Greater Works

Departure Dialogue

Decision for the Departure

Directionless Disciples

Thomas and Philip

Divine Discloser

Truly, Truly, I say to you

The New American Commentary: John 12–21 (1) Preparing for Both Loneliness and Ultimate Reality (14:1–3)

This preparation by Jesus is to be taken seriously because John pictures Jesus as here firmly asserting the point of his mission. And to make this point Jesus virtually uses a Jewish type of oath when he says “if it were not so, I would have told you.” Like God, Jesus needed no one else to support his assertions of truth, except to refer to himself.

he who believes in Me

the works that I do

he will do, also

and greater works than these will he do

It does not take a genius to imagine how many interpretations of this statement are possible. It should be noted at the outset, however, that “greater” can hardly here mean that believers will do more dramatic works than the raising of Lazarus (11:43–44), the changing of water to wine (2:7–11), the walking on the Sea of Galilee (6:19), the multiplying of loaves and fish (6:9–14), or any of the other amazing acts of Jesus.

Interpretation: The meaning of the statement must therefore arise out of the context of the discussion involving the fact that Jesus is speaking of his departure to the Father, namely, his death and resurrection. If that is the case, then, the basis for the “greater” is rooted in the expansive implications of Jesus’ mission in light of his “glorification” (cf. 17:1–2). Jesus’ departure is in effect the work of the “Lamb of God” in taking away the “sin of the world” (1:29) or the fact that he is the “Savior of the World” (4:42). Accordingly, his death and subsequent resurrection are to be seen as drawing all people to himself (12:32). But strategically this work would also require the work of those who believe because their task would be to communicate to the world the forgiveness of sins (20:23).

Application: The works founded upon the “going” of Jesus to the Father (14:12) can, therefore, only involve the post-Easter mission of the church. To gain some insight in this matter we turn briefly to Luke. In writing the introduction to his exciting Book of Acts, in which he details the powerful works involving the early Christians, Luke also reminds us of a similar crucial perspective. In the introduction to Acts he asserted that the “former book,” namely, the Gospel of Luke, detailed “all that Jesus began to do and teach” until his exaltation to heaven (Acts 1:1–2). The implication of the statement in Acts is not that Jesus ceased to work at that point but that Luke’s second volume implied that Jesus continued to work through the early Christians. Accordingly, when Peter heals Aeneus, Peter says, “Jesus Christ heals you” (Acts 9:34). Moreover, when the pre-Christian Saul/Paul is on the way to persecute the Christians in Damascus and he is struck blind, he hears the voice saying, “Why do you persecute me?” When he asks who the voice is, the reply comes, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” Saul was in fact persecuting Christians, but the voice identified the persecuted one as Jesus (Acts 9:1–5). The conclusion can only be that for Luke, Jesus was still active in mission; but although he was with God, he was now working in and through the church.

Acts 9:1–5 NASB95

Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting,

Acts 9:34 NASB95

Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; get up and make your bed.” Immediately he got up.

Acts 1:1–2 NASB95

The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen.

Because

I go to my Father

Borchert, G. L. (2002). John 12–21 (Vol. 25B, p. 116). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

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