John 14:3 "A Place Prepared" (Restoration - Week 3)
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. ESV
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. NIV
Dive Deeper:
In John chapter 13, Jesus eats a meal with his disciples for the last time. Toward the end of supper, He began (once again) to foretell His death. Imagine the moment. You’re happily eating a meal with your closest friends when suddenly, one of your friends tells you they are going to leave. It’s not exactly the kind of dinner conversation that makes for an evening full of joy and laughter. It’s no surprise that, as Jesus looked around the room at His disciples, He saw sadness and fear in their eyes (John 14:1). Their closest friend just told them that they could not follow Him where He would go.
Not long ago, my wife and I had some close friends move to another state. It was and still is a sad moment in our story. Whether it’s a friend moving away or the loss of a family member, the idea of being separated from those we love is heartbreaking. Part of being created in the image of God is that each of us longs to live in community with those we love. Yet the world’s profound brokenness often interrupts the good design that God intended. He meant for us to live in community with those we love, but often we are separated. In John 14:3, Jesus looked around the room at each of His disciples. Then, He spoke two simple yet profound promises that give hope to all those who follow Him.
He said, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also" (John 14:3). These words serve as a reminder of the future restoration that awaits those in Christ. In these verses, we see two promises of restoration that we wait for with expectation.
The Restoration of Place
The first promise we see in these verses is that promise of a restored place. Jesus said, “If I go and prepare a place for you.” This means that the Creator of the universe is, right now, at this very moment, preparing a place for you and me. Presently, we live in a world broken by sin, but the future home that Jesus is preparing will be completely restored. It's a place that surpasses anything we can imagine—a place of perfect peace, joy, and eternal communion with God.
What a beautiful promise with significant implications. It shows that God is not simply a mystical being who inhabits unseen spaces. He is a creative God who delights in beauty. Because of that, you and I can look forward with great anticipation to a restored place where righteousness and justice reign. What an encouragement to know that our future is secure, no matter our circumstances. Our hope lies not in our earthly dwellings but in the promise of an eternal home — the promise of a restored place.
The Restoration of Presence
The second promise we see is the promise of restored presence. Jesus says, "I will come again." These words point you and me to the return of Jesus. Just as He ascended to heaven, He will return in power and glory to gather His people to Himself. This promise reminds us that our present struggles and challenges are temporary. We have a future appointment with the King of kings, who will bring ultimate restoration, redemption, and fulfillment. And when He comes, He will establish His kingdom here on earth, and on that day, God will dwell with man. That’s why He says, “I will … take you to myself that where I am you may be also.” These words reveal the heart of Jesus—to be in intimate communion with His followers. He desires that we share in His eternal presence and experience the depths of His love forever. The culmination of our story — The Story of Redemption — is to be reunited with our Savior.
We look forward to the day when we will live with Jesus forever.
So this week, as you face various trials or struggles, remember that our story ends in restoration. One day, Jesus will restore the physical place where we dwell and His physical presence. Even so come, Jesus!