GREATER THAN - JOHN 14: 12-14

John 14:12–14 (CSB)

12 “Truly I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do. And he will do even greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

BIG IDEA: BELIEVERS ARE ABLE TO DO “GREATER-THAN” BECAUSE OF THE POWER WITHIN!

WHENEVER I NEED TO BE MOTIVATED, I FIND MYSELF PRAYING OVER A SELECT SERIES OF VERSES...

TODAY’S VERSE IS ONE OF THOSE VERSES...

AS A CONTEXT, JESUS IS PREPARING FOR WHAT HE WAS SENT TO EARTH FOR - TO DIE!

HIS DEATH WILL INITIATE THE PATH FOR OUR RECONCILIATION WITH THE FATHER...

HIS DEATH WILL PAY THE RANSOM FOR OUR SIN INDEBTEDNESS...

HIS DEATH...

AND PART OF HIS PREPARATION IS TO PREPARE HIS DISCIPLES DIRECTLY AND US SECONDARILY...

JESUS IS STRETCHING ALL OF OUR FAITH AND OUR THINKING...

JESUS HAS TO SHOW US THAT IN ORDER FOR US TO EXPERIENCE ALL THAT WE NEED (SALVATION - ETERNAL SECURITY - FREEDOM), WE MUST SACRIFICE WHAT WE WANT (JESUS’ PHYSICAL PRESENCE)...

JESUS HAS TO GO THROUGH! AND THEN, JESUS HAS TO GO!

HIS DISCIPLES AND US CANNOT SEE THIS!

BELOVED, WE WANT WHAT WE WANT!

Y’ALL WON’T BELIEVE HOW I USED TO ACT AROUND CAKE BATTER! I MEAN, WHEN I HAD MY FIRST TASTE, I WAS HOOKED… GANNY WOULD LET ME “LICK-CLEAN” HER BOWLS AND SPOONS, BUT INEVITABLY I WANTED MORE…I WOULD WHINE, AS SHE TOOK THE CAKE BATTER AWAY, PLACE IT IN THE PAN, AND PREPARE IT FOR THE OVEN…I WAS TORN! I WANTED THAT BATTER...

I GREW TO LEARN THAT GANNY HAD TO KILL (I MEAN COOK THE BATTER), IN ORDER FOR ME TO HAVE A GREATER-THAN EXPERIENCE...

I HAD TO BID FAREWELL TO THE BATTER, BUT IT WOULD COME BACK IN A DIFFERENT FORM...

JESUS HAD TO GO THROUGH…AND JESUS HAD TO GO!

YES, HE WAS GOOD IN HIS CURRENT FORM, BUT HE WILL BE GREATER THAN - WHEN HE SENDS HIS HOLY SPIRIT!!! JESUS’ PHYSICAL ABSENCE MAKES WAY FOR HIS SPIRITUAL PRESENCE: VS. 18: I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU AS ORPHANS; I AM COMING TO YOU.

“OH COME EVERYONE TASTE AND SEE THAT THE LORD IS GOOD!”

JESUS NEEDS US TO STRETCH OUR FAITH AND OUR THINKING BEYOND OUR KNOWLEDGE TO EMBRACE A PROMISE AND PRINCIPLE THAT WE’VE NEVER CONSIDERED...

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN JOHN 14 (AND IN THE SUPPORTING CHAPTERS) IS THIS: JESUS IS EXPANDING THEIR (AND OUR) THINKING BY IMPARTING VISION!

Christian Standard Bible (Chapter 14)

2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may be also.

Christian Standard Bible (Chapter 14)

6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you know me, you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

Christian Standard Bible (Chapter 14)

11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Otherwise, believe because of the works themselves.

THINGS CHANGED WHEN JESUS CAME...

AHHH, JESUS CAME TO DISRUPT AND TO FULFILL...

HE CAME TO CONVICT AND TO COMFORT...

AND IN THESE FEW VERSES, WE SEE:

THE NECESSITY OF JESUS’ DEPARTURE…JESUS DIDN’T COME TO STAY - HE CAME TO DIE! JESUS HAD TO LEAVE IN ORDER FOR THE GOSPEL TO SPREAD - FOR THE CHURCH TO BE BIRTHED - FOR THE FATHER’S WILL TO BE FULFILLED...

THE UNITY BETWEEN JESUS AND THE FATHER...

Christian Standard Bible (Chapter 5)

18 This is why the Jews began trying all the more to kill him: Not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal to God.19 Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, the Son is not able to do anything on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son likewise does these things. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing, and he will show him greater works than these so that you will be amazed.

THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM/US TO DO GREATER THAN...

Christian Standard Bible (Chapter 14)

12 “Truly I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do. And he will do even greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.

WE WHO BELIEVE IN HIM

ARE FILLED WITH POWER FROM HIM

TO DO WORKS FOR HIM...

NOT GREATER-THAN IN TYPE, BUT GREATER IN REACH!

1000 Illustrations for Preaching & Teaching (Do It Again!)

Do It Again!

William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, is said to have been converted in Wesleyan Chapel, Nottingham, England. A plaque marks the site of his spiritual baptism. As a consequence, leaders of this noble army periodically journey to the Wesleyan Chapel, the shrine of their movement, in hopes of recapturing the spirit of their illustrious founder.One day, years ago, an elderly black man, dressed in the simple uniform of a street preacher, was found in the historic chapel. Not knowing the white minister’s attitude, he asked,“Can a man say his prayers in here?”“Of course you can.”Whereupon the humble man, dropping to his knees near the sacred spot, head erect and eyes closed, was heard to say: “Dear God, do it again!”