The Greater Works

Read: John 14:11-14

[Jesus said,] “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.” John 14:12

IN WORD

On the night before He left this realm, Jesus gave His followers an extraordinary promise—they would do the works He had been doing, just as He had trained them to do. In fact, they would do even greater works. They surely had difficulty trying to imagine anything greater than what Jesus had done, but His promise was clear. They would carry on His ministry in this world. They would demonstrate the Kingdom in this realm.

Throughout church history, Christians have tried to explain this verse. Perhaps Jesus meant that His immediate followers—people like Peter, John, Paul, and other apostles—would be able to do miracles, but then those miracles would fade away. Or maybe He meant that collectively, the body of Christ throughout the ages would do more works and minister directly to more people than Jesus did in only three years of ministry. But Jesus didn’t limit His promise to the apostles; He included “anyone who believes in me” and gave no expiration date. And He didn’t imply quantity of works over quality of works; “more works” are not the same as “greater works,” and Jesus chose the latter. No, this extravagant promise is for all who believe. We can expect faith to accomplish miracles.

IN DEED

Has this promise proven true? Consider the multitudes of people who have been born again—the spiritually dead raised to spiritual life. Consider also physical resurrections, healings, deliverances, multiplied resources, and many other unexplainable manifestations of God’s power, all of which have happened in church history, as testified by people of faith. Yes, there have been false miracles, but Jesus promised true ones too. He invited His followers to seek them—and to keep seeking them, asking for them, and persevering in pursuing them. In other words, He promised a supernatural life. Expect it. Believe Him for it. Relentlessly seek it as long as you are in this world.

ADDITIONAL READING: Matthew 21:21-22

All the resources of the Godhead are at our disposal!

JONATHAN GOFORTH