John 14:3
What does John 14:3 mean?
A plain-English look at John 14:3 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 14:3 means
Jesus promises that His departure guarantees future reunion. He will not simply make a place and leave them to find it; He Himself will come again and personally receive them. The heart of heaven is His presence—“that where I am, there you may be also.” This is relational, not merely spatial. His words assure them that separation is temporary and purposeful. Whether fulfilled ultimately at His return or foretaste in resurrection and the Spirit’s presence, the promise stands: His people’s destiny is to be with Him. Therefore, His going is a stage in the plan of love, not a failure of it.
John 14:3 in context
John 14 — I Am the Way
On the night before his crucifixion Jesus comforts his disciples. He is going to prepare a place for them; he is the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but by him. He promises another Comforter — the Holy Spirit — who will dwell in them and bring his words to remembrance. The peace he gives is not as the world gives. Even with the cross hours away, he turns from his own sorrow to steady theirs.
- Heaven
- Exclusivity of Christ
- Holy Spirit promised
- Christ's peace
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And if I go and prepare a place for you, I come again, and will receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And if I go and prepare a place for you, I come again, and will receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And if I go and make ready a place for you, I will come back again and will take you to be with me, so that you may be where I am.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and if I go on and prepare for you a place, again do I come, and will receive you unto myself, that where I am ye also may be;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And if I shall go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself: that where I am, you also may be.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890and if I go and shall prepare you a place, I am coming again and shall receive you to myself, that where I am ye also may be.
Context
After describing the Father’s house and His preparatory mission, Jesus strengthens comfort with a pledge of return and welcome. This keeps the disciples from imagining a distant, impersonal future. The emphasis shifts from place to Person—He Himself is their goal. The next verses pivot from future hope to present guidance: the disciples do not merely wait; they also are told they know the way to where He goes. This sets up Thomas’s honest question and Jesus’ definitive self-revelation as the way, the truth, and the life.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 John 3:2
Beloved, now are we children of God, and it is not yet made manifest what we shall be. We know that, if he shall be manifested, we shall be like him; for we shall see him even as he is.
- John 12:26
If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will the Father honor.
- John 14:28
Ye heard how I said to you, I go away, and I come unto you. If ye loved me, ye would have rejoiced, because I go unto the Father: for the Father is greater than I.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:16
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven, with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first;
- John 14:18
I will not leave you desolate: I come unto you.
- 2 Corinthians 5:6
Being therefore always of good courage, and knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord
Sermon ideas from John 14:3
Angles a pastor or small-group leader might preach or teach from this passage, drawn from the chapter's main themes.
What John 14:3 teaches us about heaven
What John 14:3 teaches us about exclusivity of christ
What John 14:3 teaches us about holy spirit promised
What John 14:3 teaches us about christ's peace
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