Experiments have been done to try to analyse ‘near-death’ experiences.   There are those who have died under the surgeon’s knife and been shocked back to life.  My own mother claimed to have seen Heaven when she nearly died giving birth to my sister.  She told us that a voice asked her if she wanted to go back or not?  She is not alone in having this kind of experience.  

Jesus speaks very simply of Heaven.  His is a quiet authoritative voice amongst the clamour of human opinion.  He teaches that Heaven is God’s home.  There are many luxurious rooms in it.  And, if we have received Him as Lord and Personal Saviour one of them has our name on it.  The word translated rooms can be translated as abiding or a dwelling.  Perhaps linking these two ideas together clarifies what Jesus had in mind.  He wants believers to have an abiding dwelling place with Him for all Eternity.

He continues ‘if it were not so, I would have told you.’   Jesus was not and is not a ‘con merchant.’  He is far too honest to pander to the delusions of simplistic people with faith.  It is a basic human desire to live forever.  Jesus is not pandering to that.  He is telling it like it is.  Jesus made an astonishing statement on one occasion.  In making it He proved that he was either deluded, insane or speaking the truth.  This is that statement. ‘No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man.’  John 3:13 (RSV)  Son of Man was Jesus’ favourite name for Himself because it showed he had become one of us and got alongside us in our human predicament.