This is a truly precious promise. It was given to comfort the hearts of the sorrowing disciples, and many a weary heart it has comforted since then. You will observe, that in these verses “I” and “you” occur very frequently. The heart of Jesus, and the hearts of His disciples, are in close quarters. Love unites them. In heart they are one. The tender love of Jesus is sweetly manifested. The disciples were filled with sorrow because He was going to leave them. “Whither I go,” He says, “ye cannot come.” This was a trying word to the heart. In answer to Peter’s question, “Whither goest Thou?” the Lord first refers to His own death on the cross for them, and then meets the trouble of their hearts with this blessed promise, “I will come again and receive you unto Myself.” He does not say, “I will send for you.” O no! but “I will come.” Such was His love, He would come for them Himself. Love values its object. To have spoken of sending others for His disciples, would not have expressed how much He loved and valued them.
But whither was He going? To His Father’s house on high—to His immediate presence—He was going home. And will He receive us to Himself there? He is there now, and He will come for us, and receive us to where He is Himself. “That where I am there ye may be also.” Our place will be with Him, through the rich merits of His blood. And that, we know, is the highest, best, most blessed place in heaven.
Each one will have his own place, not only in the heart of Christ, but in the house of many abodes, and in the glory of the Lord. “I go to prepare a place for you.” In short, it will be home, our own eternal, happy home. Such is the love of Jesus!
In the seventeenth chapter, we have the same precious truth presented, not in the form of a promise, but expressed as a prayer. “Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory which Thou hast given Me.” He bears us on His heart continually. And O! surely, our deepest, highest joy will be to see Him, who passed through shame and suffering for us, crowned with glory and honor.
Our joy will not consist, so much, in being there ourselves, as in seeing Him there. Every eye will be fixed on Him; every heart will be ravished with His glory and beauty. And the thought that we are there through His suffering, shame and dishonor, will tune every voice to sing His praise, in loudest, sweetest strains.
And now, having the promise, and knowing the desire of His heart, our true position is to be watching and longing for His coming. He has not named the day nor the hour, (nor the time of the year), but He has told us to be always watching for His return. This precious: promise, “I will come again, and receive you unto Myself,” places nothing between the heart of the disciple and his Lord’s return. His coming again is the proper object of His people’s hope. Like the Thessalonians who were “turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God: and to wait for His Son from heaven.” Affection for Him should lead us to pray, “Come Lord Jesus.”, In Revelation 4. We find in vision, the promise fulfilled, and the prayer answered. Affection, as well as faith, lays hold on this. The redeemed of the Lord are seen in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne. They are seated on thrones, wearing crowns and worshiping. And although “out of the thrones proceed lightnings, and thunderings, and voices,” they are not disturbed. They are perfectly at home. They are with Christ, and that makes heaven home to them. His promise is fulfilled, and the desire of His heart of love is answered. Before a single seal is broken, a single trumpet sounded, a single vial poured out, the church is called away. He comes for her, and receives her unto Himself—unto His own home, in His Father’s house on high.
“We remember the word of our crucified Lord. When He went to prepare us a place—will come in that day and transport you away—
And then we shall see His bless’d face.
Come, Lord from the skies, and command us to rise,
To the mansions of glory above;
With our Head to ascend, and eternity spend,
In rapture of heavenly love.”