In John 14:2 Jesus said he goes to prepare a place for us. I’ve heard that the “place” prepared may not be a mansion or room but that it may be the new body Jesus prepared. My question is: why do we need a place (room; mansion)? When we get there, there will be no private entertainment such as television, we probably will not have a need to be alone so we won’t need a room for solitude, we won’t need the privacy of using a bathroom because the body will probably consume all of what we eat, and we probably won’t need sleep due to the nature of our glorified bodies. A lot of things we do on earth will not be needed in the New Jerusalem.
I’ve been asked this question a number of times and it always mystifies me because to me a plain sense reading of John 14:2-3 leaves no doubt as to what the Lord was saying. I understand your question, but what does need have to do with anything? We are children of the King of the universe, co-regents with His Son. Do a king’s children only have their basic needs met? (Is your earthly home only sufficient for your basic needs?)
On top of that we’ll be living in a place that’s 2/3rds the size of the moon, with streets made of purest gold and decorated with every kid of precious stones (Rev. 21:15-21).
Also you’re making several assumptions about what our next life will be like when the truth is no one knows what we’ll be doing or how we’ll be doing it.
In John 14:2 the Greek word translated “mansions” in the KJV and “rooms” in the NIV literally means a dwelling or abode. The word translated “place” is an inhabited place. Neither of these words is ever translated “body” even when they are used metaphorically which in this case there is no reason to do. One of the golden rules of Biblical interpretation tells us;
“When the plain sense of scripture makes common sense, seek no other sense; therefore, take every word at its primary, ordinary, usual, literal meaning unless the facts of the immediate context, studied in the light of related passages and axiomatic and fundamental truths indicate clearly otherwise.”
In short, I believe John 14:2-3 means just what it says.