Mansions / Many rooms

What did Jesus mean

When you love me truly, I will make a home inside you.

Where did Jesus say this

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”

John 14:23–24 — “If a man love me and will keep my sayings, my father also will love him, and we will come unto him and will dwell with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings. And the words which ye hear are not mine but the Father’s which sent me.”

In the first verse, the Greek word monai was originally used for “mansions”, and it translates to “dwelling places, rooms, staying places.” The meaning that we know now behind the word “mansions” came in centuries later (similar to the history behind Hell).

For “dwell”, the Greek version actually used two words: monēn and poiēsometha. Monēn translates to “abode” or “permanent dwelling place.” Poiēsometha translates to “we will build” or “we will make.” Together, the two words describe something beautiful: Jesus and God will make a home inside you.

For love, the word agapaō was used, and this is the verb form of “agape.” This is different from the love you would typically feel; it’s deeper and considered truly unconditional. It is a deep, knowing love that doesn’t change based on circumstances.

For further context, the word “monai” and “monēn” both come from the same word “monē.” Jesus is using the same root word at the beginning and at the end of this passage to describe the same thing: a room, which is you, that he moves inside of.

For the word “sayings”, the Greek word logos (singular noun) was used, which translates to “word” as in “message.” This means you see Jesus’ “sayings” as one comprehensive message (a way of thinking, moving, being). We know this because in the next verse, Jesus switches to logous, which is the plural version of sayings and means individual statements.

This is an intentional switch. Jesus is trying to communicate that when you do not truly know (love) Jesus, his teachings are not a connected way of living; they are simply fragmented sayings on a list that you check off.

What Jesus did not mean

Jesus did not mean that you get a large house in the afterlife. In fact, he was not referencing the afterlife at all.

If you read the full passage (John 14:1 to John 14:24) and don’t just stop after the first two lines, then the fog of a “fancy afterlife” starts to lift. And once you understand the words behind the words, then you can see clear as day what Jesus is saying.

Let’s translate the two parts of this passage together, so you can see the complete picture:

“In God’s Kingdom, there are many rooms. I am going there to prepare one for you.”

“If you love me unconditionally and if you live by my “word”, then God will also love you unconditionally. And we will both move inside of you. I know you don’t truly know me if you see my word as a to-do list and not as a way of life. And remember, the message you hear comes from God (not me).”

Think of it this way:

In God’s Kingdom, there’s a lot of space. And in that space, there are many rooms. You are one room. If your room is cleaned up, Jesus can move inside. But he doesn’t want to live there if you don’t love him. He knows whether or not you love him by how you hear him. If you hear him as a to-do list (“If I do this, I will get into Heaven.”), then he doesn’t want to live there (because he knows the love is fake, and it’s a performance). But if you hear him as one way of living, then he will move inside your room (because then he knows your love is real and is not a performance). At this point, you and Jesus make sense together. For lack of a better term, it’s a match made in Heaven.

Where to start

When you don’t understand something Jesus has said, don’t leave it at that. Dig deeper.

In most cases, this means doing your own research and understanding the words behind the words. When you simply read the bible or listen to scripture at church, you’re not going to dig deep enough. The words will glide right over you and you won’t actually feel anything at all.

The whole point is to feel. If you aren’t feeling, then you’re doing it wrong.

The best way to start feeling Jesus is to start with what you’re feeling inside. Empty? Depressed? Confused? Torn? Lustful? Guilty? Figure out what you’re feeling, and start there.

Research, dig, and truly understand the words so you can start feeling the full message.

Benefits

You will stop performing and you will finally start feeling what you were always supposed to feel.