Jack Gutknecht Supporter Arizona Bible College graduate and Dallas Seminary graduate

John 14:12 “greater things” (NIV) were things that “depended on Jesus going to the Father, because they are works done in the strength of the Holy Spirit, Whom Jesus would send from the Father (Jn 14:16-17; 15:26). Colossians 1:6 says, 

“Which is [the gospel is] come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth.” NIVSB

“Jesus was simply saying that His many disciples would do things greater in extent (all over the world) as Tim said, and greater in effect (multitudes being touched by the power of God). Jesus never traveled, except in his infancy, more than 200 miles from the place where he was born. [One Solitary Life] 

In other words, during His short life on earth, Jesus was confined in His influence to a comparatively small region of Palestine. After He left the earth, His disciples could work in widely scattered places and influence much bigger numbers of people.” 

So, we’re talking quantitatively, here, not qualitatively.

RR

June 27 2021 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Tim Maas Supporter Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

I would say that Jesus was not necessarily referring to the specific types of works or miraculous actions that He performed during His earthly ministry, but to the scope or range of those actions.

After His ascension, His followers (starting at Pentecost) brought all nations with which they came into contact to saving faith in Christ through their missionary outreach, as well as their writing of the gospels and epistles for the benefit of generations yet unborn (John 14:25-26). This was made possible through the work and inspiration of the Holy Spirit, who (as Jesus told the apostles in John 16:7-16) would not be sent to them until after His ascension.

June 27 2021 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jeffrey Johnson Supporter

How can we do "greater things" than Jesus did? (John 14:12)

Doing "greater things" (John 14:12) refers to the global expansion of the Gospel ministry through the Holy Spirit, rather than to performing more spectacular miracles than Jesus did. Believers achieve this through the worldwide spread of Christianity, the conversion of millions, and the continued work of those blessed by the Holy Spirit since Pentecost. 

It means greater in scale, scope, and quantity—extending the message to all nations—not superior in quality to Jesus' miracles.

These "greater works" are accomplished by the collective body of believers preaching the finished work of the cross, starting from the apostles to modern-day evangelism. That would be from Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was poured out and the 120 started to. Speak in other languages, and the whole of Jerusalem was filled with the message of Christ.

Jesus spoke this just before his death, encouraging his disciples that his physical departure would usher in a new, global era of ministry. 

Jesus' physical ministry was limited to a small geographical area in Palestine. Today, believers collectively spread the Gospel to the "remotest part of the earth," reaching numerically more people than Jesus did during His three-year earthly ministry.

In John 14:12, Jesus is not saying that the miraculous works his disciples would perform would be greater than his own. Instead, he humbly acknowledges that the extent of their preaching and teaching work would be greater than his. His followers would cover more territory, reach more people, and preach for longer than he would. Jesus' words clearly show that he expected his followers to continue his work.

Jesus recognised that much work would remain to be done after his death, resurrection, and ascension. To his 11 faithful apostles, not just the apostles but also all future disciples,​would have to carry on the preaching and teaching work. (John 17:20).

Today, their ministry has reached the extremities of the earth, far beyond the borders of the land where Jesus himself preached. Second, they would get more people. The small band of disciples Jesus left behind quickly grew into the thousands. (Acts 2:41; 4:4)

When Jesus spoke those words in John 14:12, he expressed confidence in his followers, saying they would do "works greater than these."

Jesus was placing in their hands a work that was of utmost importance to him, that of preaching and teaching "the good news of the Kingdom of God." (Luke 4:43) He was convinced that they would faithfully carry out the assignment.

Lesson for us today:

What does this mean for us today? When we zealously and wholeheartedly pursue the ministry, we show that Jesus' confidence in his followers was not misplaced. 

This is a remarkable privilege for us today.​—(Matthew 24:14 and Matthew 28:19-20)

Jesus' sphere of activity was limited to Palestine, whereas his early disciples were told to witness "to the most distant part of the earth," far beyond the reach of Jesus himself. (Acts 1:8) The preaching work that he began is now global.

Are we doing all we can to reach honest-hearted people as disciples of Jesus Christ?

Are we grateful to help each new disciple get started on the road leading to life? (Matt. 7:14) 

Are we having plenty to do in the work of the Lord?​—1 Cor. 15:58.

Just think: with Jesus backing us, we can remain confident that we will do still greater works as his faithful disciples.​—Matt. 28:19, 20.

4 days ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report