Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it (John 14:12-14).
Jesus said that we can do greater works than He did when we ask in His name.
I believe the Bible. Jesus healed every type of malady – those blind, deaf, demon-possessed, and sick. He even called, “Lazarus, come out!” and Lazarus walked out of his tomb alive.
And we get to do greater works!
But most of us, probably all of us, haven’t come close to performing the works of Jesus. Maybe an answered prayer or two, but not feeding the 5000 or the greater work of feeding an entire nation.
Why not?
I’ve asked myself this question many times. Is the promise of John 14:12-14, about asking anything in the name of Jesus and receiving greater works, a cruel joke? Is Jesus playing mind games with our faith?
Nope – He means it!
But we must understand the scriptural nature of promises to realize how “greater works” will be answered.
First, Eternal Perspective!
Prophecy has layers of present and future. Now and then. Like the Kingdom of God, established now but fully revealed later. Jesus came 2000 years ago, but He will be fully revealed during His millennial reign on earth for 1000 years.
We will rule with Him during the Millennium. And we will have authority to heal the sick and raise the dead!
Second, Latter Days!
Scripture rolls out revelation and God’s provenance slowly. Like promising Abraham a son and then taking decades to fulfill the promise. Like promising a Messiah that will free Israel from all oppression and then taking thousands of years for Jesus to return a second time.
Peter promises in the book of Acts in his first sermon that the Spirit will fall upon all of us. James talks about a “latter-day rain” of the Spirit.
God’s Spirit came powerfully in the first decades of the church and will fall in greater measure in the last decade of the church.
Third, Increasing our Faith!
This promise has to do with “now,” even if Jesus tarries.
We should be praying, “Jesus, forgive me for being bold, but You promised that I will do greater things than You. I don’t need to walk on water, but I ask that You will heal this cancer!”
When we pray, sometimes our illnesses won’t be cured. Let’s realize that promises in the Bible always come with a tarrying to increase faith. Let’s continue to pray and intercede!
Let’s not give up until we see and experience …
Greater Things!
Have faith, God is working all things to His good.