This verse reminds me of the tradition of which the Lord refers to in some of his parables. It was custom that when a Jewish man got engaged to his fiancée, that he would at some time later leave her to go and build their home, and not come back until it was ready for them to marry, and then move in. She was to remain in a state of readiness for his imminent return. What a powerful picture of love and anticipation today’s verse gives us. Jesus used the theme of betrothals and marriage to compare and relate to the Kingdom of God, as in Matthew 22: 2: Jesus says, “The Kingdom of Heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. And in Matthew 25: 1 + 6: He says, “Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom (Who had been away preparing their home). But at midnight there was a shout, “Behold the bridegroom! Come out to meet Him.” One can only imagine what it must have been like for both the one waiting, and the one returning; I’m sure not unlike couples reunited today, after being separated for any length of time. Jesus brings it to a very personal level for each of us in John 14: 1 – 3: saying, “Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me (Jesus). In My Father’s House (Heaven) are…
