In modern times, among believers, there is an ever increasing number of arguments and teachings, according to which believers would be capable of doing qualitatively greater works than the Lord Jesus did. When we study this in regard to what the Bible in full says and witnesses about this topic, we can see that the disciples of the Lord Jesus are not capable of doing greater works, i.e. greater in power (the Holy Spirit) than what Jesus did. Instead, the word "greater" refers to powerful works that are done through the Holy Spirit and that are greater in number and done by a bigger number of people. Spend time in prayer and compare the present text to what the Bible teaches us.
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Can believers do greater works than Jesus did?
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Paul Cohen
Re: Can believers do greater works than Jesus did?
Petri, your premise is soundly refuted by the very words the Lord Jesus used:
"Truly, truly, I say to you, He who believes on Me, the works that I do he shall do also, and greater works than these he shall do, because I go to My Father" (John 14:12 MKJV).
Jesus didn't say THEY, referring to believers collectively doing a greater volume of works, but said that the ONE who believes on Him would do greater works.
And what work could be greater than physically raising the dead, or giving sight to the blind? Why, imparting the Holy Spirit to those who believe, as Ananias did with Saul, by the Lord's direction:
"And Ananias went and entered into the house. And putting his hands on him, he said, Brother Saul, the Lord, Jesus, Who appeared to you in the way in which you came, has sent me to you that you might see and be filled with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 9:17 MKJV).
To be born of the Spirit, a child of God, is the ultimate work of God and His holy purpose in Christ:
Hebrews 2:9-11 MKJV
(9) But we see Jesus, Who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor, that He by the grace of God should taste death for all.
(10) For it became Him, for Whom are all things and by Whom are all things, in bringing many sons into glory, to perfect the Captain of their salvation through sufferings.
(11) For both He Who sanctifies and they who are sanctified are all of One, for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brothers....
No one could receive the baptism in the Spirit until Jesus had been glorified:
John 7:37-39 MKJV
(37) And in the last day of the great feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.
(38) He who believes on Me, as the Scripture has said, "Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."
(39) (But He spoke this about the Spirit, which they who believed on Him should receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.)
That is the greatest work of all, which could only happen after Jesus went to His Father.
"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us" (2 Corinthians 4:7 MKJV).
"Truly, truly, I say to you, He who believes on Me, the works that I do he shall do also, and greater works than these he shall do, because I go to My Father" (John 14:12 MKJV).
Jesus didn't say THEY, referring to believers collectively doing a greater volume of works, but said that the ONE who believes on Him would do greater works.
And what work could be greater than physically raising the dead, or giving sight to the blind? Why, imparting the Holy Spirit to those who believe, as Ananias did with Saul, by the Lord's direction:
"And Ananias went and entered into the house. And putting his hands on him, he said, Brother Saul, the Lord, Jesus, Who appeared to you in the way in which you came, has sent me to you that you might see and be filled with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 9:17 MKJV).
To be born of the Spirit, a child of God, is the ultimate work of God and His holy purpose in Christ:
Hebrews 2:9-11 MKJV
(9) But we see Jesus, Who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor, that He by the grace of God should taste death for all.
(10) For it became Him, for Whom are all things and by Whom are all things, in bringing many sons into glory, to perfect the Captain of their salvation through sufferings.
(11) For both He Who sanctifies and they who are sanctified are all of One, for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brothers....
No one could receive the baptism in the Spirit until Jesus had been glorified:
John 7:37-39 MKJV
(37) And in the last day of the great feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.
(38) He who believes on Me, as the Scripture has said, "Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."
(39) (But He spoke this about the Spirit, which they who believed on Him should receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.)
That is the greatest work of all, which could only happen after Jesus went to His Father.
"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us" (2 Corinthians 4:7 MKJV).