Spirit of Leadership

THE LEADERSHIP SPIRIT can have. In the gospel account written by one of the young rabbi’s disciples named John, it is recorded that when Jesus began to explain the necessity for his departure from the earth and his to return to heaven, his disciple-students became nervous and depressed. To alleviate their fears, he offered them this comfort: “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” This statement is critical to our understanding of our human nature and to our recog nition that God knows our inherent need for leadership. A casual reading and interpretation of this passage through the filter of Western culture usually leads to the conclusion that Jesus was promising a physical house, in particular, a structure that resembles the large dwelling we call a mansion. However, it is important to understand that there is no reference in the Bible to an actual physical struc ture in heaven in which we will live. Therefore, the word in the original language must have a different meaning. A careful study of the Greek word mone , translated “mansion” or “dwelling place,” indicates a position or place of residing or abiding: mone (3438), primarily “a staying, abiding” (akin to meno, “to abide”), denotes an “abode” (Eng., “manor,” “manse,” etc.), translated “mansions” in John 14:2; “abode” in v. 23. There is nothing in the word to indi cate separate compartments in heaven; neither does it suggest temporary resting places on the road. 21 I believe that Jesus was referring to the permanent restoration of our spiritual standing or position with God,

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