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 unto 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. And though all will be in the same glory with Himself, yet each one will have his own distinct and special place there. Paul will not have Peter's, and Peter will not have Paul's. Each one will have his own place, not only in the heart of Christ, but in the house of many mansions, 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! It is the love of the divine Bridegroom for His “ransomed bride”; and such His faithful promise, “I will come again.”
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. His great desire is, that we may see His glory, and be with Him in it. Here, it is His “given” glory that He speaks of. He glorified God on the earth, and God has glorified Him at His own right hand in heaven. (Compare John 12:28; 13:31, 32; 17:4, 528Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. (John 12:28)
31Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him. 32If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him. (John 13:31‑32)
4I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. 5And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. (John 17:4‑5)). And now He prays the Father that we may all be with Him in the glory.
“And Him the Father heareth always.”
“A little while,” and we shall be with Him, and like Him in His “given glory.” And O! surely, our deepest, highest joy will be to see Him, who passed through such 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, that we may be always waiting for Him. We are not to be looking for troubles, or trials, or death, but for the Lord Himself. These may come before Him, but 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 from idols to serve the living and true God; and to wait for His Son from heaven.” Affection should lead us to pray, “Come, Lord Jesus.” Like the loving wife who counts the hours of her husband's absence, and longs for his return.
In Rev. 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 throne 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. She is secure within the veil. This is a deeply precious truth. Judgments are now coming on the earth, with overwhelming rapidity, as the lightnings, thunderings, and voices indicate. But she has been removed from the scene on which the judgments fall, and has entered with Christ on the scene of her eternal rest and glory. The promise is fulfilled, and the prayer is answered.