St. Peter's House and Home Improvement

Ever been in a house where the owners have had some fun remodeling over the years, building an addition onto an addition onto an addition?  Or maybe your childhood school now looks totally different with several new additions and wings and rooms?  

Today I want to take you to the apostle Peter’s house to reflect on God’s house…

A highlight of our time in Israel was spending a short time in Capernaum:  Jesus’ disciples’ ol’ stompin’ grounds.  (That’s a lot of apostrophes.)

There we had the opportunity to see what a home during Jesus’ time would have looked like, and even have a glimpse at the Apostle Peter’s house…

Okay, it wasn’t exactly "Peter’s" house; traditionally it was known as Peter’s mother’s house. (sorry, more apostrophes…)  But, that in essence meant Peter also could have lived there.  In that culture, most of the sons would have lived with their mother, even after they were married.  (Yes, all you wives out there – collective groan as you imagine living with your mother-in-law…)

But all joking aside, they were a true family and had a true sense of community.  They all lived in one large house, but would build addition after addition after addition.  When a man was engaged or betrothed, they would build this room for him and his wife, which would be completed upon the wedding.  And each member of the family had a trade to contribute to the household.  Literally one big happy family.  (ideally of course)

But we know how humans operate and I’m sure there were times of conflict and run-ins.  But they took care of each other, and when another person was to be added to the family, there was always room.  They built room.  Literally.  They built addition after addition to make space for new family members.

So when Jesus says in John 14, “My Father’s house has many rooms” this is exactly what the disciples are imagining: God’s house having addition after addition after addition…  Let’s read a little more:

 “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

For those of us familiar with this passage, we always associate it with God preparing a place for us in heaven, which is a common and accepted interpretation of this passage.  But it’s much richer than just that; it has implications for us even before we reach heaven.  God is saying that he is preparing a new addition just for us to be with him in his family, and he is coming “back to take you to be with me, that you also may be where I am.”  Just like the son taking his bride, Jesus the Son of God takes his people to come be with him in his house forever.  And what makes this even more beautiful – there are MANY rooms:  ALL are welcome in the family of God.  God will build addition after addition after addition to make sure all those who come to him can be included in his family, adopted as his children.  There is never a lack of space in the house of God. 

MANY rooms.

God has a room for you; God has a room for anyone who comes knocking on his door. 

Do you have room for God?   And do you make room as God does for others to join in the family and household of God?   Brings a new meaning to “home improvement…”