A Nesting Place 栖息之处

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Dexu Xia

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Jan 5, 2023, 9:11:23 PM1/5/23

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I am going there to prepare a place for you. John 14:2

Sand martins—small birds related to swallows—dig their nests into riverbanks. Land development in South East England reduced their habitat, and the birds had fewer and fewer places to nest when they returned from their winter migration each year. Local conservationists sprang into action and built an enormous artificial sandbank to house them. With the help of a sand-sculpting firm, they molded sand to create a space for the birds to take up residence for years to come.

This gracious act of compassion vividly depicts the words Jesus used to console His disciples. After telling them He’d be leaving and that they wouldn’t be able to go with Him until later (John 13:36), He offered them the assurance that He’d “prepare a place for [them]” in heaven (14:2). Though they were rightly saddened that Jesus said He would leave them soon and that they could not follow Him, He encouraged them to look on this holy errand as part of His preparation to receive them—and us.

Without Jesus’ sacrificial work on the cross, the “many rooms” of the Father’s house wouldn’t be able to receive us (v. 2). Having gone before us in preparation, Christ assures us He’ll return and take those who trust in His sacrifice to be with Him. There we’ll take up residence with Him in a joyous eternity.

By: Kirsten Holmberg

When have you felt you weren’t “at home” in this life? What do you most look forward to about heaven?

Thank You, Jesus, for preparing a place for me in heaven with You.

我去原是为你们预备地方去。—约翰福音14章2节

灰沙燕是一种小型的燕科鸟类，常成群在河岸的砂质峭壁掘洞筑巢。但随着东南英格兰的土地开发，使灰沙燕的栖息地逐渐缩小。当地的环保人士发现，每年春天到来，大批在冬季迁徙外地的燕群回归时，能供它们作巢的地方已经越来越少。于是，环保人士发起行动，建构一片巨大的人工沙岸给燕鸟栖息。他们在一家沙雕公司的协助下，将沙子塑模，制造出未来许多年都可供燕鸟栖息的空间。

环保人士的怜悯之举，生动地描绘出耶稣在离世前安慰祂门徒的一段话。当耶稣知道自己快要离开世界回到父那里时，便告诉门徒祂将离开，但门徒还不能与耶稣同去，要等到以后才能到那里（约翰福音13章36节）。接着，耶稣安慰他们，强调祂是“为[他们]预备地方去”（14章2节）。当然，门徒都会感到悲伤，因耶稣说祂即将离开且门徒无法追随祂，但耶稣勉励他们，要将祂的离世视为神圣的工作，因为祂是去预备地方接待众门徒（与我们）。

若没有耶稣在十字架上的牺牲，天父家的“许多住处”就不能接待我们（2节）。基督在我们到那里之前就先做了预备，并确实告诉我们，祂会再来，接那些相信祂的人到祂那里去。在那里，我们会与祂同住，喜乐地共享永恒。

作者：洪可婷

你何时曾觉得自己不属于这世界？
对于天国，你最渴盼的是什么？