Waiting For the Heavenly Hostel

“In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?” [John 14:2].

One of the most beloved, and yet, as I attempt to explain below, misunderstood passages in all of John’s gospel is what I refer to as Jesus’ “Heavenly Hostel” talk found in the opening three verses of John 14. These verses are part of the three-chapter “Final Discourse” of Christ within which he gives the Eleven — Judas has already departed to put his scheme into play — some last minute guidance and assurance. As I have written elsewhere, these are the words of a “dead man talking.” Jesus understands what is about to happen and his love for his followers compels him to soften what he knows is going to be a crushing blow.

He’s already given them the Mandatum Novum — the “new commandment” — that they love one another as He loves them. He’s already shown them what he means by that command; He washed their feet with some rags and water. Knowing that bold, strong Peter will soon deny his Lord three times, that all the others, save the gospel writer himself, will scatter like a frightened covey of quail, Jesus still loves them so much he must give them/us a bit more of his heart.

I refer to these verses as “the Heavenly Hostel” speech because Jesus assures those close to him (and, therefore, us as well) that His Father’s House contains many rooms/dwelling places, and that He goes to prepare a special place for them ….

You know how those verses have come to be understood by so many of us in the church, don’t you? It’s goes something like this:

Jesus has gone on to Heaven before us, so that, at our own death, our souls can instantaneously journey on as well to a majestic mansion of sorts — a Heavenly Hostel — containing rooms, one of which is specifically reserved in our name. With our accommodations securely prepared for us in Heaven, we we can finally and fully commune with God after our Earthly lives in which we could only dimly see what was in store for us forever.

When we think that, we’re wrong. By “wrong” I don’t mean that Jesus hasn’t prepared “a place” for us. I do mean that we don’t have to wait for our death to experience Oneness with our Lord. As the little old lady once said about a well-meaning, but neglectful friend, “She’s so heavenly-minded that she’s no Earthly good.”

The difficulty for many of us rests in the fact that Jesus doesn’t stop with his somewhat nebulous description of the Heavenly Hostel; He continues. He tells the Eleven that they know the way to the place about which He is talking. Leave it to my namesake, Thomas, to say what everyone else is thinking, “Lord, we do not know where you’re going, so how can we know the way?” [14:5].

Multiple choice: To Thomas’ query, Jesus responds:

(A) “It doesn’t matter now; you’ll know just after your death.”

(B) “You drive toward Golgotha and take a left at the third light.”

(C) “You raise a nice sum of cash, give it away, and a Voice will give you heavenly instructions.

(D) None of the above.

Our minds tend to work a lot like the mind of our cousin, Thomas. We’re used to Twelve-Step programs, six keys to a vibrant church, three-point sermons, seven sacraments, Ten Commandments (or is it Eleven after Maundy Thursday?).

Or, looking at our current crisis: Are the number of COVID-19 cases rising in Durham County? Is our allocation of N95 respirator masks sufficient to get us through the crisis? Will it be safe to open barber and hairstyling shops in two weeks? How can I eat a meal in my favorite restaurant with an N95 mask on my face? Will we ever enjoy another game in Cameron Indoor again?

Thomas, like so many of us, expects — no demands — that Jesus paint him a picture or draw him a map. “Jesus, How can we know the way?”

Our Lord’s response is direct and strong. In so many words, Jesus reminds the Eleven that “the Way” is standing right in front of them. In his response to Thomas’ question, Jesus drops one of his seven “I am” statements in John’s Gospel — see, I couldn’t resist numbering them, although some argue there are actually eight. He tells them (and us), “I am the Way, the truth, and the life.” [14:6a]

Notice that Jesus never says, “I will be the Way.” He stresses instead, “I am.” Can we, therefore, see that the “Jesus story” isn’t as follows: “You die and, particularly if you’re sorry for what you’ve done wrong, then you go to Heaven.” No, Jesus won’t let us off that easy. For our Lord, the Kingdom of God is standing in front of us. It is; it isn’t a “shall be” scenario. And sense it is now, our reaction to Jesus must also be now.

I wish I could say that the Eleven leaned back and said, “Got it.” They still want a roadmap or at least a painting. This time it’s Philip who is not quite convinced. “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied” [14:8].

John doesn’t say that Jesus bit his lip at this point. I’ll bet he did. Jesus’ response shows a bit of a broken heart, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” [14:9]. Again His point, the Answer is right in front of your nose! With this response, Jesus repeats words that John will later incorporate into the prologue of John’s Gospel: “No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart (literally, in the bosom of the Father), who has made him known” [1:18].

If we want to know who God is, here and now, we need look no further than Jesus. We needn’t wait for the Heavenly Hostel. We don’t need to wonder if our room will be painted gray or blue. The Triune God is available to us in this very moment. All the words that Jesus has spoken, all the signs and works that He has done, come from God and show us who God is [14:10-11]. Hallelujah! Emmanuel, God is with us — now!