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The Way, The Truth, and the Life (John 14:1-7)

 This is one of the places where the chapter divisions don't match up with the text. On the other hand, the chapter divisions were added because there was only so much that the monks could memorize.

Jesus says, "Do not let your hearts be troubled," probably for several reasons. For one thing, he just told them he was going away. For another, he told them that one of their own would be his betrayer. And then of course, in this time, the relationship between a rabbi and his students was very close. They probably didn't know what to do next.

"In my Father's house there are many rooms" has presented an opportunity for lots of debate over the centuries. Some commentators say that it means that people from different places all over the world can find a place in heaven. Others boldly suggest that it refers to different belief systems. I don't hold that particular view. I think we should understand this in a similar way to the "other sheep" statement in John 10: people from outside Israel have a chance to obtain salvation. Verse 6 seems very exclusive, in the sense that we can understand why many saints and teachers believed that faith in Jesus was the only way to be saved. In the end, we leave the judgments to the Father, knowing that whatever he decides is right, because he is good.

They may have thought that heaven was a physical place, and that the Father would run out of space. In another sense, we might often think that we want to go to heaven, but we're not sure that we matter enough for God to be so concerned. Jesus is saying that we have a place with our name on it. Parents do this when they have a chance to provide each of their children with their own rooms.

They are of course still thinking about a physical place, because poor St. Thomas isn't sure he knows how to get there. Jesus reassures them all that he will come back for them, and lead them there. Jesus tells them that if they have known him, they have known the Father.

It is a wonderful and mysterious thing, to wonder why the God who doesn't need us wants us to be with Him, even so.

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