Jabez Burns Sermons: 011. Joh 14:2. The Heavenly Mansions

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Jabez Burns Sermons: 011. Joh 14:2. The Heavenly Mansions


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Joh_14:2. The Heavenly Mansions

"In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you."—Joh_14:2

Redeemer had been intimating his departure. Minds of the disciples overwhelmed with sorrow. Greatly dejected at the idea of separation. Jesus calls upon them as his disciples to confide in him, and especially in what he was going to reveal. "In my Father's house," &c. Three things in the text.

I. The House specified.

"In my Father's house."

God has two especial houses—his church on earth and his church in heaven; the militant and triumphant; his visible earthly, and his invisible heavenly, temple. The text refers to the latter, to God's heavenly courts; his glorious abode; his imperial palace. In calling it His Father's house, he showed,

1. His own right to it—

As Son and Heir of all things. And he showed,

2. The right of all his people to it—

By and through him: "For if children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ." Hence he said, "I ascend to my Father and to your Father, to my God and your God."

This house is,

(1) A heavenly house

(2) A magnificent and glorious house.

(3) An extensive house.

(4) And an eternal house—eternal in the heavens. Notice,

II. The Mansions referred to.

"In my Father's house are many mansions." Mansion signifies the opposite of tent or tabernacle. It means a place of permanent abode—a stable dwelling. The heavenly mansions are distinguished,

1. For their great variety.

This will be necessary—to exhibit perfect justice; to suit the various capacities of the saints; and to establish the statements of revelation. "One glory of the sun," &c. To one is given five, to another ten cities, &c. They will be,

2. Mansions of intellectual light.

No darkness, mental or moral; no twilight—perfect noonday. Sun never sets.

3. Mansions of spotless purity.

No sin, original or practical; no sinful infirmity. Atmosphere untainted; all holiness to the Lord. Nothing enters in that defileth, &c.

4. Mansions of undisturbed repose.

This world a sea; church itself tossed hither and thither. Wilderness; scene of toil, suffering, and conflict. In heaven all these things are unknown; rest, entire and eternal.

5. Mansions of superlative blessed ness.

Fulness of joy, and pleasures for evermore. Unbounded and eternal blessedness.

6. Countless in number—"many."

Heaven not a wilderness—not a village; but a magnificent and densely populated city—"come from the east and west," &c. "A multitude that no man can number."

III. These are Prepared Mansions.

1. Prepared by the Redeemer.

His death, resurrection, public entry in to heaven, intercession, &c. He is entered as a Forerunner. Taken possession in our name, and for our benefit, by his own blood.

2. Prepared for believers.

"Ye believe in God, believe also in me." None but believers have a title; none but believers have the meetness; none but believers have the promise.

Application

(1) Are we the friends and disciples of Christ? Let us rejoice, not only in what he did for us on earth, but in what he is doing for us in heaven. (2) Let us rejoice in hope of our future inheritance (3) Let us act as expectants of such great and eternal blessedness.