Even Greater Works

Vol 2 No 36 THEO'S DEVOS

John 14:12-14 “The truth is, 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. 13You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, because the work of the Son brings glory to the Father. 14Yes, ask anything in my name, and I will do it!

There is so much of importance in this verse that it is hard to decide where to start. How will Jesus be able to do 'greater things' through us than He did. It is hard to imagine anything greater than raising someone from the dead or restoring a blind man's sight. Note that he He emphasizes that we would do greater things, not simply the same things.

Have you ever noticed that all the people Jesus healed eventually died. More than that where were they when He hung on that cross? You would have thought that all those healed by Jesus, or fed by Him, would have been so amazed that they would have followed Him anywhere but they didn't.

Now thing about the works of the disciples. They spread the message of Jesus, filled with the Holy Spirit, and those people went on to be fed to lions, killed in many horrible ways rather than recant their faith. Why? What was different about these people than the ones Jesus healed or fed. The answer to this question is that they were empowered by the Spirit of God and did things in the spirit. Rather than simply heal, which they did, they now could spread the gospel to say that by placing their faith in what Jesus had done for them on the cross they could be forgiven of their sins and made whole on the inside. They were made alive in their spirit, not just improved in their body.

This power is given to us as well. When you share the gospel with someone, end they respond in faith believing, they are changed in their spirit. They are made alive in a place where they had been dead. This, then, leads them to live a totally changed life. Not a better life, a radically changed life. They are made alive and are no longer dead in their transgressions and sins. Nowhere in the New Testament do we see Jesus doing this. He had not died on the cross. Their sins had not been paid for yet. They were in the same condition as those in the Old Testament, waiting for the Messiah to come and wipe away the need for all those sacrifices by offering Himself as the final sacrifice for sin.

In this sense He is doing greater things through us. Not only that but Jesus could only be in one place at a time. Anything He wanted to do from just being nice to performing a miracle could only be done where He was. There is not too many instances where Jesus performed a miracle at a great distance although even then it was one at a time. Think of the increased power of millions of Christians around the world offering the possibility of eternal life and think of how many people may be accepting that offer by trusting in Jesus right this minute. Not just one or two but thousands, all around the world, right now. Now that is power. Thousands of people being transformed from darkness into life because Jesus still lives in, and through, us. Does He live in you? Are you letting His love shine in your life? Are you telling others about the wonderful truth of the gospel? If so, you are letting greater things happen and you are fulfilling the purpose that God has for you. If not, then now is the time to start. Simply tell the trust about Jesus, as best as you can. And watch God work. You don't have to be a Billy Graham. That is what God is saying in this verse. You have all the power you need to see greater things happen.

You will never, ever, be the same if you have the chance to tell someone about Jesus and watch them say 'Yes' to Him. Oh and for sure, they will never be the same either. May God bless you today as you serve Him and spread His love around the planet.

Theo