Lesson 10: I Will Certainly Come Again
Monday, December 2, 2024
Ryan Day
Read John 14:1–3. In what context did Jesus say these words?
“Let not your heart be troubled; you 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 to Myself;
that where I am, there you may be also.—John 14:1-3
At the end of John 13, Jesus says that He is going away (John 13:33). This
elicits from Peter a query about where He is going (John 13:36). The disciples do
not understand that Jesus is talking about His death, resurrection, and ascension.
Peter says he is ready to lay down his life for Him (John 13:37). This is when Jesus
predicts Peter’s denial (John 13:38).
It is in this context that Jesus tells His disciples not to let their hearts be
troubled (John 14:1). The verb troubled is translated in Greek as tarassō, which
means to stir up, disturb, unsettle, throw into confusion. It is not surprising that
the disciples would be thrown into confusion at Jesus’ words.
But countering their fears, He talks about His Father’s house, where there
are many rooms (not mansions, but rooms as in an inn). He is going there to
prepare a place for them. His words look beyond the coming storm of the cross to
the time when He will return to redeem His people. He is looking to the time
when this whole tragedy with sin is once and for all finished (see Dan. 7:27).
Jesus says, “ ‘if I go. . ., I will come again and receive you to Myself, that
where I am, there you may be also’ ” (John 14:3, NKJV). It is clearly a promise of
His Second Coming.
What is the basis for confidence in that promise? Many would say the
fulfillment of Bible prophecy, and that is certainly true. But in John 14:3, the basis
is stated differently. In this verse I will come is actually in the present tense in
Greek (I am coming). This is a use of the present tense in Greek called the
futuristic present. It is a future event spoken of with such certainty that it is
described as though already happening. Thus, it is fair to translate the phrase, I
will certainly come again.
The basis of our hope in the return of our Lord is not simply the fulfillment
of Bible prophecy. It is also, and more certainly, based in our confidence in the
Man who made the promise. He said He will certainly return for His people. We
can place our confidence in that promise because of who made it.
30 Then
the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all
the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man
coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And
He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will
gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of
heaven to the other.—Matthew 24:30, 31
13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those
who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no
hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God
will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.15 For this we say to
you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until
the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who
are [d]asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a
shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of
God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are
alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds
to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the
Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.—
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
51 Behold,I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all
be changed— 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last
trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised
incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must
put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So
when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has
put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is
written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”—1 Corinthians 15:51-54
20 For
our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait
for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly
body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the
working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.—
Philippians 3:20, 21
Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and
the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then
I, [a]John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of
heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her
husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the
tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they
shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their
God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall
be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more
pain, for the former things have passed away.” 5 Then He who sat on
the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me,
“Write, for these words are true and faithful.”—Revelation 21:1-5
And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal,
proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the middle
of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which
bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves
of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 And there shall be no
more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and
His servants shall serve Him. 4 They shall see His face, and His
name shall be on their foreheads. 5 There shall be no night there:
They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them
light. And they shall reign forever and ever.—Revelation 22:1-5
