Greater Works?

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Permalink Reply by Moomins on November 18, 2009 at 8:37am

Hi Carla, im not sure this answers your request, but I found this article....


What are the greater deeds that Jesus speaks of, and how is this related to his going to the Father? It is clear from both John 7:39 and 16:7 that the Holy Spirit will not come until Jesus has departed. After Pentecost and the coming of the Spirit to indwell believers in a permanent relationship, believers would be empowered to perform even greater deeds than those Jesus did during his earthly ministry. When the early chapters of Acts are examined, it is clear that, from a numerical standpoint, the deeds of Peter and the other Apostles surpassed those of Jesus in a single day (the day of Pentecost). On that day more were added to the church than had become followers of Jesus during the entire three years of his earthly ministry. And the message went forth not just in Judea, Samaria, and Galilee, but to the farthest parts of the known world. This understanding of what Jesus meant by “greater deeds” is more probable than a reference to “more spectacular miracles.” Certainly miraculous deeds were performed by the apostles as recounted in Acts, but these do not appear to have surpassed the works of Jesus himself in either degree or number.

http://net.bible.org/verse.php?book=Joh&chapter=14&verse=12...

Love in christ
Moomins

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Permalink Reply by Ron Payne on November 18, 2009 at 9:16am

Hi Carla,
Commentators would have it that Jesus was confined to Samaria, therefore His own works were limited when measured against what the Apostles did.

Having said that - Here is my "Tuppence" worth.

As you well say: "Raising the dead is about as amazing as you can get." But when one considers another verse: Ephesians 2:1 "You were dead in your trespasses and sins" Therefore when one leads a person to Christ, you will have helped raise the dead back to life. Now in regard to the words:"You will do greater things than this", is that when people were raised from the dead, brought back to life in the New Testament, it does not necessarily mean that they received Eternall life. But those whom we bring to a knowledge of Salvation.....THEY ARE RAISED TO RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE. WOW! This is far far greater than raising one from the dead back to normal life.

I may be sucking eggs here, but I like to believe that this was what Our Lord had in mind.

Lotsa Blessings and Love in Christ
Your Brother - Ron

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Permalink Reply by Carla on December 11, 2009 at 11:44am

Thank you Ron.... I love this.. indeed our Salvation is a great miracle.

God Bless you as you enjoy your summer in the warmth of your climate.. Here in Ontario the snow has finally started..brrrrr.

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Permalink Reply by Carla on November 24, 2009 at 11:35am

Thank you everyone for your responses..

I do now have a clearer understanding in that the greater works Jesus seems to be talking about is the great commission. I urge everyone to read the article which Charles Burwell posted a link to... ...very good article!

Thank you for searching it out Charles..

Blessings and Much Love in Christ, Carla

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Permalink Reply by Gayla on November 24, 2009 at 11:55am

Hi Carla...

I am not a theologian, but, my understanding of that verse is that we will do greater works than Jesus did, because he is multiplied so many times, in each of our lives. Because of this.... we can do greater works. Amen.

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Permalink Reply by Gord on November 28, 2009 at 12:10am

I rarely post here so I start by asking God to forgive me if what I type here is not of Him. I am also sorry if this post is a bit long. I agree somewhat with the comments given here, but the references to 'greater' that I find in scripture do not seem to refer to 'more' (quantity) of something. Perhaps someone with more background than I can clarify this because I am really quite a 'rookie' when it comes to scripture, and the origin and meaning of words used in biblical reference. I think far too many times we see the works as something that 'we' do and too often take credit, but shouldn't as they are not of us. As believers, we are no longer just individuals but part of something much 'greater'; the body of Christ's Church. He lives in us and we in Him...

John 14:19-20 - Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.

I am not saying that the following happens in chronological order, but I asked the Lord to help me in my understanding and here is what I received...

John the Baptist realized, through I would guess divine revelation, that Jesus is greater than he was and the baptism with water is nothing compared to what would happen in the not too distant future...

Luke 3:16 John made answer, saying to them all, Truly, I give you baptism with water, but one is coming who is greater than I, whose shoes I am not good enough to undo: he will give you baptism with the Holy Spirit, and with fire.

The people of the time have a hard time grasping this because they cannot believe anyone is greater than the fathers and prophets of old...

John 4:12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds?"

Jesus reveals to the woman at the well and others in the bible that God the Father has sent Him to reveal the Father to us. Jesus knows there is one greater than even He and sees himself as a humble servant...

John 10:29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of my Father's hand.

Jesus wants us to be like Him, and humble ourselves, believe, and see that this life we live is not about us...it's about worshiping God the Father and doing His will. We too are to become humble servants...

Luke 22:26 But not so with you. But one who is the greater among you, let him become as the younger, and one who is governing, as one who serves.

When we accept this and accept that Jesus was the ultimate servant for us (giving his life) and the Father (doing His will), we receive Him through the Holy Spirit; we are baptized in a much greater way. It is through Jesus death and resurrection (the barrier is removed/curtain torn) that we come into full union with Him and the Father through the Spirit...

John 14:28 You heard how I told you,'I go away, and I come to you.' If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I said 'I am going to my Father;' for the Father is greater than I.

The Father who is greater than all. Once we accept this, and receive the Holy Spirit we are no longer working alone. We can do anything that is the Father's will through Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Jesus reveals, all we need to do is ask...

John 14: 13-17 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. "If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever - the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

If you imagine for one minute the works and miracles that happen everyday in our world (you narrowly escape being killed in a car wreck, someone who has been diagnosed with a terminal illness fully recovers, the world circles around the sun without ceasing, a plant provides us with oxygen that we need to survive on this planet and we serve the plant by giving them the carbon dioxide that they desperately need, a child is conceived and a virgin gives birth to one who changes the world and they way we see things...) you begin to see the greater things that 'we' now are capable of. It is through prayer and asking the Father through Our Saviour Jesus, that many things come together that we with our 'worldly eyes' simply miss...

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

We need to ask for stronger faith and wisdom to see through Christ's eyes and begin to understand that all the 'greater things' in this world are not of us. We need only to ask for miracles in order to receive, but then realize that He is the one that puts all the pieces together - IT'S ALL ABOUT HIM...

Luke 17:5 And the twelve said to the Lord, Make our faith greater.

John 14:12 Most certainly I tell you, he who believes in me, the works that I do, he will do also; and he will do greater works than these, because I am going to my Father. - BELIEVE!

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Permalink Reply by ScribeD on November 28, 2009 at 1:15pm

Carla, you have received some excellent scriptural answers here, which I think encompass the scope of the matter. When Jesus said this, it is possible he meant any of the following:
Greater in number
Greater in scope
Greater in substance

Since he left that undefined, I am of the opinion that he meant all three.

Regarding a factor of works that are greater in number:
This last summer I met a woman who had been raised from the dead (she was fully declared dead by a medical team and left in a morgue and returned to life after a believer's prayer). I investigated the situation sufficiently that I satisfied my very skeptical mind. In the past I have received healing and seen healings and I know others who have participated in supernatural healings. I know an Episcopal Priest who raised an infant from the dead - much to his surprise - by simply speaking the words of Jesus over the child. Since my experience is limited, I can only assume that many, if not all, of the believers across all of the two millenia since the Apostles have also experienced similar things. That significantly answers the "number" question for me.

Regarding the factor of greater in scope:
The Apostles certainly went farther, ministering to more, for longer periods than Jesus ever did. Phillip was carried by the Spirit (transported) to meet the Ethiopian Eunuch in Gaza. (as far as we know, Jesus never did that). Paul went all the way to Rome and was shipwrecked, bitten by a poisonous viper (surviving both); he preached to Gentile courts, preached to Roman Centurions, raised Gentiles from the dead and founded churches across the Roman empire. (as far as we know, Jesus never did that). We know that Thomas went as far as India and is buried in Madras (now modern Chennai). He founded a church community that grew and has survived for 2,000 years. There were seven original Apostolic churches founded that survived and grew for over a thousand years.

As for the factor of greater in substance:
I think that Ron Payne is 100% correct in saying that the miracle of regeneration is, by far, a greater miracle than raising a person from the dead. For the natural man, it would not seem so. But, knowing the Spirit - a person dead in their trespasses and sins is far more "dead" than a corpse. Only a person who has truly been touched by God can become "born again". We see that there are so many people who have had hearts truly and totally hardened against God who become regenerated and born again in the spirit - who then go on to demonstrate tremendous faith and conviction for the Gospel of Christ. The folks who lead the "AllaboutGod" ministry are excellent examples of this (Randall Niles story can be found on "www.allaboutthejourney.org").

Yes, raising someone from the dead is amazing. Many of us wish we could see that happen for someone we know. And even more important, we hope to see loved ones be raised from spiritual death, before their body's life is over.

It has been said many times that the world has not yet seen how greatly God will work in the life of a person fully yielded to Him. Perhaps the greatest miracles of the Jesus followers have not been seen yet.

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Permalink Reply by Johnson D. Choppala on December 8, 2009 at 6:25am

What Jesus said was contextual. Jesus was speaking to them conscious of their limitations in understanding the truths. He knows that when the desciples are baptized by the Holy Spirit at the Pentecost, their limitations will be lifted. They can now do wonders for God. Paul said "I can do all things through Jesus Christ who empowers(strengthens) me." God is limitless so will you and I be if we are in Christ Jesus. Our burning desire should be to achieve that state of oneness with Him. Be Blessed!.

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Permalink Reply by Carla on December 11, 2009 at 11:46am

Thank You Scribe. I've been meaning to reply since you posted your response here....

I had been praying about this, and your response was a confirmation for what I received during my prayer time. Thank you for taking the time to answer.

Many Blessings, Carla

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Permalink Reply by Carla on December 11, 2009 at 11:58am

Thank you Paula for your lengthy reply here. I'm going to spend the time going through context etc...of what you have written.

I agree with you...we are to go to God first in prayer. I am also thankful for the body of Christ....to learn from those who know much more then myself. I am thankful for pastors and teachers who are trained in the Holy Scriptures. We all have our place in the body of Christ with certain giftings and talents..etc.. Thankfully! afterall....we can't all be the same body part.... :)

Thanks again for taking the time to respond here.
Blessings, Carla

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