Elucidation

One thing that has always amazed me about the scriptures is how the translation of just a single word can alter the entire meaning of a verse.  I also love how you can read the same verse with the same translation multiple times and glean something entirely new and different each time.  For the past several weeks, our family has been attending Riverside Community Church in Eagle River.  So far we really love it- but more on that another time.  Anyway, the pastor has been doing a series on the characters of the nativity and one Sunday was focused on Joseph.  As part of the message he was discussing how the betrothal process worked in those days.  After the marriage was arranged, the couple would be engaged to each other.  This engagement was more like a limited marriage in those days and would often last about a year.  During this process, the husband after committing to the wife, would return to his home and the home of his family and would prepare a place for her to come join him and his family at the end of the engagement period.  I don't remember if the pastor brought it up or I just remembered on my own, but prepare a place for her (or you or me) is super similar to Christ's words in John 14:2 "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."

Growing up I felt a certain emphasis on the word "mansions."  I kind of came to believe and see this verse as some kind of reward system.  Be faithful, follow the commandments, complete your daily churchy checklist (ie say prayers, read scriptures, etc..) and in return you will have earned yourself a mansion in the sky.  Not a bad paycheck eh?

After learning about Joseph preparing a place for Mary so that she could come live with him and his family I started thinking that this must be what Jesus really meant.  Not some glory prize for a life lived well, but a place for us to come and live with Him and His family.  After all, doesn't Jesus constantly refer to Himself as the bridegroom?  I was able to find another translation of John 14:2 it reads, "In my Father’s house are many rooms: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. "  And then back to King James for John14:3 "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."

Maybe the difference between mansions and rooms seems trivial to you, and maybe it's just one of those aha moments that is hard to share with others.  Either way, this was very moving to me and brought so much of Christ's teachings together in full circle for me.  He loves us and wants us to be with Him and His family.  He isn't some clerk handing out gift certificates for the afterlife.  He is our friend and our brother and He is preparing to welcome us home.

Merry Christmas!