Greater Works
Written by Ps Zheng Haoren
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.” John 14:12
In the passage of John 14:1-14, Jesus exhorts His disciples to “believe” in Him and in the Father five times, “or else believe on account of the works themselves (14:11b).” That is, if one finds it hard to believe in Jesus or God the Father, look at the evidence of Jesus’ miracles, teachings, life, and ministry – and believe in Jesus, the Son of God!
And Jesus promises that whoever believes in Him will do greater works because of the power of the Holy Spirit who would be sent after Jesus ascends to the Father (14:16; 16:7-11). So, what are these greater works that believers will do?
Since Pentecost, the Gospel has gone out from Jerusalem to almost every part of the earth and has changed lives from generation to generation. These are the greater works believers have done – the worldwide outreach by the unstoppable Gospel which has resulted in the transformation of individual lives and even of whole cultures and societies.
Will we be able to continue these greater works during and after the current COVID-19 pandemic? Changes ahead are anticipated for schools, families, workplaces, economic activities, worship institutions, social settings, leisure pursuits, and recreation facilities. International relations and trade are also set for somewhat radical shifts.
Will student activities ever be the same again? Will team sports resume in their pre-COVID forms? Will we be able to gather for 10-course dinners to celebrate weddings, birthdays, and special anniversaries? How will international travel look like? If there is going to be entry quarantine upon arrival and mandatory leave of absence upon return to one’s home country, then it looks very bleak for tourism and short-term ministry trips. And what about businesses and employment?
Wow, the list goes on! And these plausible questions are further complicated by very strained and delicate relationships between countries, not to mention the current widespread protests across nations against racism and injustice. With such distressing prospects, can the greater works commanded by our Lord be continued? The answer is “Yes”! For when the Lord promises, He will make a way – that is a certainty! A time like this is a test of our faith. It calls for earnest, relentless prayer and greater solidarity among believers everywhere. For together as a united body of Christ, with Jesus as the Head, and the Holy Spirit enabling us, we will surely do greater works!
