John 14

Bible Passage:  John 14

I always love the start of today’s chapter.  Here is where Jesus says,

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. ² 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. ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

How comforting are the words of Jesus … especially when we grow sick and tired of the world.  The promise of something far better than what we have in this world right now certainly keeps me going… and I am sure it does for you too.

However, I would like to look at another verse today for us to think about.  It is John 14:21….

Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.

Have you ever seriously reflected upon this before?  What Jesus said is very startling isn’t it?

Jesus said we will be doing greater works … because He is going to His Father.

What happens when Jesus goes to the Father?

He will send down the Holy Spirit – the Counsellor!  And this Holy Spirit will stay in our hearts and live with us!  Jesus would later say…

Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.  ~  John 16:7

So it is the Spirit of Jesus that is still working… but this time through us.

I have heard in the past that some people interpret this verse to mean that we, ordinary people, will somehow be capable of doing far greater things that Jesus Himself when He was in the flesh!

But if we read this properly, we know that this is not true.

We can do all these things because He lives and works in us and through us.  And the works that are done through us will be greater that what Jesus did when He was in the world.

This may sound very controversial.  After all, I can hear you asking… have you not read and seen what great miracles Jesus performed when He was on earth?

I mean… the lame walked…. the blind could see… the dead coming to life!

Can we do all these?  Are we even capable of 1% of what Jesus did?

If we can’t… then what are these greater works?

The only answer that makes sense at all is that they are greater in their significance and importance.  The accomplishments are spiritual rather than physical.

Just consider this….

When Jesus started His ministry, many people followed Him wherever He went as He performed all those wonderful miracles.  Crowds followed Him everywhere, even to the wilderness, and they went hungry… just to listen to Jesus and watch Him perform the miracles.

But….

Towards the end of His ministry… the crowds disappeared.  The hundreds or thousands that were healed no longer followed Him around praising God.  They were all gone.

At the very end… only a few handful remained at the foot of the cross.

His miracles did not change people; they merely touched the surface of their lives.

In tomorrow’s chapter, you will read that Jesus said…

You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.  ~  John 15:16

It is very interesting that the ones whom Jesus healed… these are the ones you would have expected to stand by Him all the way since they have received such a life changing grace from Jesus.

But later on when the disciples went out and preached in the power of the Holy Spirit – the thousands that they converted… these believers – when tested – were able to stand up for Jesus … even in the face of torture and death!

They did not deny Jesus when the crux came.

This was and continues to be the greater miracle.

Anything done to the soul and spirit of the man is more permanent than the things done to the flesh.  All those that Jesus healed or raised from the dead finally died again.

Therefore we should consider our influence to the people around us.  We have the Holy Spirit that Jesus has sent into our hearts.  Our spiritual influence can bring about far greater works in the spiritual lives of others.

The year end evangelistic services beckon….