Greater Works Than These Shall You Do Devotion #8 of 13

"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).

MIRACLES ARE NOT THE POINT!

The point of Christ's promise is not the working of miracles. Those so interpreting the text forget that miracles did not begin with Jesus. Sarah, Rebekah, and Rachel conceived miraculously, as well as Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist. Moses made bitter waters sweet with a tree. Balaam's ass spoke to him with remarkable clarity. Elijah was fed by ravens. A widow sustained herself, her son, and Elijah during a lengthy famine, with a handful of meal and a small cruse of oil. Both Elijah and Elisha raised the dead. Naaman was cured of leprosy. A dead man came to life again when thrown into a pit where Elisha's bones resided. Daniel survived a lion's den, and the three Hebrew children walked out of a furnace of fire. On and on we could go. No serious student of Scripture is unaware of the many miracles wrought throughout the ages BEFORE Jesus dwelt among us in the flesh. Nor is this devotion a diatribe against miracles.

Contemporary Works Not Unique

No contemporary professed miracle worker, regardless of acclaimed achievements, has approximated the above miracles, wrought BEFORE Christ. In fact, some of the wonders passed off as miracles today would look strange, were they along side these mighty deeds. The Egyptian plagues, parting of the Red Sea, and forty years of miraculous manna would look out of place mentioned in the same breath with many of the happenings of our time. Let no one suppose this is a denial of the workings of God among us. I am calling for an appraisal of Christ's words, not a critique of what God has done in your life or those about you. God still works transcendantly to nature. There are still Divine interventions in the affairs of men. God has not declared a cessation of such things, and neither do I. However, if "greater works" are greater miracles, there should be adequate evidence that new wonders have been done that would catch the attention of Moses and Elijah--both prodigious miracle workers--not to mention the thousands that witnessed Christ's great miracles. Our blessed Lord is announcing "works" of a HIGHER ORDER. They would be impressive even to angels, who have witnessed the mighty acts of God throughout history, from the creation until this present time. If men today boast of having diverted a storm, Joshua can boast of having commanded the sun to stand still for a day (Josh 10:12-13). If one boasts of having located something hidden or lost, Elisha can boast of making an ax head swim (2 Kgs 6:5). If people boast of having prayed for rain and received it, Elijah can boast of praying it would not rain, and again praying that it would, 3-1/2 years later--with both prayers being answered (James 5:17). WHEN IT COMES TO THE MIRACULOUS, IT IS NO HARDER TO CREATE A WORLD THAN TO MAKE A FLY. Both lie outside the realm of human or natural capacity. According to appearance, many miracles are less impressive than some wrought thousands of years ago. The days of the 100%-success-ratio are not with us. During the plague of darkness in Egypt, ALL of the Israelites had light, and none had darkness (Ex 10:23). When Israel wandered in the wilderness NONE of their feet swelled, and NONE of their clothes grew old (Neh 9:21). When great multiudes followed Jesus, there was a time when He "healed them ALL" (Matt 12:15). On one occasion, it is written, "a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases, and they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed." Of that occasion, it is said, "And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them ALL" (Luke 6:19). Let the person presumptuous enough to say they have worked greater miracles than that step forth. Who is there that is foolish enough to affirm God has, through them, worked greater visual wonders than these very few I have mentioned. NO! The point of our Lord's words is not the working of miracles, signs, or wonders. That ought to be apparent. It also ought to be apparent this does not constitute a denial of the miraculous, or of Divine intervention in the affairs of men.

-- TOMORROW: THE WORKS OF JESUS --