the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
John Gossner's Treasury
In my Father’s house are many mansions. I go to prepare a place for you. I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also John 14:2-3.
What a word of consolation for all the suffering and comfortless ones on earth! He who appropriates Thee, Jesus, in faith, may rejoice in afflictions and be of good cheer in the most cheerless situation, content in the, midst of discontent. The Son of God alone, the Son of eternal Love, can bring comfort. Such promises of eternal life who else can give them, who else can fulfill them? Therefore Thou oughtest to own our whole heart, Thou who preparest a place for us. Thou builder of the heavenly mansions, Thou messenger from the Father, who Thyself wilt come for us, and lead us into His crystal and diamond palaces. When the poor, weak heart thinks to itself, "Where Thou art, there shall I be also; as Thou art exalted and glorious, so shall I also be". When the heart grasps and understands this word in its full meaning, in its height and depth, it is ready to die with the glory and blessedness of this hope. Why, then, wilt Thou have us with Thee, so near to Thee, and eternally with Thee? What is there in us pleasing to Thee? What joy do we cause Thee? Are we able to increase Thy blessedness? Yes, we are to be an object of Thy love which it may love to its full satisfaction; for no creature is so much in need of Thy love and favor as we poor, weak sinners. Who can behold the heavens without thinking of Thee and Thy heavenly promise, without rejoicing rapturously in this promise? Heaven, house of the Father, home of the disciples of Jesus, how beautiful art thou not when thou art explained to us by the words of Jesus! When we think of the "mansions" His hands have prepared for us, who can be satisfied to look at them even from without! How must it not be within!
Jerusalem, thou city fair and high,
Would God I were in thee!
My longing heart fain, fain to thee would fly!
It will not stay with me:
Far over vale and mountain.
Far over field and plain.
It hastes to seek its Fountain
And quit this world of pain.
