The second expression, "are many rooms," must not be rendered "are many mansions." The verse is not speaking of God building fine houses for us in Heaven. The endless repetition of "mansions in Heaven" by Christian leaders is inexcusable since they know very well the Greek term does not refer to mansions as we use the word today. Rather the idea is that of preparing a place for us in the Body of Christ, which is the eternal House of God, the new Jerusalem, the Christian Church.

The third expression "I am going to prepare a place for you" is referring primarily to His going to the cross of Calvary, and then up to Heaven in the Presence of God to sprinkle His atoning blood on the Mercy Seat in Heaven.

When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. (Hebrews 9:11,12—NIV)

And again:

It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence. (Hebrews 9:23,24—NIV)

You may notice that nothing is said in Hebrews about Christ building houses for us in Heaven. Christ is not preparing a place for us in Heaven by building houses for us to live in. How ridiculous! Rather Christ went to the cross to make an atonement for our sins. He brought His atoning blood before God in Heaven to obtain an eternal redemption for everyone who receives Him.

Sin began in Heaven around the very Throne of God. Thus the way to God has to be prepared through the atoning blood if any of us are to dwell in God and He in us.

In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. (John 14:2—NIV)

So the verse above means there are to be many rooms, many living stones, in the eternal House of God. Jesus Christ, the chief Cornerstone, is not to be the only dwelling place of God. If that were the case He would have told us so.

Christ at that time was dwelling with His disciples; but His plan is not to dwell with His disciples but in His disciples.

There is a great deal of difference between Christ dwelling with us and Christ dwelling in us. The first makes some demands on us. The second makes total demands on us—to the complete loss of our independence as a person separate from Christ; not the loss of our uniqueness as a person but the loss of our independence. We forever are to be an integral part of Christ, and thus of God the Father through Christ.

To be continued.