"Truly, truly, 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 the Father."
Greater works than Jesus? That sounds outrageous. But He said it. So let's think with me.
Scripture Focus: John 14:12; Luke 10:20; Mark 2:3-12
"He who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do."
"Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven."
Think carefully about what Jesus is saying here. It can't simply mean greater in quantity because John would have used the Greek word polla meaning more in number. It can't mean greater external signs because nothing in church history has ever provided evidence that believers did something greater than walking on water, feeding thousands, and raising Lazarus from a four-days-dead grave. That's unique.
So what does He mean?
Not greater in quantity—greater in quality. Not greater in external signs—greater in the miracle God brings about in the heart of man.
And I know that sounds anticlimactic. But listen. God sees not as man sees. The barometer of greatness is vastly different in the eyes of God.
In Luke 10, the disciples come back to Jesus thrilled because they can cast out demons. And Jesus responds, "Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this. Rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven."
When comparing physical miracles to spiritual miracles, Jesus says, "The power needed to change a heart is vastly superior to that which happens on the outside." A lame man can be healed. Then what? Thirty years later, he dies. But when someone is regenerated—when God takes a heart of stone and replaces it with a heart of flesh—that's eternal.
Think about Mark 2. The paralytic is lowered through the roof. And Jesus says, "Son, your sins are forgiven." They grumble. And Jesus says, "So that you would know that I have power over the invisible, I'm going to demonstrate My power over the visible." He heals him. But the greatest miracle that day was not the healing of a lame man. It's the transformation of a heart.
Listen—when the Holy Spirit fell at Pentecost, Peter preached a 30-minute sermon (my guess). Three thousand people were added to their number. More people came to saving faith in Peter's sermon than in Jesus's entire three-year ministry. How? Because greater works than these you will do, because I go to the Father.
God invites you—not just pastors and missionaries—into His supernatural work.
When you tell your neighbor about Jesus, when you disciple your children, when you're faithful at the workplace—you're a participant in the power of God. You're in the miracle-working business.
1. Do you see the salvation of a soul as the greatest miracle—or have you been more impressed by external signs?
2. Are you living as a participant in God's supernatural work, or as a spectator on the sidelines?
3. Who in your life needs to hear the proclaimed Word of God from you this week?
Stay dialed in