holies there was only room for one person, once a year on the Day of Atonement for the High Priest. Now there has been a radical change. God had indeed made room for all people in himself, in his house! This was possible because the Son became flesh and redeemed us from the destructive power of sin and from death. He returned to the Father and drew all humanity to himself in the presence of God: «And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself. But he said this to indicate what death he would die" (John 12,32-33).

That same evening Jesus said: «Whoever loves me will keep my word; and my father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him" (John 14,23). Do you see what that means? In this verse we read again of mansions. What ideas do you associate with a good home? Maybe: peace, rest, joy, protection, teaching, forgiveness, provision, unconditional love, acceptance and hope to name a few. Jesus didn't just come to earth to atone for us. But he also came to share with us all these ideas about a good home and to let us experience the life that he lived with his father together with the Holy Spirit. That incredible, unique and intimate relationship that united Jesus himself alone with his Father is now open to us too: "I will take you to myself, so that you also may be where I am" (John 14,3). where is jesus Jesus is in the Father's bosom in the closest fellowship: «No one has ever seen God; the only begotten that is God and is in the bosom of the Father has declared it” (John 1,18).

It is even said: "To rest in someone's lap is to lie in his arms, to be cherished by him as the object of his deepest affection and affection, or, as the saying goes, to be his bosom friend". That's where Jesus lives. Where are we now? We are part of the kingdom of heaven of Jesus: “But God, who is rich in mercy, in his great love with which he loved us, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in sins – you are by grace rescued -; and he raised us up with him, and instituted us with him in heaven in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2,4-6).

Are you in a difficult, discouraging, or distressing situation right now? Rest assured: Jesus' words of comfort are addressed to you. Just as he once wanted to strengthen, encourage and consolidate his disciples, he does the same to you with the same words: «Do not be afraid of your heart! Believe in God and believe in me!" (John 14,1). Don't let your worries weigh you down, rely on Jesus and ponder what He says—and what He leaves unsaid! He just doesn't say they have to be brave and everything will turn out right. He doesn't guarantee you four steps to happiness and prosperity. He does not promise that He will give you a home in heaven that you cannot occupy until after you are dead, making it worth all your suffering. Rather, he makes it clear that he died on the cross in order to take upon himself all our sins, nailing them with himself on the cross so that everything that can separate us from God and life in his house may be blotted out. The apostle Paul explains it this way: “While we were still his enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son. Then it can't be otherwise than that we too will find salvation through Christ now - now that we have been reconciled and that Christ has risen and lives" (Romans 5,10 NGÜ).

You are drawn into the triune life of God through faith in love so that you may partake of the intimate communion with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit - in God's life - face to face. David's heart's desire will be fulfilled for you: "Good things and mercy will follow me as long as I live, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever" (Psalm 23,6).

God wants you to be a part of him and all he represents right now. He created you to live in His house now and forever.

by Gordon Green