Doing Greater Things

⁹ Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? ¹⁰ Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. ¹¹ Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. ¹² Very truly I tell 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. ¹³ And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son (John 14:9-13 NIV).

Good morning, friends. There are many things in the Bible that can be difficult to wrap your head around. This week, I am pondering Jesus’ statement that we who believe in God, the Father, will do greater things. When I was younger, my mind conjured up raising people from the dead, miraculous and instant healings, or inviting people to follow and having them drop everything to follow. With this as the list, doing greater things than Jesus seems impossible. The change in my understanding began with earlier cues in the reading.

In verse 10, Jesus talks about the source of his authority and what we as Christians experience when we allow God to work through us. This is evidence of God’s grace as seen through healings. If the “greater things” are not based in healings the way Jesus did them, or raising the dead what are “the greater things” are we going to do? I have some ideas about that and invite your comments in response.

The first “greater thing” is geographic reach. The area of Jesus’ ministry was small, geographically about 3125 miles. Paul’s estimated reach was 15,000 miles. Most places on Earth have experienced either the negative or positive reach of Christians. The second “greater thing” is the size of the body of Christ. Jesus started with 12 disciples. By the first century, Acts reports there were at least 8,000 at Pentecost. This number is disputed. 

There are reportedly 2.63 billion Christians worldwide in 2026. A third “greater thing” is the blessings that have been made possible because of God’s people. The number of people who have been fed, housed, clothed, and freed cannot be calculated. 

Lastly, we move beyond focusing on the evidence our physical ears and eyes can grasp to seeing our evidence as the effects of the works (verse 11). The effect of physical healing is that people are not only made whole physically but are also restored to their families and communities. The effects of the healings that occurred through Jesus’ forgiveness not only made bodies healthy but also restored the healed spiritually. We can always participate in working toward the Shalom of all with whom we come into contact. When we can’t do the hands-on work, we can provide Shalom by uniting our work and resources with those who can.

The conclusion is clear. We are practicing greater things. I am not saying that everything Christians or the Christian church has been positive or Godly, but I am saying that when we live as Jesus did, allowing God to work in and through us, our reach is expansive. What we give as children of God is always amplified and multiplied when we do everything, we do it to the glory of God and in the name of Jesus. So, get out there, whether in body or in spirit. Empowered and equipped by God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and united as the Body of Christ, we are unstoppable. 

Thanks be to God.