Is it really possible for Christians to do greater works than Jesus?

Answer

In John 14:12, Jesus makes an astounding statement: “Truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father” (emphasis added). Jesus performed numerous remarkable works—such as raising the dead, walking on water, and feeding thousands—how is it possible that those who have faith in Him will accomplish “even greater” things than those?

By stating that those who believe in Him would carry out the works He did, Jesus was not implying that every Christian would walk on water and raise the dead. The apostles in the book of Acts performed some miracles that were akin to Jesus’ works, but even they did not walk on water or feed multitudes, as far as we know. The Holy Spirit bestows different gifts upon different individuals as He deems appropriate «Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. », (1 Corinthians 12:4). Not everyone possesses the same array of gifts. Some believers have more public gifts, while others have quieter, more private gifts.

Jesus mentioned that His followers would not only replicate His works but also perform “greater” works than He did. Once again, this does not imply that the works would be greater in power. Jesus had raised Lazarus, who had been in the tomb for four days (John 11); from a human perspective, not even the apostles accomplished a greater work than that. No one has ever surpassed the power or grandeur of Jesus’ miracles.

So, what did Jesus mean when He said that His faithful followers would carry out “greater” works than He did? Undoubtedly, the works of Jesus’ followers would be greater in scope. Jesus’ ministry on earth had been predominantly confined to Galilee and Judea; however, His disciples were going to expand His ministry to the farthest corners of the earth. When Jesus ascended to heaven, His followers would continue His work, spreading the Gospel to all nations.

Numbers numbered in the hundreds; forty days later, in response to the preaching of the apostles, that number leaped into the thousands «Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. », (Acts 2:41). By the end of Acts, the gospel had made its way to Rome.

Jesus links the works of His followers with the fact of His return to heaven. In fact, He says His absence is the cause of their greater works: “Whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father” «Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. », (John 14:12, emphasis added). Jesus later told His disciples that the gift of the Holy Spirit depended on Jesus’ return to heaven «Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. », (John 16:7). It was through the Spirit that the church is enabled to do the work of God.

Jesus also links the greater works His followers will do to the promise of answered prayer. His very next words: “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it” (John 14:13-14).

The words of Jesus in John 14 were of great comfort to His eleven disciples. He was about to be arrested and suffer a cruel and unjust death. The disciples themselves would be scattered that night. But Jesus ass

It assures them that, regardless of what happens, God’s work will persist in the world. Even after Jesus’ earthly ministry concluded, His work would endure. The disciples of Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit, would persist in aiding and restoring people. The gospel would make a global impact. As God’s followers pray in Jesus’ name, responses would arrive, and the most remarkable miracle of all—the spiritual metamorphosis of a sinful heart through faith in Christ—would become ordinary, to the glory of God.