02 Nov The Greater Works

There is a single verse of the Bible that has generated immeasurable debate over the past 2,000 years: “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.”  John 14:12. What could Jesus have possibly meant by this declaration?

One of the most popular theories (and one which I have preached) is that Jesus was talking about greater reach, not magnitude of actions. Jesus walked on water, raised the dead, and fed multitudes with a few fish and loaves of bread (twice). This theory says we won’t top Jesus with greater feats than those. Most who accept this theory remind us that Jesus did ministry at three miles an hour (on foot) and reached a very small geographic area:

So, what did Jesus mean that His faithful followers would do “greater” works than He? Without a doubt, the works of Jesus’ followers would be greater in extent. Jesus’ earthly ministry had been largely limited to Galilee and Judea; His disciples, however, were going to extend His ministry to the uttermost parts of the earth. When Jesus ascended to heaven, His followers numbered in the hundreds; forty days later, in response to the preaching of the apostles, that number leaped into the thousands (Acts 2:41). By the end of Acts, the gospel had made its way to Rome. (gotquestions.org)

I agree with that, but I think that’s only part of the answer. I believe Oswald Chambers makes a compelling case for the greater works being prayer:

…Prayer doesn’t prepare us for the greater work; prayer is the greater work. We think of prayer as a commonsense exercise of our higher powers, as something that gets us ready to do God’s work. In the teaching of Jesus Christ, prayer is the miracle of the redemption at work in me—a miracle which, by the power of God, produces the miracle of the redemption in others… (My Utmost for His Highest)

Think about it. Jesus sent his disciples out to share the Good News. Yet, He didn’t teach them how to preach, but He did teach them how to pray. First, He told them where to pray, in “a secret place” or “a quiet place.” Jesus was urging his followers not to pray for show as the Pharisees did. We can pray with others, but we need a heart filled with pure motives when we pray.

Jesus also encouraged us to pray alone, but Chambers argues that the secret place is a fully surrendered heart where Jesus can meet us. A secret, quiet place in our heart where Jesus is always present and waiting for us.

Then He told His disciples how to pray. What we call “The Lord’s Prayer” in Matthew 6, the Sermon on the Mount, is a template for all prayer. You can learn more about that here.

I believe prayer is indeed the greater work to which Jesus was referring. Here’s why: our ability to petition the Father was paid for with the blood of Jesus Christ. It’s a sacred privilege that we have come to take for granted over the last 20 centuries. It was unthinkable to the audience who heard Jesus’ words.

I encourage you to think about that privilege and the price paid for it the next time someone shares a concern with you, and you respond with “I’ll be praying for you.” You are promising to do the greater works that Jesus promised. Don’t take that lightly, and don’t take it for granted when others do it for you!

Pastor Jerry Bader