Jesus takes our breath away with these words, “He (you) will do even greater things than these, because I am going to my Father” (John 14:12). How could this be?
Jesus fed 5000 people. Yet, last evening in the gymnasium at the church where I attend, a few folks from the Sunday School class I teach fed 150 hungry people. I would say that it is a conservative estimate that around the world yesterday Christian gifts and efforts fed millions of hungry people.
Jesus healed so many people. I know of people who were healed, and healed miraculously as good followers of Christ prayed for them and over them. Now, add to that the hundreds of thousands of Christian medical workers and institutions around the world. How could we even guess the number of people healed in the love and power of Christ?
Jesus invites us to take on “even greater things” in his name. His presence and power is with us because he has gone to the Father and sent the Holy Spirit. We cannot nor should we attempt to match the works of Jesus one-to-one. That is not the meaning or context of the promise of “even greater things.” However, we are his body, his partners, in changing the world. What is our part?
He invites us to pray that God may be glorified: “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it” (John 14:13-14).
He commands us to obey him in great love: “If you love me, you will obey what I command” (John 14:15).
He promises to send the Spirit of his Truth: “I will ask the Father and He will give you another counselor to be with you forever – the spirit of truth” (John 14:16-17).
Copyright © Richard Leslie Parrott, Ph.D.