Christ's Works Were Great, But What He Will Do Through Us in Unity Will Be Greater
When Jesus spoke of greater works in John 14:12, He made a profound statement: *“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.”* For many years, this verse has been interpreted as a call for individual believers to perform miracles greater than what Christ did. It’s often been misunderstood as a challenge for believers to outdo the works of Christ, leading to the misconception that we, as individuals, should strive to do greater works than Jesus Himself. However, when we understand the full context of this scripture, we can see that Christ wasn’t merely talking about individual greatness, but rather a greater collective effort that would come as a result of His ascension to the Father.
The One-Man Show Misconception
If we look closely at the scripture, we notice that Jesus says, *“He that believeth on me…”* not *“they” that believe*. This has often been interpreted to mean that each individual believer could perform greater works, in the same manner that Christ performed miracles during His earthly ministry. The focus shifted to the idea that each believer, through their faith, could do what Jesus did, and even surpass His works. This is where the "one-man show" mentality originated—a belief that one person, by sheer faith, could accomplish great things, without fully recognizing the collective nature of Christ’s message.
But Jesus didn’t stop there. He continued, *“because I go unto my Father.”* This part is key to understanding what He meant by greater works. Jesus' ministry was only three and a half years long. He was limited in the scope of His earthly ministry due to His physical presence, but after He ascended to the Father, the Holy Spirit would be sent to dwell in believers, multiplying the reach and effectiveness of His ministry through each person who believes in Him. The "greater works" Jesus referred to aren’t about an individual outperforming His own miracles; it’s about the many believers, empowered by the Holy Spirit, collectively doing more of the same works He did, in greater measure.
The Greater Works: Collective Effort
Imagine a relay race. One runner passes the baton to the next, and the team works together to achieve the goal. The first runner might have been fast, but it's the collective effort that determines the outcome. In the same way, Christ’s earthly ministry was just the beginning. The baton has now been passed to us, the body of Christ, and as we work together in unity, empowered by the Holy Spirit, we will see greater works—not because we are more powerful individually, but because we are working together, and more of us are now part of the race.
After Christ ascended, He sent the Holy Spirit to equip and empower believers to do the works He began. It’s no longer limited to one person; it’s a body of believers, united in purpose, doing the same works that Jesus did. As the body of Christ, we work together as His hands, feet, and mouthpiece in the world.
Unity in the Body of Christ: More Time, More Workers
Think of a workforce. If only one person is working on a project, progress will be slow, but when more people are involved, the work expands exponentially. Jesus' ministry was limited to the few years He walked the earth, but through His ascension to the Father, and the giving of the Holy Spirit, we, as believers, are now able to continue His work. What Jesus did in three and a half years, we now have the ability to continue and expand upon for as long as the Church remains on earth.
As Jesus said, *“because I go to my Father,”* His departure meant the arrival of the Holy Spirit, who empowers every believer to carry out the mission of Christ. This is why the greater works come not from individuals acting alone, but from the collective power of the Church, working together in unity to spread the gospel, heal the sick, cast out demons, and bring people to Christ.
The Harvest Is Plentiful, But the Laborers Are Few
In Matthew 9:37, Jesus says, *“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.”* When Christ left the earth, He didn’t leave us to fend for ourselves. Instead, He empowered us, as His body, to continue His mission. The greater works are not about doing what Christ did in His individual ministry, but about expanding His reach through the unity of the body of believers. Just as a field cannot be harvested by a single farmer alone, so too the work of the gospel cannot be fully realized by one individual. The more laborers—believers—united in faith and purpose, the greater the harvest will be.
A Prayer for Unity and Greater Works
Heavenly Father, thank You for the incredible works that Jesus did during His time on earth. We are humbled by His miracles, His compassion, and His sacrifice. But we also recognize, Lord, that the greater works He spoke of are not for one person to do alone, but for the entire body of believers, united in purpose and empowered by Your Holy Spirit. Help us to walk in unity, to work together to spread the love, presence, and power of Jesus to every corner of the earth. We ask that You fill us with boldness and compassion, and that through our collective efforts, Your kingdom may come, and Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Conclusion
The greater works Jesus spoke of aren’t about individual accomplishments but about the power of unity in the body of Christ. As we come together, empowered by the Holy Spirit, the work of Christ continues and multiplies in ways that surpass anything He did alone. The greater works are about the collective impact we can have when we are unified in faith and purpose, working together to advance God’s kingdom on earth.
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