Freindship W/ God Week 4 - The Greater Works

Recap:

the Last Supper

Foot Washing

Last Teaching

Jesus is God

John 14:11 (ESV)

11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.

Last time we ended with this truth: The Works that I do you will also do

That’s where we pick it up today.

Text:

John 14:12–17 (ESV)

12 “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.

13 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.

15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 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.

I. John 14:12

John 14:12 (ESV)

12 “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.

1. Amen, Amen (truly, truly)

101 times in the Gospels

25x it is repeated “Amen, Amen” - a way of emphasizing a point:

All of those are in the Gospel of John

In fact every time, it us used twice.

2. The “one trusting”

The one trusting in me — in Jesus

This is relational language.

Believing what exactly?

Time and time again it is that “Jesus came from the Father”

That Jesus came from God

John 20:30–31 (ESV)

30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;

31 but these are written so that you may believe that

Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,

and that by believing(ptc) you may have life(sbj) in his name.

That Jesus is Lord (God) and Savior (messiah, Christ)

II. Greater Works

Two Questions come to mind:

What works is he talking about?

In what sense are they greater?

1. What works?

My Answer: The same Works that Jesus did

What works did Jesus do?

A. In the Gospel of John

i. 7 Signs in the Gospel of John

Water into Wine (John 2:1-11)

Jesus heals and officials son of sickness unto death (John 4:34-53)

The Healing at the Pool of Bethesda of the lame man for 38 years (John 5:1-15)

The Feeding of the 5000 (John 6:1-15)

Jesus Walks on Water (John 6:16-21)

Jesus heals a man born blind (John 9:1-12)

John 9:1–3 (ESV)

1 As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.

Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead (John 11:1-16)

B. The other Gospels - The Pattern of the Kingdom

In Mark last year: Jesus brought the Kingdom of God

Declaring and Demonstrating

Driving out Demons

Healing the Sick

Raising the Dead

Nature Miracles

Sends out the 12 in Luke 9

Sends out the 72 in Luke 10.

He commission the Disciples in Acts 1:8 — promises the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit comes on Pentecost in Acts 2.

The Book of Acts we see the Apostles and other disciples doing the works of Jesus.

C. The Epistles

i. Spiritual Gifts

Furthermore if we look at Paul’s teaching on Spiritual Gifts in 1 Cor 12 we read this:

1 Corinthians 12:7–11 (ESV)

7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit,

9 to another faith by the same Spirit,

to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,

10 to another the working of miracles,

to another prophecy,

to another the ability to distinguish between spirits,

to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

D. Conclusion

Therefore, my conclusion is that when Jesus said we will do his works, he meant it.

I want to talk about why this is important, but first let’s answer the question “in what sense are they greater?”

2. In what sense are they Greater?

A. Global Impact

But more definitively we can say they are greater in the sense that they will have a worldwide impact.

B. The Eschaton

They are greater in the sense that we are in the ‘end days’ the eschaton where the Holy Spirit has been given to every believer

so that it is not just one man Jesus Christ

but potentially millions of believers all over the world filled with the Spirit of God

In fact, there a miraculous things happening all over the world.

Craig Keener’s Work

C. More amazing?

Does this mean the church will go more amazing miracles than Jesus did?

I don’t think that can be totally ruled out especially given some of the promises in the OT and what seems to be going on in the book of Revelation

Acts 2 quoting Joel 2 says that Acts 2:17-20

II. Why this is important?

If Jesus said we will do the works he did…then…the question is:

ARE WE?

Are we doing the Works of Jesus?

Jesus came proclaiming and demonstrating the Kingdom of God

Are we?

That is our mission.

Advancing the Kingdom of God

We should expect God to move in powerful ways.

We are meant to live supernatural lives.

1. How can we?

The Cross, The Holy Spirit and Prayer = Friendship with God

A. The Gospel

John 14:12 (ESV)

12 “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.

We will do greater works BECAUSE Jesus is going to the Father

How is he going there?

Through the Cross

through his death and resurrection, and ascension

Being Reconciled to God = Union with God

God sends his Holy Spirit

When he returns to the father he is going to send his Holy Spirit.

John 16:7 (ESV)

7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.

B. Prayer & the Holy Spirit

John 14:13–17 (ESV)

13 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. 15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 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.

This is prayer — asking God

The Holy Spirit lives in us

Are we talking to God?

Friendship

Union

III. Implications & Applications

What does this mean for us?

It means there is more for us.

Jesus is going to keep going deeper about what this means for us in John 14-16.

But it means that the Kingdom of God is at Hand

We are called to live into that Kingdom Reality

so that others can see the power of God, the Salvation of God

through Proclamation and demonstration

1. To Astound thisThe Secular Age

It is going to be needed in this growing secular age.

I’m becoming more and more convinced that it will be the supernatural workings of God that will bring people to faith

rather than being more culturally relevant

or being able to refute arguments against God

certainly not bending biblical beliefs about morality and such.

To also live with a supernatural love and willingness to suffer and sacrifice for others.

2. Happening all over the World

In fact, all over the world, signs and wonders are reported on the frontier of evangelistic efforts.

Many muslims are coming to faith through dreams and visions of Jesus.

Jerry Trousdale — Miraculous Movements

IV. The Call

ABIDE: Get into the Word — memorize John 14-16.

Get the Word of God inside of you — let it change you

Contemplate it’s meaning and it’s reality in your life.

ASK: Pray

Be prayed for

Learn how to pray

It all begins with Prayer — Prayer Nights — Thursdays at Pursuit

ACT: Proclamation and Demonstration

Serve One Another

Parents you are always doing this with your kids

remember this is pleasing to the Lord

It is discipleship at it’s most basic level

Thank you to the hosts and leaders

Join us in serving at SRC to serve the Poor.

Share the Gospel

Come and share the gospel with us on campus.

Get comfortable sharing and entering into spiritual conversations.

Pray for one another

Challenge you right now as a group— to pray for healing for one another.

Closing Prayer

Extra

B. What are the works ?

What are the works of God, the Father?

What are the works of Jesus?

1. In the Gospel of John (7 Signs)

Water into Wine (John 2:1-11)

Jesus heals and officials son of sickness unto death (John 4:34-53)

The Healing at the Pool of Bethesda of the lame man for 38 years (John 5:1-15)

The Feeding of the 5000 (John 6:1-15)

Jesus Walks on Water (John 6:16-21)

Jesus heals a man born blind (John 9:1-12)

John 9:30–34 (ESV)

30 The man answered, “Why, this is an amazing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. 32 Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” 34 They answered him, “You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?” And they cast him out.

Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead (John 11:1-16)

2. Synoptic Gospels

a. Luke 4:16–21 (ESV) - Isaiah 61

16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read.

17 And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

20 And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.

21 And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

b. Matthew 11:2–6 (ESV) - John the Baptizer

2 Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?”

4 And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see:

5 the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.

6 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

Isaiah 61:1–3 (ESV)

1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; 3 to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.

Isaiah 42:6–8 (ESV)

6 “I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, 7 to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. 8 I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.

c. The Greatest Work of Christ

His substitutionary atonement for the forgiveness of sins.