WHAT ABOUT THE MANSIONS?

JOHN 14:1-6

Pastor Rick Jackson

I. THE MISCONCEPTIONS

1. Each Christian will have a Huge House in Heaven

2. It will be Built by the Materials we send up Ahead of our Arrival

3. It can a “Gold one that is silver-lined”

Note- none of these are Biblical, there are from songs and other sources

II. THE MEANINGS

1. Mansion [v. 2, 23 are the only 2 places in Scripture] mone; a staying, i.e. residence (the act or the place): --abode, mansion. -Strong’s

The English word mansion… originally had the basic meaning of “a dwelling place.” Chaucer wrote (c.1384) that "Everything has its proper mansion (i.e. dwelling place) to which it longs to return." Somewhat later, in the King James translation of the Bible (1611), Jesus says (John 14:2), "In my Father's house are many mansions," assuring the people that there would be dwelling places for them in God's house. But [later] the meaning had narrowed to "the chief residence of a lord; a manor-house."  …eventually, a mansion came to mean a large and stately residence, a rich man's dwelling. - Stephen Trussel

I first became aware of this meaning in a secular college in a secular class, Theatre History. A mansion stage is a stage for theatrical performances. They originated in churches where they were small wooden platforms with supports and a roof. Mansions were stage structures used in medieval theatre to represent specific locations, such as Heaven or Hell. The actors would move between these mansions as the play demanded. In England, pageant wagons were used for the cycle dramas to hold the mansion, the plateau, and a dressing area. These were used to move the scene from one audience to the next, unlike in the church where the mansions were stationary and both the performer and the congregation would move from mansion to mansion. - wikipedia

2. Place [v. 2-3] topos; a spot (general in space, but limited by occupancy; i.e. location (as a position, home, tract, etc.); figuratively, condition, opportunity; specially, a scabbard: --coast, licence, place, plain, quarter, + rock, room, where. -Strong’s

whereas 5561 is a large but participle locality, the idea of empty expanse; room, i.e. a space of territory (more or less extensive; often including its inhabitants):--coast, county, fields, ground, land, region.) -Strong’s

3. Whither [v. 4] hopou; what(-ever) where, i.e. at whichever spot:--in what place, where(-as, -soever), whither (+ soever). -Strong’s

III. THE MESSAGE

“I Need a big house in Heaven” WHY? For all my stuff [what stuff?] to show off [to who?] for my family to live [what family are you referring to?]

“Well, I still want a big house in Heaven” WHY?

“I think I deserve a big house in Heaven” NO. If you get what you deserve you will be in Hell.

1. It’s the Father’s House [v. 1-2]

2. Jesus Prepares It [v. 3]

3. It is so we can be with Him [v. 3b]

4. Only One Way to be there [v. 4-6]