The ongoing works of Jesus

April 22, 2021

14:1 – 15:17 Being in Jesus, just as Jesus is in the Father

Read John 14:12

Jesus has spoken about the Father’s work (14:10) and the works (i.e. the miracles) that he has done (14:11) and he now goes on to say that those who believe in him will do “what I have been doing”. This translates the same Greek word ergon used for works in the previous verse. It’s an emphatic statement by Jesus that the Father’s work through him will continue to be done through his followers, not just by the disciples but by all believers. In fact, they will do “even greater things”.

What are we to make of such an amazing statement? In Acts we see believers performing great miracles, similar to those which Jesus had done though not greater in scale or in number. The key to understanding the “even greater things” is found in John 5:20 where Jesus uses the same phrase. There it refers to the giving of eternal life (5:21-24). Christian believers will, at times, do miracles in Jesus’s name, but always the greater work is not the miracle itself but the sharing of the good news of eternal life (Acts 4:10-12). Jesus is not saying that Christians with enough faith will be able to do miracles but that every believer will have a part in his ongoing work.

This is made clear in the final part of the verse in the words, “because I go to the Father”. This phrase indicates the completion of his work on earth (13:1; 16:28). He is about to be glorified, and his death and resurrection will result in the giving of the Spirit (7:37-39) and then “streams of living water will flow from within” those who believe in him. So, because of his going and the Spirit’s coming, from now on the number of people entering eternal life will be far greater (16:7-9; cf. Matt.11:11).