Greater Works Than These Shall You Do Devotion #11 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)

"GREATER WORKS" DEMONSTRATED

Our vision is expanded in Christ. We see God differently. The world looks different. We see "works" in a new and invigorating way. Concepts are expanding, being brought into harmony with heaven. Think of these three ways in which "greater works" take place.

In Commission

Our Savior's commission is arresting. There has never been a commission like it before. "Make disciples," "baptize them," and "teach them to observe" (Matt. 28:18-20). Before the Law, there is no record of such amazing effects. No one under the Law was ever able to achieve such results. These are some of the "greater works" that Jesus promised. Christ's commission to Paul carries the matter even further. "I have appeared to you, to appoint you a minister . . . to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, in order that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me" (Acts 26:16-18). Let it be clear: opening men's spiritual eyes is a "greater work" than opening physically blinded eyes. These two works are not in the same dimension. One is in a temporal zone, and the other in an eternal one. For clarification, this does NOT constitue a denial of Divine working in the temporal realm.

In Personal Achievements

The weapons of our warfare are "not carnal, but mighty through God." They are "greater" weapons, capable of bringing down strongholds of thought and destroying seemingly impregnable arguments ( 2 Cor. 10:5ff). In other words, "greater works" involve the changing of men's minds; altering their view, lifting their vision, and enabling them see things that are invisible. That is a "greater work." Think of the "greater work" of cross bearing. In answer to the Lord's summons, the individual can pick up his cross every day and follow Jesus (Lk. 9:23). Such are able to withstand the rejection of men in preference for the honor of God. Persecution cannot dissuade them. Cast out their name as evil, and it will not impede them. They are able to bare the repercussions of their faith without murmuring, and without being unduly discouraged. That is a greater work.

In Public Results

The "greater works" of our text yielded unparalleled results. While 3,000 died at the giving of the Law (Ex. 32:28), 3,000 were brought back from death in trespasses and sins at the preaching of the Gospel (Acts 2:41). From an external point of view, Sinai was much more impressive than Jerusalem at Pentecost. Those impressed by the seen would be more in awe when the Law was given. It was more sensual, more visual, more apparent. Yet what happened at Jerualem was infinitely "greater." Who would dare to compare a shaking, smoking mountain with a confident proclaimer of the Gospel? The accomplishments of the latter dwarfed the accomplishments of the former. Following the healing of the lame man at the gate called Beautiful, 5,000 men believed the Gospel (Acts 4:4). Which was the "greater work"? Remember, the first two groups of converts came from the very community that rejected and murdered Jesus. If you could ask Moses of the greatness of such a work, he would tell you it was transcendent to anything he did. Surely you can see this truth.

Saving people

You have probably heard someone say, "I cannot save anyone." It certainly sounds good--even a bit humble. But it is not true. The Word of God is too clear on this point to deny what it says. "For how do you know, O wife, whether you will SAVE your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will SAVE your wife?" (1 Cor. 7:16). "To the weak I became weak, that I might WIN the weak; I have become all things to all men, that I may by all means SAVE some" (1 Cor. 9:22). "Let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will SAVE his soul from death, and will cover a multitude of sins" (James 5:20). "If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask and God will for him GIVE LIFE to those who commit sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death; I do not say that he should make request for this" (1 John 5:16). These texts are in the Bible, and need to be taken seriously. They speak of some of the "greater works" that Jesus promised. Noah, Abraham, Moses, and all the holy prophets could not boast of such works!

We Wrestle Against Superior Forces

In Christ, we engage forces no human could face before. The spiritual opponents that we now wrestle once engaged and hindered angelic hosts. One mighty angel fought a single spiritual prince for 21 days (Dan. 10:13ff). Now, we are informed, we engage these very forces. "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Eph. 6:12). Truly, these are "greater works." -- TOMORROW: Final Installment in this series, BECAUSE I GO TO THE FATHER --