Monday December 15th, 2014 John 14:1-7
"In my Father's house there are many dwelling places." (verse 2a)
My wife, adult son and I live on the same farm site my grandfather homesteaded in 1903. My father and his siblings grew up in the homestead house where he and his wife (along with his mother and bachelor brother) raised their family of four. When I got married, we built our home in that same farmyard, as did my brother and his wife. When our youngest son, his wife and daughter returned for a time, this marked five generations living on that farm site.
Such is the image Jesus is painting for his disciples in today’s reading as he prepares for his departure. At that time it was common for a newly married son to build his house affixed to a wall of his father’s house. When the next son got married, he did something similar. As the family grew, so did the house.
The image of multiple heavenly dwelling places gave comfort to the disciples, but the question remained as to how to find this heavenly abode. Jesus’ answer gave direction to them and generations since, but wasn’t so much about “Where,” but rather “Who.”
There will come a day when I will permanently leave this particular farm home for a heavenly one. I don’t know where that place is, but Jesus knows and is the way.
Lead me home, Jesus. Amen. — ACS
Contributed by Dwelling Places
My wife, adult son and I live on the same farm site my grandfather homesteaded in 1903. My father and his siblings grew up in the homestead house where he and his wife (along with his mother and bachelor brother) raised their family of four. When I got married, we built our home in that same farmyard, as did my brother and his wife. When our youngest son, his wife and daughter returned for a time, this marked five generations living on that farm site.
Such is the image Jesus is painting for his disciples in today's reading as he prepares for his departure. At that time it was common for a newly married son to build his house affixed to a wall of his father's house. When the next son got married, he did something similar. As the family grew, so did the house.
The image of multiple heavenly dwelling places gave comfort to the disciples, but the question remained as to how to find this heavenly abode. Jesus' answer gave direction to them and generations since, but wasn't so much about "Where," but rather "Who."
There will come a day when I will permanently leave this particular farm home for a heavenly one. I don't know where that place is, but Jesus knows and is the way.
