John 14:12-14

John 14:11–12 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. 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.

V12. There are two popular understandings of this verse that I think fall short.

First, the “Spectacular Miracle” view. Many Word of Faith preachers teach this idea. The idea here is that your spiritual power is linked to your faith. So- if you have enough faith, you can move mountains, and do these “greater works” Jesus promises. The natural rebuttal to this is: “well, I’ve never seen anyone walk on water, or raise a man from the dead.” Their response would be “that’s because we have quenched the Spirit and don’t have enough faith to make these things happen”. In summary, this believe hears Jesus say “you will do more spectacular (greater) miracles than me if you have faith.

What’s the problem here? Well, for one- Jesus doesn’t say “If you have enough faith”, He says “If anyone has faith” - that is to say “at all”. Verse 11 clarifies- believe in Him and you will do greater works than He has done. To top it off, Jesus doesn’t say “miracles/signs”.

The error this camp has is using it as a proof text for their own beliefs. In this way it serves less as a teaching of Jesus, and more as a proof that their teaching is true. But in using it, they go too far.

Second, the “numerical/ minimizing view”. That is, to explain that by “greater” works, Jesus just means because of sheer numbers. He is leaving to the Father, and since they’re here: more people + more time = greater works. As easy as this would make interpretation, it also ignores the fact that there are much better ways in Greek to say “greater in number”, which isn’t written here. And- it just seems to undercut the emphasis Jesus is speaking with.

The error this camp has, is that it seeks to explain away the difficulty of Jesus’ teaching. Yes, it’s tough. It sounds like it doesn’t fit with their views, so the effort here is to explain “why this teaching isn’t as difficult as you think it is”.

This third way to understand this view is by no means new- but it is nuanced and difficult. I’m grateful to scholars like Leon Morris and James Montgomery Boice for their work here. They will be a big help if you’re someone who likes to read commentaries.

For our purposes today, we’ll call this the “Gospel Works View”.

There are four big ideas that are going to help us figure this out:

1. Signs vs Works

The first thing to understand is that up until now, John records most of Jesus’ miracles as “signs”. SOMETIMES, Jesus is said to do a work in John’s Gospel. But John NEVER describes any work the disciples do as “signs”. Why? Because Jesus' miracles are signs of His divinity and status as Messiah.

We don’t perform “signs” because miracles don’t exist to prove us to the world. God absolutely does miracles through Christians- but they aren’t “our” miracles, and certainly aren’t signs. Instead, everything we do- whether miraculous or not- are the “works” of Jesus in us.

John 2:11 ESV

11 This, the first of his signs (sēmeion), Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

The Lexham Analytical Lexicon to the Greek New Testament σημεῖον

σημεῖον (sēmeion), sign; sign miracle

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 (signs) are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

All of Jesus works are for a reason- they’re so the crowds, disciples, and you the reader may believe and have life in His name.

Instead, John records Jesus saying “work” (ergon) here. Work is a utilitarian word here. From digging a ditch to Jesus saying His food is to do the work His Father sent. It just means task- whether spectacular or not.

Lexham Theological Wordbook ἔργον

ἔργον (EHR-ron). n. neut. work, duty, task, workmanship

2. “Greater”

Since “works” can include everything from washing feet to raising the dead, what does Jesus believe is a greater work?

Think about it.

When I say to you “I’m going to watch the greatest NFL team after church today”, you might think I mean. You might think the Bills, or the Patriots. But of course, you’d be wrong. I mean, the greatest team, the 5 and 3 Jacksonville Jaguars. Well, maybe the greatest kicker.

“Greatest” is subjective. It is up to the speaker to determine what greatest means.

So, what does Jesus think is great?

In Luke 10, Jesus sent out 72 disciples ahead of them. Carrying no moneybag, no sandals etc.. He instructs them to heal the sick in verse 9. When they come back they’re ecstatic- they’re doing Jesus things in the name of Jesus!

Luke 10:17–20 ESV

17 The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” 18 And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

Jesus is always doing this. His idea of better, greater, more glorious... is wildly different from us.

Add On:

Luke 21:1–4 “1 Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, 2 and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. 3 And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. 4 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.””

Back to text:

Luke 10:20 “20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.””

Which is better? To heal. tread on serpents, to cast out demons, and have all power over the enemy? Or, that your names are written in heaven?

Don’t rejoice that spirits are subject to you (this is a small thing for Jesus). Instead, rejoice that your name is written in heaven.

3. The works that I do

So far, in John’s gospel, Jesus has told us a dozen times that He has come to do the work the Father has given Him. But, in His public ministry, that work wasn’t really understood. The pharisees, Sadducees and even His own disciples ask the wrong questions. Honestly, in the Gospel accounts, before the Holy Spirit dwells in the believers, everyone gets Jesus wrong. Jesus’ disciples don’t understand what He’s doing. The preeminent Jewish scholars and teachers like Nicodemus don’t understand Jesus. Even John the Baptist sends a message well after baptizing Jesus and asks (incredibly) “are you the Christ”?

Every time Jesus performs a miracle or teaches, Jesus points out that He is only doing the works His Father gives Him. But, no one understood what His work was.

Jesus makes this explicit in His high priestly prayer with the apostles at the end of our teaching section.

John 17:1–4 ESV

1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.

Yes this is the exact same word Jesus uses in our text, three chapters prior: ἔργον (EHR-on)

Now tell me this: what are the works we are meant to do?

Here is a hint:

Jesus already performed all the signs you or anyone else will need to believe and have life in His name. You don’t need to perform sign ministry.

You MUST to do the work He came to do. In doing so, you MAY do or see the miracles He came to do.

Those works may include miraculous healings, or casting out of demons, or moving mountains. Absolutely. But those things only ever legitimately happen when you are doing Jesus’ work.

“So before we talk about what the greater works actually are, we have to face a hard truth: most Christians want Jesus’ signs, but not Jesus’ work.”

Play Acting Christianity

My daughter Vivian (turning 3 on the 18th) makes delicious food. She has a little kitchen in her room with all the best ingredients — plastic broccoli, rubber steaks, fabric cheese, a little stove with a dial. And she knows how to use it. She watches her mom cook, and she copies every move in her own kitchen.

The other day I accidentally hurt her feelings. She told me I made her mad, stomped off, and two minutes later — without a word — she marched back in, dropped a plate of pretend food at my feet, and stomped away again.

It was adorable… but it wasn’t cooking. You can’t sit down and eat it. It looks like the real thing, it imitates the motions of the real thing, but it has none of the substance of the real thing.

So much of what passes for Christian ministry is just play food.

It looks right. It sounds right. But it isn’t the real work Jesus gave us to do.

It's play praying. Play worship. Play holiness. The outward motions without the inward reality.

We dress the part, say the right phrases, and mimic spiritual activity — but we aren’t doing the work Jesus calls “greater.” We’re serving people plastic bread while the world is starving for the Bread of Life.

“Play Christianity pretends to look like Jesus — without doing the work of Jesus.”

Philippians 2:5–7 ESV

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

And what do we think real powerful Christianity is? Big, showy, miracles that prove the greatness of our faith. And our prayers are the same- ‘impress me Lord. Show me what you have. Give me my desires.’

It’s pretend Christianity. There a churches meeting today that have people on stage performing false miracles. There are churches that make up numbers and say “praise God”. There are Christians who desire leadership and giftings, but won’t repent of a single sin. There are some who would prefer the respect and title and power of a Christian, than the life of a Christian.

Pretend Christianity ( like a pretend kitchen) wants to look like Jesus, not to be like Jesus.

Blank: Pretend Christianity wants to look like Jesus, not to be like Jesus.

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.

So far we have gathered this:

Truly truly, I say to you - this means “listen closely”.

Whoever believes in me (anyone, with any amount of faith). Mustard seed or avocado seed- it doesn’t matter.

will also do the works that I do; what is Jesus’ work?

and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.

4. The Greater Works

Now we understand that anyone who believes in Jesus, will also do the works Jesus came to do. We understand Jesus didn’t come here with the mission of turning water into wine or to give Lazarus a few more years here on earth. Those were just signs proving who He was. No, He came here to save His sheep.

Every Christian in this sanctuary is here to do the works that Jesus does, and greater than that because “I am going”.

Remember this whole verse is in response to Peter’s question in John 13:36

John 13:36 ESV

36 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward.”

Let me say this plainly: Jesus isn’t saying, ‘I’m leaving, so now you get to do lots of miracles.’ He’s saying, ‘I’m going to the Cross, the resurrection, and the Father and because of that, you will do the works I came to do: sharing the eternal life promised through the death, burial and resurrection of the Son of God.

...and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father...

Does Jesus mean, “you’re going to do more than me, because I am out of here”?

No! Just look 6 verses later. John 14:18–19 “18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.”

Matthew 28:20 “20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.””

So, no- it’s not that Jesus is saying “I’m leaving” so now it’s your turn.

Speaking to disciples who followed Him for three years, Jesus looks them in the face and tells them

Whoever believes in Him will do greater works than you (apostles) have seen me do. Why? Because I’m going to the Father. How is He getting there? The road He takes to the Father is the Cross at Calvary.

“I’m going to do greater works? How, Jesus?” - “Because I am going to the Father.”

Through the CROSS- we are part of a better covenant. So much that the least in this new covenant are greater than the best of the previous.

SLIDE- Matthew 11:11 “11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”

Matthew 5:20 “20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

John 6:28–29 “28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.””

Again, if you are a flashy, showy, magic show Christian this answer will not satisfy you. If the fact of your salvation is not the most joyful, satisfying, sweetest dish you’ve ever been served, I can promise you will not enjoy a feast at His table.

Jesus says in John 17:2 His work is “to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.”

And Jesus says in John 6:29 our work is “that you believe in Him whom He has sent”

5. By what means?

John 14:13–14 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.

“This demonstrates that the contrast in v. 12 is not finally between Jesus’ works and his disciples’ works but between the works of Jesus that he himself performed during the days of his flesh, and the works that he performs through his disciples after his death and exaltation.”

What does this prayer mean?

It calls upon the credit and the power of Jesus.

The credit of Jesus-

It asks by the merit of the Cross, not our own

Romans 1:16 ESV

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Conclusion

Your work is a wonderful task. Peter, many years later, now understand what this means by the Spirit and writes to all believers:

1 Peter 2:9–10 ESV

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

How we do that is subject to your gifting and your obedience:

It may be that you need to go pray for healing for your neighbor. But as you pray for their healing, pray for something greater; their soul.

It may be that you need to give food to the needy. But as you give it, tell them about the bread that will make them never hunger again.

What is greater about those things? Jesus tells us plainly in today’s text.

The water Jesus turned into wine has been drunk. The fish and loaves have all been eaten. Even Lazarus who was raised from the grave, had a second funeral.

Before the Cross, every miracle and healing Jesus performed was temporary. But in going to the Cross, the work He performed was eternal.

When you and I work for and proclaim the Gospel, we are being used by Jesus to do greater works than everything we’ve read so far.

The work you are to do is the work your Lord came here to do. To share the news of the Gospel- John 17:2-4

John 17:2–4 ESV

2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.

Lets look at our verse to understand:

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.

But, before the Cross, His powers were only used to point to His own identity. At the "going" to the Father (via the Cross and resurrection), EVERY SINGLE ONE of Jesus' followers "if you believe" will perform greater works than He has demonstrated to them thus far. What is that work? Partaking in and sharing the Gospel.

Water to wine and healing blind men is good work- but the impact the gospel makes is salvation itself! That is far and away greater than the "spectacular" "Greater works" we are expecting.

“The salvation of a soul is the greatest miracle in the world. Creation was a great miracle, but it was accomplished by a word. Redemption cost Him His Son.” — C. H. Spurgeon, Sermon No. 1510, “The Greatest Gift in the Greatest Measure,” May 18, 1880.

Musicians please come to the platform

John 17:1–6 ESV

1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. 6 “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.