Doing greater works than Jesus           John 14:1-14

Do you believe these words of Jesus? What works? Has anyone here raised anyone from the dead, lately? What about healed the blind, created bread and fish, walked on water, rebuked some demons?

Maybe we can re-clarify the words and therefore their meaning. Maybe Jesus wasn’t referring to these things, but others things like the salvation of souls. Remember. after Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension, the Apostle Peter preached at Pentecost (Acts 2) and 3000 men come to Christ. Maybe they are the greater works? Certainly, salvation is the greatest work. But!!

The Apostle Peter went on to heal people: lame man, all diseases, handkerchief touched Peter then was taken. Even his shadow passing by healed people. That may in some ways be a greater work than Jesus, because we don’t hear of Jesus’ shadow healing anyone in the scriptures. Peter raised up a woman named Tabitha (Dorcas) from the dead in Acts 9. Paul raised a man called Eutychus in Acts 20.

We can then say – but that was then, this is now? We are not in the times of Pentecost anymore. Yes, that’s right, but the issue isn’t with the will of the Spirit, or the period of time in which we live, or that God has left the earth with these things. Jesus’ words to the disciples are not just for the immediate Apostles. How do I know? Because the Greek language which Jesus used here is what we call present, active, continuous. This simply means not just a one-off event, but an ongoing ministry that will be available for the Lord’s people to embrace.

So, what are the greater works? We have already mentioned one. After the resurrection, the Holy Spirit set apart people to be given the grace to become the children of God; before Pentecost this wasn’t possible, “only” healings in the flesh and from demons were done. Jesus told us in John 16, the works of the Spirit are 1. To convince the world of sin, righteousness and judgement. Nothing about physical manifestations there, but…

We must never let our experience drive our theology or belief system. We must let the Word of God do that. Just because we don’t see (or not very often) people being raised from the dead, the blind and paralyzed healed, limbs growing back – doesn’t mean that God has stopped doing these things. The scriptures don’t say these things will cease. I know there are people like John Macarthur who say they do based on 1 Corinthians 13. While MacArthur’s theology in most areas is reliable and sound, sadly in this area it is lacking. The argument goes that we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. MacArthur’s argument is that we have the perfect: the Scriptures and Christ make us perfect through his righteousness etc. However, Paul, obviously writing as an Apostle, stated that “we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.” When is the “then”? Not when the scriptures are complete, but when our life on earth is complete, when we see Jesus face to face. Ultimately it will be when He returns and restores all things to Himself, when we have our own resurrected bodies.

Hence Paul is not saying the gifts cease while we are here. In fact, the very opposite. Were assigns and wonders just for the Apostles? Some use a proof text 2 Corinthians 12:12 which says, “The true marks of an apostle—signs, wonders, and miracles—were performed among you with great perseverance.” In Romans 15:18, Paul said “For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience---by word and deed, by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God---so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ.”

But does this mean that others had the exclusion of some of these gifts? No, because in the same book Paul listed out those who had the gift of prophecy, healing, miracles, words of knowledge and, of course, tongues/languages.

Philip isn’t named as an Apostle, but one of the seven chosen as a servant. It says of his ministry, “The crowds with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs which he was performing.” (Acts 8:13) Apostles had many of the gifts, but other non-apostles used the same gifts, but not in as great a measure.

A good proof text for me that it wasn’t just Apostles who had these gifts alone, but some in the general congregation, is found in Galatians 3:5; “Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith?---" Note that this book is where Paul was rebuking them for going back to the Law, rather than trusting in the grace of the gospel for salvation. And he used the fact that miracles were done through their hands to each other as a testament of the Lord’s grace and presence.

So, the scriptures say the gifts are to be continued. John 14:12, Acts 2:17 (last days – therefore especially now more than ever) until Jesus comes back, 1 Corinthians 13:10-12 and 2. that they can be given to ordinary members in a church. Acts 8:13, Galatians 3:5 – that’s you/me.

So, the question you are asking, and I am as well, is what? Why don’t we see more of them, or why not at all – depending on your experience?

A number of things 1. Sin – God has spoken to you, but you choose to ignore. 2. We don’t have a heart for it. There is very little hunger or fervour for the presence of God. It is not an abiding passion. Other things occupy our hearts – work, kids, finances, lunch, we have a very shallow level of hunger or desire for the Lord’s Spirit and presence. We are not desperate for Him.

James tells us you have not because you ask not, and you don’t ask aright – heart isn’t aligned with it.

Personal reading for me – over the holidays – “God’s Generals” and “God Chasers”. These books have certainly stimulated in me a greater desire to see the Lord move.

Pray for a space now to at least ask God to give us a desire to do the greater works – not that we seek a sign or a wonder but that we see the greatest sign and wonder: salvations. It happens when people see the obvious presence of God.