Greater Works

“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” – John 14:12

John chapters 12 to 17 are very powerful chapters in the Bible. After Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead in chapter 11, he began to prepare for His own death. In Chapter 12 Mary anointed Him for the day of His burial, and He began the journey towards Jerusalem for His passion. In the discourse that followed, He revealed great truths about Himself to His disciples. He comforted them and spoke of the Holy Spirit whom he was going to send to be with them when he returned to the Father, and He prayed for them deeply in Chapter 17.  At the heart of the conversation, He revealed to them what His plan and purpose for them was in John 14:12.

The disciples of Jesus were to continue His great works on earth – they were to do even greater works than He did. This was to become the mandate for their living on earth (Matthew 28:18-19, Mark 16:15-19). He comforted and assured them that they will do greater works, among other things because they believed in Him; because He was going to the Father and would send the Holy Spirit. And we saw that this was fulfilled with the early disciples. We saw them do exceeding great works for God after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus and after the Holy Spirit was fully poured out on them on the day of Pentecost. The Apostle Peter speaking of this says this promise – of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (and by extension to do greater works) “is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call” (Acts 2:39). In other words, this promise is for us today also.  We are called to do exceeding great works for Christ in our generation by the power of the Holy Spirit living inside of us. Whatever we read that Jesus did, like the early disciples, we can do exceedingly greater. Hallelujah! 

Jesus did not call us to do greater works than He did by our own strength and efforts, or by operating some set of principles. He calls us to yield to Him so that He can continue to do the greater works through us. We are nothing but vessels in His hands that He desires to use to continue the works He started on earth, but now in greater dimensions. As we believe in Jesus, the entire Godhead – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit – comes and dwells in us – living and active. We are being taught, led, guided, and prodded daily by the Holy Spirit to respond to this spiritual reality by faith and prayers and to appropriate the resurrection power as we live in obedience and consecration to Christ. 

Jesus did not call us to do greater works than He did by our own strength and efforts, or by operating some set of principles.

God is looking for men and women today, through whom He will manifest Himself and do exceeding great works in this end time. He is calling us, His modern-day disciples to love Him more deeply than ever before – to be fully yielded and obedient to Him.

Have Thine own way, Lord,

Have Thine own way;

Hold o’er my being Absolute sway.

Fill with Thy Spirit Till all shall see Christ only, always, Living in me.