You Will Do Greater Works Than These

John 14:8-17, 25-27

8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. 12 Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.

The Promise of the Holy Spirit

15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. 17 This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.

25 “I have said these things to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.

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Today is both the Memorial Day weekend and Pentecost. As for Memorial Day, we remember those who died for our physical freedom. As for Pentecost, we remember Jesus Christ, who died for our spiritual freedom. Jesus not only liberated us from the enslavement of sin through his death and resurrection, but also empowered us to “do greater works” than he did. That’s this morning’s focus.

Jesus said in verse 12, “Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.” Sometimes we feel hesitant and undeserving when we read this passage. It seems okay to read that those who believe in him will do the works that Jesus did, but how could anyone dare to imagine that we will be doing greater works than he did?

Jesus said that it was because he was going to the Father. That means he wouldn’t be doing anymore works, but we will be empowered to do the greater works that are yet to be done. He was talking about quantity not quality. In fact there are clouds of witnesses around us today that have proven that the believers have done greater works in the past two thousand years.

Jesus never wrote a book but no library in the world could hold the volumes of books that have been written about him and for him because his followers continue to publish thousands of books each year to inspire more people and save more lives. Thousands of scholars also continue to spend the time of their life to explore Jesus and to expand his message into volumes of books.

Jesus never went to a Medial Collage, but he has healed multitudes in his life time, without charges for his services. His followers continue to build huge hospitals and small clinics around the world in his name to continue his healing ministry. Just travel around the world, you will see even in some smallest corner of the earth, hospitals with Christian signs. Surely the believers have done greater works, in his name.

He never was a chef but he fed over 5,000 people with only five loaves and two fishes, and still had twelve basketful of leftover. His followers continue his feeding ministry by setting up food centers to feed millions of poor and homeless each year.

He has never built a home. In fact he said “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” (Matt. 8:20) Yet thousands of small and large houses have been built in his name to worship him and many of them represent the pinnacle of art and architecture. Thousands of doors also have been opened to home the homeless. His followers have done greater things.