“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.” John 14:12
By the time I got situated with the twins on my lap in a congregation that was standing room only, I heard the ending of the church administrator’s address: “…and remember, Jesus didn’t need Twitter or Facebook to spread the gospel…” O_O
WHAT was this man talking about, and why? Apparently, I’d missed his directives to turn our cell phones off out of reverence. I proceeded to tweet updates to both Twitter and Facebook, sharing the word as impressed. At the end of the service, his snippet made more sense as he instructed the congregants to turn their cell phones back on.
“Ohhh,” I exclaimed, “that’s what he was talking about when I first sat down.” I shook my head, and shook my head, and shook my head some more. Yeah, Jesus didn’t have a Twitter or Facebook account, but aren’t we supposed to be doing GREATER WORKS? Why are we comparing ourselves to the technological limitations of old, when we have more opportunities, and thus, should be doing MORE? My mind definitely simplified his theory. After all, if Jesus didn’t have the internet, we shouldn’t be streaming sermons live, either, right? O_O
All jokes aside, I just think it’s supremely important for us to keep in mind how it’s possible for us to do greater works and the reason we’re to do so in the first place. I really can’t imagine doing things more powerful than Christ did when He walked the earth, but I know there’s more time, more people, more suffering; thus, we have greater opportunities. The reason we can do these greater works is the same reason Christ did, they weren’t His Works, they were the Father’s works. The purpose was for the Father’s glory and that others would believe, as Jesus said in John 14:10 & 11, “…the Father who dwells in me does His works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.” He proceeds to say in the following verses (12 & 13), “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”
The same sentiment is recorded in John 5:20, “For the Father loves the Son and shows Him all that He Himself is doing. And greater works than these will He show Him, so that you may marvel.” The Father loves us; He loves you. What’s best for you is that God be glorified, so out of His love for you, He will empower you to do greater works so that He can be glorified and others will believe. In verse 36, Jesus continues to remind us, “But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me.”
The reasons and methods are clear. We will do greater works for His glory and our good, and we will be able to do them because they are not our works to do, but the works of our Father who loves us.
adjustedsails 