Give me your full attention for a moment by allowing me to see your beautiful faces while I ask you this question. Which would you prefer? Walking with Jesus for three years like the Disciples did? Or would you prefer the Holy Spirit inside you, as believers experience today?
Find John 14 with me, will you?
What would you rather have — Jesus beside you, or Jesus inside you? What would it have been like to walk around with Jesus for three plus years? If you could choose between walking with Him in Galilee or having His Spirit live within you, which would you pick?1 The night before the cross, Jesus tells His disciples something shocking: It’s better for you that I go. I can imagine Peter leaning over to ask John, “Did He just say, ‘Better’?” How could losing Jesus be better? That’s what we’re about to discover.
Today’s Scripture
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you” (John 14:12-17).
Remember, this is all happening the night before Jesus is murdered. Jesus is only moments from a sham trial that will keep Him up all night. This will be Jesus’ last time to train the eleven as He is about to send them out into the world. If you had one night left with your closest friends and family, what would you say? These are the last words He wanted burned into His disciples’ memories.
Sermon Preview
1. Living with Jesus’ Abilities
2. Praying with Jesus’ Authority
3. Partnering with Jesus’ Spirit
1. Living with Jesus’ Abilities
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father” (John 14:12).
Jesus begins with a staggering promise, “This is what you’ll do.”
1.1 The Double Amen
That is the double amen formula we have heard from the lips of Jesus so many times in the gospel of John. It’s like when your parents said your full name as a kid. Amen means “truth” or “true,” so Jesus is telling us something super serious here. Jesus says, “This is double truth.” We cannot shrug it off. Every time Jesus says, “Truly, truly,” give Him your full attention. Let’s look at verse 12 phrase by phrase.
1.2 A Promise Made to All Believers
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do…” (John 14:12a).
Notice the word “whoever” in verse 12. That means this promise isn’t reserved for the spiritual elites, for missionaries, or only for pastors. He didn’t say this only to professional Christians. He’s speaking to the mom raising kids at home. He’s speaking to the high schooler trying to live faithfully for Christ among friends. And He’s speaking to the retiree, wondering if their life still matters. Jesus says, “I want to empower the everyday believer” to do great works in my name. That means the Christian life isn’t about being a spectator to Jesus’ greatness—it’s about participating in it. The Christian life isn’t watching Jesus perform—it’s joining Him in His work.
1.3 Every Believer Does Jesus’ Works
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do…” (John 14:12a).
Jesus says in effect, “Everyone of my followers will do MY kind of works.” Jesus didn’t say, “whoever believes MIGHT Do the works I do…” Instead, Jesus says, “…whoever believes in me WILL also DO the works that I do…” (John 14:12a). Jesus says every single one of His followers will do works that point to Jesus.
1.3.1 The Believers’ Uniform
Jesus says these works will be your uniform. You think of these works of love and mercy like a team uniform or a soldier’s uniform. When you see these works, you know what someone is playing for.
1.3.2 Operation Overlord
There was an amazing level of organization for the D Day invasion on June 6, 1944, where Allied troops were putting boots on the ground in Europe to drive back the Nazi’s. During what was known as Operation Overlord, soldiers were trained to use a specific system to identify friendly forces. If you were to say “flash,” a friendly force soldier would say, “thunder.” These code words were even changed frequently as they couldn’t trust that the enemies had not stolen the uniform of the Allies.2 For those who may have seen Saving Private Ryan, the actor Tom Hanks calls out “Thunder” to see if troops approaching him are friend or foe. So many Americans claim to be Christians, and then you look at their actions, and they seem to be acting more like the enemy than someone on Christ’s team. Just as soldiers on D-Day had a code to identify who was on their side, Jesus gives us a mark of genuine faith. Jesus says you can identify a believer by the works they do. Jesus didn’t say believers might do these works. Jesus said believers will do these works. You should be asking yourself, “Am I doing these works of compassion and love?”
1.4 Greater Works
Again, we are just looking at verse 12 phrase by phrase: “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father” (John 14:12).
1.4.1 Hard to Believe
At one level, Jesus’ words are exciting. Can you imagine doing something greater than Jesus did?
At another level, Jesus’ words are perplexing. How could I possibly do something on par with Jesus? After all, how could I play soccer like Lionel Messi? How could I direct a film like Steven Spielberg? Or how could I cook like Gordon Ramsey? How in the world could Jesus’ followers do anything on the level of Jesus, much less greater than Jesus? After all, Jesus raised the dead. He multiplied fish and bread to feed the multitudes. And He turned water into wine. Again, Jesus had said, “I’m leaving and you cannot follow me.” What could be more encouraging than to know the Disciples will do greater works than even Jesus at such a moment? How could believers be expected to do works on the same level as Jesus or even greater than Jesus?
1.4.2 Geographically
At one level, we need to remember that Jesus never left Israel as an adult. So, when Jesus’ followers spread the message after the resurrection, they went far and wide. So, on one level, Jesus’ followers spread His message geographically. Jesus’ followers were not limited to Israel.
1.4.3 More Converts
Some think Jesus meant “greater” in terms of the number of people who were converted by the gospel’s message. The believers who followed Jesus took His message to a wider field. More people believed the message in just a few short years after Jesus’ resurrection than they did in Jesus’ day. The book of Acts is a play-by-play of the many people who converted to the gospel message. People of all races and backgrounds embraced Christ. But I don’t think Jesus ONLY meant “greater” in terms of distance or in terms of the number of converts only.
1.4.4 The Right Side of the Cross
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father” (John 14:12).
Jesus is saying that the Disciples’ works will be on the right side of the cross and at a more advanced stage in God’s order.3 There are benefits and resources available to believers on this side of the cross and resurrection that were not available on their side of the cross and resurrection. You’ll see Him unpack this in the moments to come.
1.5 Because I am Going to the Father
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father” (John 14:12).
When Jesus says, “because I am going to the Father,” He is talking about the cross, the resurrection, and eventually the ascension. Remember, only moments before this, Jesus had told them that He was leaving, and they could not follow Him. Now, Jesus says, because I am leaving you, you will accomplish more in my name and by my power than you would accomplish if I were still walking on the face of the earth. Jesus is promising His help to you. You can do great acts of love, witnessing, and even miracles because God empowers you. God works through you just as He promised the Disciples He’d do.
1. Living with Jesus’ Abilities
2. Praying with Jesus’ Authority
“Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it” (John 14:13-14).
Jesus first tells us “The what” before telling us “The how.” Jesus says, “You’ll accomplish greater things than I’ve accomplished by praying to God the Father in my name.”
2.1 Did He Really Just Say That?
Did Jesus just say, “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do?” Does that seem a bit dangerous? It’s like Elon Musk giving you his credit card and saying, “Have at it.” It’s like a surgeon handing you the scalpel mid-surgery. Or like someone tossing you the keys to the most secure vault in the world. Something inside screams: “Jesus, are you sure about this?” Jesus says, “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do.” It feels like Jesus may not understand what he’s doing here.
2.2 Asking in Jesus’ Name
Jesus teaches us that we are to pray in Jesus’ name. We often end our prayers with, “In Jesus’ name, Amen.” Why do we close out our prayers this way? It’s more than a habit. It’s more than a polite way to sign off. It’s about access and qualification.
2.2.1 Qualification
When I close my prayers in Jesus’ name, I recognize Jesus is the ONLY way to God (Hebrews 4:14-15).
“For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time” (1 Timothy 2:5-6).
Because in Jesus, God became human. God is great and we are small. God is perfect, and we are flawed. Jesus is my “go-between” to the One who is so great and perfect. Jesus is alone qualified to enter into the throne room of Heaven.
Did some of you see what the President said this week in his efforts to end the war between Russia and Ukraine? (Media team place the President’s Quote on the Screen.) I am so glad the President mentioned heaven because it draws our attention to a really important subject. “I just want to end it. If I can save seven thousand people a week from getting killed, that's pretty good. I want to get to heaven if possible. I’m hearing I’m not doing well. I hear I’m at the bottom of the totem pole. If I can get to heaven, this will be one of the reasons.”4 Friend, you cannot earn your way to heaven. Our President is wrong here. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).
The President is like so many others, who think they have to present their résumé of good works to gain entrance into heaven. To pray in Jesus’ name means to come to God in prayer, consciously trusting in Christ for our salvation and acceptance, and not relying on our own credibility or record.
You may get into college with a great résumé or get a job with a great résumé, but you’ll never get into Heaven this way. Jesus is alone qualified to enter into the throne room of Heaven. The only way you get in is to present Jesus’ résumé. To become a believer, you must believe Jesus forgives your sins on the cross and repent of your sins. When you become a believer, Jesus takes the punishment you deserve and gives you the reward He deserves. You get Jesus’ résumé, in effect.
Again, Jesus is the only one qualified to enter into the throne room of Heaven. “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it” (John 14:13-14).
2.2.2 Access
Second, Jesus is our access because He alone has the credentials. He gets us behind the doors.
There’s a little piece of teaching I have shared with you several times, and I want to share it again, because it’s so effective. If you are the president, the king, or the queen of the greatest country in the world, who gets to see you? Only the most accomplished people, only the most powerful people, and only the most important people. People who win the Super Bowl may get to see you for fifteen minutes. In other words, you only see the most accomplished, the most important. And then there’s your 6-year-old little girl at 2:00 a.m. without an appointment. Why? Because she’s your daughter. Your relationship with your child isn’t conditioned.4 It doesn’t matter about their performance, accomplishments, or how many PhDs they have. The privilege of becoming a son or daughter of God is not granted to everyone. It’s only for those who place their trust in Jesus Christ. When you are adopted into the family of God by the cross of Jesus, you have access in Jesus’ name. Praying in Jesus’ name is about access and qualification.
2.3 Mercedes-Benz Dealership
Now, let’s learn this: just saying, “In the name of Jesus” — that doesn’t mean that it’s in the name of Jesus. Just attaching Jesus’ name to any old tired prayer for extra money, worldwide fame, and an easy life doesn’t make it right. Imagine if my boys went to a Mercedes-Benz dealership to impersonate their father. They didn’t have the funds or the credit to buy the expensive car, but they knew if they could pass themselves off as me, they would walk out with a brand new luxury car. So, they dye their hair grey and put on some wrinkles to look old. They memorize all the facts and figures about me, including my social security card. They start asking questions about my childhood, like what the name of our first pet was and “Remind me again where you were born, dad?”. They make a fake driver’s license in my name. And the whole thing is a pitch-perfect, spot-on match. They have everything perfect, and just before the dealership hands them the key fob to the 2025 Mercedes–AMG GT Black Series sports coupe valued at $325,000… … just before that happens… … the manager comes out and says, “Hang on a minute, Mr. Maze, we would like to call your wife. We want to verify with Mrs. Maze that you are who you say you are. We know it’s highly irregular, but we have to take every precaution. I hope you’ll understand.”
Now, they get Traci on the phone, and she blows a gasket. She says one of two things: “You tell my two boys to get home immediately, and they have some ‘splaining to do. Now, if she’s really on top of her game, she’ll say, “Put the imposter on the phone. She then asks about specific details of our wedding that only she and I would know.” She would know in a minute that her husband would not blow everything they’ve worked for on a car that doesn’t have Four Wheel Drive and brush guard! Just saying, “In the name of Jesus”—that doesn’t mean that it’s in the name of Jesus. It has to be in character with the Jesus of the Bible.
2.4 Prayer’s Safety Catch
Imagine for a moment that God answered any prayer where someone attached the words “In Jesus’ Name.” What if “In Jesus’ Name” were a magical formula — like a key that unlocked all the powers of Heaven itself — where anyone could utter the words and poof!—their request was instantly granted? Imagine what would a rapist do with that? The harm he could inflict. The lives he could destroy. Imagine what a heartless predator would do with that? How many families could be crushed, how many communities ruined, just to satisfy his selfish desires?
Just as you wouldn’t have a loaded shotgun in the hands of an 8-year-old and walk away, God has a “safety catch” on praying in Jesus' Name. We can be sure that if we pray for something that isn’t wise, God won’t give it to us. Just like a safety on a firearm, we can be sure that if we pray for something that isn’t best for us, God won’t give it to us.
“God will either give us what we ask or give us what we would have asked if we knew everything he knew.” (Tim Keller)5
2.5 Imposter Prayers
Praying in Jesus’ name, then, is not a magic formula. Some of you are praying imposter prayers. You stick Jesus’ name on it at the end, but you’re asking for things that are not in keeping with Jesus’ character.
You might be asking for things that Jesus Himself wouldn’t ask for: Personal gain at the expense of others. Revenge on someone who hurt you. Comfort, safety, or wealth without concern for God’s glory or others’ good.
2.6 Praying in Jesus’ Character
You have to pray in the character of Jesus.
We align our desires with His:
• The poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
• Those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
• The meek, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers.
• Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.
Praying in Jesus’ name is about matching our heart to His heart, our desires to His purposes, and our requests to His glory. When you pray like that, He’ll answer your prayers. They reflect His love, His wisdom, and His righteousness.
2.7 Recap
Jesus says, “You’ll accomplish so many good things after I’m gone. You’ll do this by relying on my power. Even though I’m leaving you and you cannot come with me, I’m not abandoning you. One of the greatest tools I’m giving you to accomplish so much is prayer in my name.”
1. Living with Jesus’ Abilities
2. Praying with Jesus’ Authority
3. Partnering with Jesus’ Spirit
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever” (John 14:16).
Just before Jesus is about to leave, He’s giving them gifts. The first gift is prayer on a whole other level. The second gift is a Helper.
3.1 Jesus Sends Someone Equal to Him
On the night before Jesus was crucified, Jesus spoke at length about the Holy Spirit: “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever…” (John 14:16).
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (John 14:26).
Jesus says the Holy Spirit is another Counselor. Jesus says in effect, “I’m a Counselor and here is another One.” Two Greek words can be used to describe something else. There’s this one here in John 14:15, and then there’s another one. The one Greek word for another is hetero, which means, actually, opposed or different from the former. The other Greek word that could be used is allos, which means just like the former. And that’s the word Jesus uses here.
He says the One coming is just like me. I need us to pause here to fully appreciate what Jesus is saying here, because Jesus made some enormous claims about Himself. There’s a place in John 8, where Jesus says, “… before Abraham was, I am.” He takes the divine name God gave to Moses in the burning bush. Jesus says, “It’s me. I am. Before Abraham was, I am.”
In other places, Jesus claims to forgive all sins. Do you know what that means? He says, “I can forgive all sins. That means all sins are against me,” because you can only forgive the sins that are against you. Jesus is constantly saying, “I am equal to God,” and now he has the audacity to come along and say, “I’m sending you someone who’s just like me.” The Holy Spirit is God. So, we can conclude that the Holy Spirit is just as much God as God the Father, and He is equal to Father and the Son in His deity.
3.2 The Paraclete
Jesus tells us something encouraging about the Spirit when He says: “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever…” (John 14:16). Here, the word is Paraclete, which means Comforter, Counselor, Helper, Supporter, Adviser, Ally, and Advocate. If you were to go around the room this morning, you might have ten different versions of the Bible. They might use all those words (Comforter, Counselor, Helper, Supporter, Adviser, Ally, and Advocate) to describe this one Greek word: parakletos. When you see a word translated so many different ways, you know you have a rich, rich word that packs a lot of meaning. Listen again to Jesus speak of the Paraclete: “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me” (John 15:26).
3.3 He’s in You
Jesus gives this description about the Holy Spirit: “even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you” (John 14:17).
I see at least 3 truths in what Jesus says in verse 17;
1. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth.
2. The world cannot receive the Holy Spirit.
3. The Holy Spirit dwells in believers only.
3.4 Great Works
Remember when Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father” (John 14:12)?
Again, Jesus is telling us that there are benefits available to believers on this side of the cross and resurrection that were not available on their side of the cross and resurrection. We have the Holy Spirit inside of us (Romans 8:9b).
Friend, when you have the Holy Spirit in you, it’s like having the fingers of Mozart, where there’s no tune I cannot play. It’s like having the body of Luka Doncic, where there’s no play I cannot make. Having the Holy Spirit in me is like having the mind of Einstein, where there’s no mathematical formula I cannot understand. The Holy Spirit is God in me. With God inside me, there is no temptation I cannot overcome. With God inside me, there is no enemy I cannot forgive. With God inside me, there is no mission I cannot fulfill. No wonder we’re going to be able to do more good works than the works of Jesus Himself! I have Jesus inside me – the Holy Spirit!
3.5 He’s Not Just a Force
How do you think of the Holy Spirit? Do you think of the Spirit as a force, such as Star Wars? For those of you who are parents, think of how you comfort scared children in the blackness of night. You never comfort your children at night by saying, “A great force is with you.” Instead, you tell your scared children, “I am with you. Your father and your mother, we are here beside all night.” The Holy Spirit teaches, guides, comforts, and encourages you personally. A force does not comfort, but a person does.
3.4 Closing Prayer
Father, we thank you for the tremendous gift of the Holy Spirit. Thank you for loving us so much that you have sent the Spirit to make your presence real to us. We pray that you would cause us to receive His counsel for our lives. We pray you would fill our lives with the Spirit’s presence. We pray that you would bring tremendous beauty and grace into our lives and so empower our witness for Christ that those outside of Christ are attracted to the source of this beauty: God Himself. Fill us with your Spirit on this day. We don’t want to be fakes. We don’t want to be counterfeit believers. Fill us with the mercy and grace your Son had while walking on this earth. Fill us with your Spirit and make us bold, Father.
In Jesus’s Name, Amen.
1. Living with Jesus’ Abilities
2. Praying with Jesus’ Authority
3. Partnering with Jesus’ Spirit
EndNotes
1 J.D. Greear, Jesus Continued: Why the Spirit Inside You Is Better than Jesus Beside You (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2014), 26.
2 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-jul-29-ca-7993-story.html; accessed August 19, 2025.
3 Andreas J. Köstenberger, John, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids: Baker
Academic, 2004), 433.
4 https://x.com/bennyjohnson/status/1957785746518970611
5 Timothy Keller, Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God (New York: Dutton, 2014), 70.
6 Keller, 228.
