The idea of "going to heaven" is more a matter of tradition than sound biblical interpretation. Often referenced to support the notion of a heavenly afterlife, John 14 is a staple of Christian funerals. The promise of "many rooms" in the "Father's house" is typically interpreted as Jesus' assurance that he will return to usher believers into "heaven." However, John 14 has much more to say about how we live than what happens when we die. A closer look at John 14 in the broader context of the Gospel reveals that "the Father's house" is not a designation for heaven, but a reference to God's household of faith. In his going away and coming again, Jesus doesn't transport his followers to "heaven," but rather prepares the way into the presence of God by going to the cross. As Christ walks in cruciform obedience, he models a new way of walking with God, a new halakah based on intimate, relational faith. By following the halakah of Jesus, through the power of the Spirit-Paraclete, believers are equipped to carry out God's will upon the earth and spread his redemptive mission throughout creation.
