Going Home 

Well before He was arrested, crucified, buried and rose again on that first Easter morning, Jesus told His disciples about “going home” to the Father. He came, He lived, He died and He ascended into Heaven.

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.” (John 14:1-4, NLT)

We’ve just celebrated Easter. We were reminded of the power of His resurrection. The power of the Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead. There is no power like God’s power, all other power and authority are subject to Him.

Easter also reminded us of the glory of God. Jesus’ resurrection was glorious. His disciples already knew He was not an ordinary man, they knew He was an extraordinary man. Three of them had seen His glory on the mount of transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-8), but at Easter when they all saw Him, they saw Him in is His glorified body. A glimpse of the glory He left above. (Isaiah 6:1-3; Philippians. 2:6-11). Easter is about His glory.

The impossible became possible on that first Easter morning. To bring a dead person back to life is a miracle. For the person never to die again is humanly impossible. Not with God. With God, all things are possible.

After Easter, Jesus ascended to heaven, fulfilling the word He spoke to His disciples in John 14. So, Easter and His ascension is ultimately about going home where we belong. Being reunited with our creator God, who made us in His image.

Eden was home to Adam and Eve. Eden was associated with God, goodness, shalom - peace. Thousands of years later, their offspring have made earth their home, but now God seems far away. They’ve forgotten what being at home with God looks like. They have settled for less than what their ancestors had. But their faithful and kind father did not forget them. He sent His son Jesus to come into their world. To stay for a while, and to point them to their lost home.

The prodigal son left home. For a while he enjoyed the pleasures, or so it seemed, of a distant land. Until what seemed to last a long time, didn’t last at all. Revelry turned to hunger, hunger turned to sadness, sadness turned to loneliness, and loneliness turned to deep reflection, which brought back to mind… you guessed right, “home”. Home sweet home.

"Can I return?" he thought. "will I be welcomed, perhaps as a slave or at best a servant?" The homeward pull could not be resisted. It was too strong, for his identity was tied to his home. In that distant land, when he had money, he was somebody. When he was famous, he was well regarded. When he hosted parties, he was a celebrity, but when the money ran out, he became a nobody. When the fame faded, he was disregarded, when he couldn’t host anyone, no one hosted him - No longer a celebrity, the cameras are gone, the people have moved on to the next big thing.

Now, he is nobody, but at home he is a son. His identify has not changed. Though far from home, he was never forgotten, though prodigal, he was still a son at home. (Luke 15:11-32).

Easter and ascension are about going home. Jesus came from heaven. After He rose from the dead, His focus was to go back home. He went to prepare a place for us at home. He could no longer stay, He had to go ahead. Jesus came to remind us we don’t belong here permanently. Heaven is our home.

In the interim, while He is gone ahead, His word to you is this: “Don’t let your heart be troubled... Trust God and trust also in me.” We will have challenges of every kind, we will face trials and tribulations, but we are not to be afraid, but to trust Him.

At home in heaven, Jesus said there is more than enough room for everyone. If you are not yet a Christian, Jesus’ message to you today is that there is room for you too. Those who make room for Jesus in their hearts here on earth, will find He has prepared a room for them in heaven. The Earth is transient, it will fade and pass away. Heaven is eternal, it will last forever.

As we wait for His promised return, let’s continue to ensure that our hearts are suitable rooms for His Holy Spirit to reside. Let us purify our hearts and make them fitting for God to abide and commune with us. While we wait for His return, we can continue to experience and enjoy His presence in our hearts. In the words of that great hymn authored by Charles J Butler “Where Jesus is ‘tis heaven there.” If your home or heart don’t fill like heaven, invite Jesus in. You’ll see the difference He makes.

You can listen to the full hymn here: