Jesus Ascended: Part 5 (Jesus Prepares)
5. Jesus Prepares
Jesus had already spoken to His disciples about the ascension even before He was crucified. And this was one of the things He had told them.
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. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. (John 14:2-3)
Jesus told them He was going to prepare a place for them. For whom? For His disciples, for those who believe in Him. So that means for us who believe today as well. Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us.
But what does that mean? Is that Jesus has gone from a carpenter's shop on earth to a building site in heaven? If we think of it that way, the danger is we'll end up thinking that it's nice that Jesus has something to keep Him busy while he's waiting to come back! Rather, when Jesus tells His disciples, His focus isn't on how He spends His time, but on the benefit He brings to them. The fact that Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us is good news for us!
Look at Jn. 14:3. As soon as Jesus has told them that He's going to prepare a place for them, He goes on to tell them that that means He's coming back for them. Jesus' Ascension is the guarantee of His return! If He wasn't going to come back for us, there'd be no need for any prepared place. But, Jesus is coming back, and not just returning, but coming to receive us to Himself so that we'll be with Him forever. The Ascension assures of that truth.
After all, when the disciples saw Jesus ascend, what did the angels tell them?:
'This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.' (Acts 1:11)