Download 058 John 14v12 Greater Works Than Jesus

Presentation 58
Presentation 58
Introduction
It is unlikely that someone would offer you a billion
pounds but can you imagine how breathlessly
overwhelmed you might be? Yet that pales into
insignificance in comparison with the reaction that
should be ours at the great promise of Jesus in v12.
Jesus has been attempting to comfort his anxious
disciples, for they were distressed at the
announcement that he was going away from them.
How could they possibly contemplate doing
kingdom work without Jesus being present to do
the important, demanding and difficult things?
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Introduction
Would Jesus’ followers be incapable of functioning if he were not around?
Would they be powerless and ineffective? Jesus says, "I tell you the truth,
anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even
greater things than these, because I am going to the Father."
That seems totally incredible. Jesus had healed the sick,
calmed a troubled sea, fed thousands with very little,
and raised the dead.
Surely these were truly
remarkable miracles. How
then could Jesus say, “anyone
who has faith in me will do
what I have been doing. He will
do even greater things than these”?
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What Kind of Works
What is Jesus talking about? What are these ‘greater
works’? Does he mean the kind of miracles that John
has recorded in his gospel or does he mean
something quite different? And if it is something else
what could it possibly be? God does not look at
things as we do and therefore, he certainly does not
share our view of what constitutes ‘greatness’.
Why, for instance, should the physical miracle of
raising someone from the dead be considered
"greater" than something less immediately apparent?
Why should we limit our thinking to this sort of thing
as we enquire into Jesus’ meaning?
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What Kind of Works
We find a clue that helps answer our question in Jesus' response to the
disciples after they had returned from their first mission without their Master.
Luke tells us that they returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons
submit to us in your name." Lk. 10 v 17. They were thrilled that they had been
able to cast out devils. Indeed, they had also healed others in Jesus’ name. But
Jesus replied, "do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that
your names are written in heaven." v20.
Here Jesus explicitly weighed the
value of the physically observable
miracles over against that which is
not immediately apparent - access
into the kingdom of God.
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What Kind of Works
Indeed, Jesus taught that many were going to be surprised on the day of
judgement to discover they were denied entry into the kingdom even though
they had ‘driven out demons and performed many miracles’ in his name.
Matt.7.22. This emphasis is borne out in the Acts of the Apostles, where few
healing miracles are recorded in comparison with its clear emphasis
upon the mighty works of conversion.
After three-and-a-half years of ministry, Jesus had
left behind a fairly small group of about five
hundred committed followers. But on the day
of Pentecost after the ascended Jesus had
given the coronation gift of his Spirit to his
followers what happened…?
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What Kind of Works
They preached a crucified and risen Christ, and three thousand believed!
More in one day than in all the three-and-a-half years of our Lord's ministry. .
Three hundred years later, nearly all the heathen temples in the Roman
Empire were closed. Those who professed faith in Christ were numbered in
millions. These were the ‘greater works’, referred
to by Jesus.
Nor does Jesus’ promise only apply to those first
disciples? Note Jesus words, "anyone who has
faith in me." We wont all be great evangelists
but a simple testimony that leads to the
conversion of any, is greater in the Lord's
sight, than many physical miracles.
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The Conditions
Yes this thrilling promise, applies to every believer! Greater works than Jesus!
Yet, we must not get carried away; a close examination of the text makes it
clear that there are conditions attached to enjoying Christ's promise.
First, we must have faith in Jesus. Do you believe on Jesus? I do not mean, "Do
you believe that he existed?" or even “Do you believe that he the Son of God
and this world's Saviour?” But, have you trusted in Jesus as Saviour from your
sin. Is he your Lord? Is the desire of your heart to follow Him?
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The Conditions
Secondly, we must pray. This is the first of three
additional themes discussed in the next verses all of
which are important. The verses on prayer are
themselves a great promise. "And I will do whatever
you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory
to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my
name, and I will do it." v13-14.
Obviously, praying is a prerequisite to these mighty
works. We are to ask Jesus for the works if we
would see them. Unfortunately, many of us are like
those spoken of in James, who, we are told, "have
not, because [they] ask not" Jas. 4v2.
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The Conditions
Do you ask God specifically to see those you know and for whom you are
concerned converted? I do not mean, do you pray generally? But do you
pray specifically and expect God to answer you?
A minister was approached by the mother
of the most difficult boy he had ever known.
She said, "You know he is not a very
good boy."
"Yes," he answered, knowing that the
mother found it difficult to say that he
was in fact the ‘terror of the
neighbourhood.’
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The Conditions
The mother asked, "What shall I do?"
He replied, "Have you ever tried prayer?"
"Why," she said, "of course I pray."
"No," he replied, "I don't mean that. I mean have
you ever asked God definitely to make your Son
spiritually alive thus transforming his life and have
you expected Him to do it?"
"I do not think I have ever been as definite as that,“
she said.
"Well," he replied, "you go right home and be as
definite as that." The woman did go home and
prayed in the manner suggested and within the
week her son was amazingly transformed.
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The Conditions
Now in every case the prayer we make may not have such an immediate and
striking effect. On the other hand, we can believe that any prayer that is truly
inspired by Christ and made in the name of Christ will be answered.
The point, however, is not in the time God chooses to take in answering our
prayers, but simply that we are to pray. The "greater works" are for those who,
first, have believed on Christ, and who secondly, pray.
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The Conditions
Thirdly, these works are for those whose lives are marked by a love for Christ
that is expressed in obedience. "If you love me, keep my commandments" v 15.
These two things go together a love for Christ and the keeping of his
commandments - and it is clear why this is so.
Thomas Hale a medical missionary worked in Nepal. He lived in a remote
village a hundred miles from Kathmandu caring for about 20,000 patients
annually. On furlough he showed slides of his work to local churches, including
beautiful panoramas of the Hindu Kush.
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The Conditions
At the close of the slide presentation he would say, "Those are beautiful views,
but you must remember that they are taken during the mere 10% of the time
when the mountains are not covered by clouds. Nor do they show the cold,
poverty, dirt or disease. Beauty like that will take you to
Nepal. But only love for Christ and obedience to His
command to evangelise will keep you there."
He was right. If we are to do great works for Christ,
we must have a fervent love for Christ; and we
must determine to keep His commandments.
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The Conditions
Finally, Jesus says we must be empowered by his Holy Spirit, “I will ask the
Father, and he will give you another Counsellor to be with you forever - the
Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor
knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you” v16-17
The presence of Christ's Spirit is involved –
in all we have been speaking of previously,
for we cannot believe without the Spirit,
we cannot pray without the Spirit and
we cannot love or obey without the Spirit.
His involvement is absolutely crucial.
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The Conditions
It is the presence and activity of the Holy Spirit that explains the quite
remarkable growth of the early church. The apostle Paul was in Thessalonica
for just three weeks. In that short space of time a little church sprang up. Paul
explains the success of this brief visit in the following terms:
“we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God,
which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men,
but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work
in you who believe”, 1Thes 2.13.
And what we must not lose sight of is
that it was the Holy Spirit who equipped
the preacher and who prepared the
hearts of the hearers to respond.
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Conclusion
Many Christians need to hear Jesus say, “I know that you are often
discouraged and that the world seems harsh and unresponsive to the gospel.
But I have ascended to the right hand of my Father. All authority in heaven and
earth has been given to me and on this basis, I send you out as my disciples.
When I was on earth, I performed a few
very small works: I healed the sick, fed the
Hungry and raised the dead. Finally, and
significantly, I poured out my life for you.
Now I am the risen Lord, and it is my pleasure
to do greater works than those miracles I have
mentioned. I want to do them through you.
I have promised to draw many people to
myself as the gospel is preached”.
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Conclusion
How do we respond to such a commission today? Do not say, "Well, that is
nice; but, of course, the Lord doesn't really mean it. There is nothing I can do."
Rather say, “Although I am a very ordinary
Christian yet by the extraordinary grace
of God I will communicate to others,
through both word and life the glorious
truths that have been entrusted to me”
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