Greater Works Than These

John 14:12 (NRSV)
Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.

This is one of those verses in Scripture which I tend to pass over and ignore. It obviously does not mean that if I recite the Apostles Creed that I will be able turn a few fish into a feast, heal the lame, and raise the dead. How could I possibly do what Jesus did? How could I possibly perform any greater miracles that those? It's too easy to go from there to "I must not be a very good believer." Let's, skip this one. There are plenty more Bible verses to learn from that are easier to unlock.

But I am drawn to puzzles, so I return here. It is one of the most startling promises in all of the New Testament. How can I just leave this treasure lying on the ground and not probe the beauty contained inside?

The first clue might lie in moving away from the assumption that "works" equals "miracles." Perhaps the key to unlocking this verse lies in a wider perspective of significance or importance. What good did all those miracles do anyway? In the beginning of His ministry, entire towns would turn out to hear Him. Three years later, there is only one man and three or four women at the foot of the cross. The crowds are gone. All the people he healed and all the witnesses, and even the disciples themselves are conspicuous in their absence.

I notice how quickly Jesus downplays those works and emphasizes that believers will do greater (more significant? more numerous?) works than these, because He is going to the Father. Hmmm.

Is He saying that as a human, Incarnate Christ, He could only affect a few lives? But as the Risen Christ, when He goes to the Father, we as His believers can accomplish much more than He could on earth? Could this be about spiritual accomplishments, not physical ones?

So when I allow Him to work through me, I am doing more than He could accomplish on earth. When I add one more person to my prayer list; when I add one more person to my circle of "neighbors"; that is when I touch one more person he was not able to touch when He was on earth.

And when the entire body of Christ allows Him to work through us, we can do much greater works that these, because He has gone to the Father -- because His Spirit is now available to anyone willing to die to their will and rise again with His will in its place.

On Good Friday, there will be millions of us at the foot of the cross, not just four or five. And many of us will be taking one more hurt from the past, one more sorrow, one more grief, one more temptation and nailing it to the cross with Him. And with His dying, He will haul those nails down to Sheol destroying them forever, or forging something new and beautiful from them. Then one more obstacle to His works in us will be gone. One more worldly part of us will die. And on the third day we will all rise again and together we will do greater works on earth in His place — in His name. And His joy in us will be that much closer to being complete.