Row upon row: From one seed, how many kernels does the average ear of corn contain? About 800, but some can go as high as 1000. That’s a 100,000% return!
It wouldn’t have looked like much to a casual glance. Twelve men (one had gone out into the dark) had been gathered for a simple meal. Eleven of them seemed uncertain, perhaps frightened by the dramatic turn of events. After three years of field training under His inspiring example and masterly teaching, they had heard their Leader just announce that He was going away. They had seen Him do things that not only amazed the crowds who observed them; people are still talking about what He did! Now, on this momentous evening, He has a few remaining lessons to pass on to them.
No need to be afraid, He said. Trust Me (Jn. 14:1) just as you have trusted God, My Father. We’re all headed home to the Father’s House, and I’m going on ahead to prepare the way. You can be sure that if I go away, I’ll return at just the right time for the rest of you. I want you to be with Me forever.
Then, after answering a few questions from His flabbergasted followers, the Master said this:
Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves. Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son (Jn. 14:10-13, nkjv).
And then, just in case they (and we) might miss the impact of the final statement, He added: “If you ask anything in My name, I will do it” (v. 14). What did it all mean to them in the 1st century…and to us in the 21st?
GREATER WORKS THAN THESE?
I suggest that it means this: the Father and Son had worked together during Christ’s incarnation, and the miracles He did were evidence that the Father was in the Son doing those works. But more, the project was not over. Christ was the foundation to a continuing series of great works that would be done through people like Peter and John, and you and me, if we believe Him (note: the believer will do the works). In fact—could it be true?—the works done by His church would actually be greater than the miracles which He had done!
Obviously the great work before us will not be accomplished by chronic doubters, idle critics, nay-sayers, crepe-hangers or quitters and their ilk—unless they are willing to be converted! Such words as our Saviour speaks can only be embraced by those souls who believe that God is still on the throne, the Spirit is still actively at work in North America, Christ is still building His church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
When invited to another round of debates on the wisdom and feasibility of rebuilding Jerusalem—and won’t some people be offended if you do?—Nehemiah responded, “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?” (Neh. 6:3). Right on, Nehemiah.
Is it true that God’s people can do greater works than the Saviour’s miracles? Of course the works done by the people of God through the 20 centuries since have been greater numerically. They have been greater ethnically and geographically, too. Jesus’ works were done basically in one small country to a few Middle Eastern tribes. But more than that—and surely this is the Master’s meaning—the nature of the works would be greater. He had, on occasion, provided physical bread for hungry stomachs; we have the honor of dispensing life-giving bread for hungry souls. The blind received their sight at His touch; we sit by a sin-darkened person with an open Bible. At last we hear them exclaim, “I see it!” and heavenly light floods into their minds. Christ spoke the word that brought Lazarus from his tomb, but we watch with amazement as those “dead in trespasses” receive life from above, becoming alive forever before our eyes. (I’m trying to control my use of the ! key.)
ASK ANYTHING IN HIS NAME, AND HE WILL DO IT!
Behind the Lord’s words that night there is another vital truth. How did He do His works? He says, “The Father who dwells in Me does the works.” And so it would be with all who would do the “greater works” of which He spoke. It would be God working in and through His people that would produce such works. So we read of the early believers: “And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them…” (Mk. 16:20).
The book of Acts begins to record some of the greater works done in the early day of the church. “And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all” (4:33). “And great fear came upon all the church…” (5:11). “And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith” (6:7). “…And at that time there was a great persecution against the church…” (8:1). “And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed” (11:21). “…a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed” (14:1). “And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren” (15:3). It seems that everything was great in those days—great power and grace, great reverence and persecution, great blessing and joy. Isn’t that great!
So here we are 2000 years later. Has the human need changed? Has the power of the gospel changed? Has God changed? Has the Saviour’s promise—If you ask anything in My name, I will do it”—changed? No, they are still all great. Then what has changed—and needs to be changed back in a hurry? I would suggest it may be the persons who stare back at us in the mirror each morning. Here are some test questions to ask ourselves:
1. Do I believe that the gospel is the greatest power in the world, greater than anything the enemy has?
2. Am I asking for some great things in Christ’s name, confident that He will do them?
3. Is one of those great things a request each day that the Lord would use me to point someone to Christ?
4. Do I think it strange that God is “calling” so many young Christians into high-paying professions and so few into some great work for Him as pioneer evangelists, foreign-field missionaries and the like?
5. Do I expect the Lord to come any day, and want to be found doing great things for Him at that moment?
What is our motivation for change, for getting out of our recliners or neglecting our gardens or doing something better than another week in suspended animation at the cottage? Why should we be trying fresh ways to get out the gospel, or laying down our lives for the brethren, causing ourselves major discomfort in the process? Apart from the fact that souls are exiting time for eternity at the rate of 153,000 per day, let the Lord Jesus answer the question: “And whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, the Father may be glorified in the Son” (Jn. 14:13). That’s one really great reason, don’t you think?