GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH
Mailing address:
PO Box 2830 McDonough, Ga. 30253-1777
Church location:
10452 Fitzgerald Rd., Jonesboro, Ga. 30238
I GO TO PREPARE A PLACE
John 13:21 When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. 26 Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. 27 And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. 30 He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.
John 13:31 Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him. 32 If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him. 33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you. 34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
John 13:36 ¶ Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards. 37 Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake. 38 Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.
John 14:1 ¶ Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 4 ¶ And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. 5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
That Greek word, here translated “prepare” is translated, “make ready” in Acts 23:23. And the word shown as “place” is shown as “room” in Luke 14:10, and as “quarters” in Acts 16:3. And every preacher that I have ever heard says Jesus was a carpenter’s son, so this means that he is going to heaven to build us a mansion. How stupid! What a horribly diminishing way to present the very Lord of Glory! For he was not born as the son of Joseph the carpenter, the husband of Mary! He is the very Son of God! Luke 1:31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
Just look at that John 13:33 verse in our text. Do you not see Jesus’ words to Peter, Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you? So if these preachers are correct in stating that Jesus is going to heaven to prepare a place of housing, then none of the Jews, nor Peter or his other disciples will ever go to heaven! For the Lord Jesus clearly stated, “ ye cannot come!” But how was he introduced into the world? John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. Not as a carpenter, but as the Saviour.
And what did the apostles state was his mission? 1 Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Therefore it is very plain to see that Jesus of Bethlehem is not to be viewed as Joseph’s son to do carpentry work, but as the Holy Son of God to redeem sinners!
So where was he going? And what “place” was he intending to prepare? He very clearly instructed them of his mission. Luke 18:32 For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: 33 And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. Jesus was going to the cross to make ready a place of redemption, where none other human could go.
Even the tomb angels reminded them of this: Luke 24:6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, 7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.
He was going to the cross alone, to prepare them a place in redemptive grace! Listen to his High Priestly prayer which he prayed immediately prior to the crucifixion: John 17:20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. 24 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: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
Does that sound like it could be accomplished with carpentry work? Or does it sound like it could only be had through divine redemption? Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
Is there any scripture record of the church’s “place” provided by the Lord? It is not only recorded that the church is provided a place, but that Satan also was cast out of his place upon the death, burial, resurrection and ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ! Revelation 12:5 And she (referring to the church), brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. 6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. 7 And there was war in heaven: Michael (representing Christ), and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
The church is here said to have a place prepared in the wilderness. Consider this in these verses. Ezekiel 34:25 And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods. Acts 7:37 This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear. 38 This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:
The true church was provided a place and the Devil was cast out of his place at one and the same time by the Mighty Christ at the cross! John 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. 32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. 33 This he said, signifying what death he should die.
Revelation 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. Hebrews 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Now let us address that statement of the Lord to Peter as recorded in John 13:36, listed above. Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards. Only after the Holy Lamb of God prepares a place by his redemptive work on the cross, can Peter and all the rest of us have the mortification work of our personal crosses accomplished in our trials here. Luke 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
Christ alone had the cross to accomplish redemption! No other one was qualified to enter into that horrible arena! Hebrews 9:26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. 10:10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
All other believers have a cross of mortification. That is, they all have the believer’s cross which kills out the personality of the carnal man. Romans 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. Colossians 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
The Apostle Paul referred to his cross as “that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ.” (Colossians 1:24) And he instructs his followers that their own personal cross is essential in their Christian walk. Philippians 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; 30 Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me. For all believers are those who follow the Lamb wherever he goes! Revelation 14:4 These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. And as he went to the cross, so they follow on into their own personal crosses.
The Lord Jesus, as the Lamb of God became flesh in order to accomplish redemption. John 17:4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. Isaiah 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
But then he did have to go away in order that the accomplished redemption could be applied. And that is only accomplished by the Holy Spirit. Therefore He first went away into the horrors of the cross to accomplish redemption. And then he had to go away to heaven in order to send the Holy Spirit, who alone could apply that redemption to each and every believing soul. John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 1 John 4:13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. Galatians 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
John 16:16 A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father. 19 Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me? 20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. 21 A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. 22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. In this passage it is to be understood that he meant that shortly he would ascend to the Father, and they would not see him physically again on earth. But then he instructs them that in a little while after that they would see him in the coming of the Holy Spirit. That is by the eye of faith they shall have such an assured witness of himself as to see him in their hearts, revealed by the Spirit. John 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. And in verse 21 he informs them that sorrow shall end, and spiritual joy shall begin upon the new birth!
Pastor Gene Breed
June 24, 2021
