This passage in John 14 is packed with some incredible truth, we have to see and understand what is going on. To start, we see one of my favorite verses, which is also a great verse to use when sharing the gospel. John 14:6 "Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Jesus lets us in on a very important truth. He is the only way we can get to the Father. There is no other way, than through him. We then get to see a conversation where the disciples want to see the Father, but Jesus goes on to explain they have already seen the Father in him. We get to see Jesus explain that the Father is in him. "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. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me" What incredible truth we get to see and understand here with Jesus and the Father!
As the conversation continues, Jesus begins to say that we will do greater things than what he has done. "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." This may seem confusing at first. How can I perform the miracles that Jesus was performing? Am I supposed to walk on water? Am I supposed to be healing the sick and lame? Can I turn water into wine? Can I raise someone from the dead? That's not what Jesus is saying here. Instead, we need to look at this from a different angle. We can see a few things that Jesus tells us here.
All believers get to carry on what Jesus is doing. This isn't a promise that is made just to the apostles, but to all believers. You don't have to be a pastor, elder, missionary, veteran Christian, etc. to be a part of carrying on the work of Jesus. The text says anyone who believes in Jesus. We all get to be a part of what Jesus was doing, how cool is that?! We aren't all going to walk on water, but we all get to be a part of the good news going forward. We are to point people to Jesus in our lives in everything we do and say. We are called to be a light to the world and show him to all. We are called to share who Jesus is and his good news.
Before Jesus, they looked in anticipation of the Messiah that was coming. We are in a place now where we know exactly who Jesus is and what he has done for our salvation. Just like the disciples, Jesus has given us the call to go to the world and to spread the good news. Jesus also said that we would be given the gift of the Holy Spirit, which would be even better than having him with us. We get to be the messengers of God to the world. We might not perform these great miracles that Jesus did, but we have been entrusted with the Holy Spirit and the call to go to the world and to share the good news. Jesus came to offer salvation to all people. His miracles showed who he was, but the ultimate mission was salvation from sin. Jesus now looks to us to share this message which is even greater than an earthly miracle. It is the gift of salvation that is offered to all people, and Jesus wants us to share it!
As the conversation continues, Jesus begins to say that we will do greater things than what he has done. "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." This may seem confusing at first. How can I perform the miracles that Jesus was performing? Am I supposed to walk on water? Am I supposed to be healing the sick and lame? Can I turn water into wine? Can I raise someone from the dead? That's not what Jesus is saying here. Instead, we need to look at this from a different angle. We can see a few things that Jesus tells us here.
All believers get to carry on what Jesus is doing. This isn't a promise that is made just to the apostles, but to all believers. You don't have to be a pastor, elder, missionary, veteran Christian, etc. to be a part of carrying on the work of Jesus. The text says anyone who believes in Jesus. We all get to be a part of what Jesus was doing, how cool is that?! We aren't all going to walk on water, but we all get to be a part of the good news going forward. We are to point people to Jesus in our lives in everything we do and say. We are called to be a light to the world and show him to all. We are called to share who Jesus is and his good news.
Before Jesus, they looked in anticipation of the Messiah that was coming. We are in a place now where we know exactly who Jesus is and what he has done for our salvation. Just like the disciples, Jesus has given us the call to go to the world and to spread the good news. Jesus also said that we would be given the gift of the Holy Spirit, which would be even better than having him with us. We get to be the messengers of God to the world. We might not perform these great miracles that Jesus did, but we have been entrusted with the Holy Spirit and the call to go to the world and to share the good news. Jesus came to offer salvation to all people. His miracles showed who he was, but the ultimate mission was salvation from sin. Jesus now looks to us to share this message which is even greater than an earthly miracle. It is the gift of salvation that is offered to all people, and Jesus wants us to share it!