Greater Works by the Disciples (John 14:12-14)

We all know the significance that is given to last words uttered by people. This is the last message that Jesus spoke to his disciples, so obviously it contains matters that were of importance to him. As we look at these verses, two details catch our eyes. First, how can the works of disciples be greater than works done by Jesus? Second, if Jesus promises to give us what we ask, why do many believers not receive the things they ask for?

The description of a disciple

Jesus here gives a definition of what it means to be his disciple: a disciple is a person who believes in Jesus. What does this mean? It means that faith in Jesus is the identification mark of a Christian. This faith is made up of two features: correct knowledge about Jesus (who he is and what he has done), and complete dependence upon Jesus for salvation (Jesus only, not Jesus plus something). And it is accompanied by repentance for our sins.

The works of a disciple

Jesus then says that his disciples will do the works that he did, indeed they will perform greater works because Jesus is going to the Father. What did Jesus mean by works?

One suggested answer is that Jesus is referring to miracles. It is the case that the apostles performed notable miracles as described in the Book of Acts although it is doubtful that they could be called greater miracles than Jesus did. For example, the disciples did not feed large crowds with a small amount of food nor did they turn large urns of water into wine. Indeed, as far as we know, the miracles of the apostles seem to be linked to physical impact on another person’s body, whether in healing or in judgement. So it is unlikely that Jesus is referring exclusively to miracles, although no doubt they are included.

The fact is that Jesus did many kinds of works in addition to miracles. For example, he performed acts of compassion such as helping those in need; he also engaged in acts of humility such as washing his disciples’ feet. In order to understand what is meant here by ‘works’, we need to see how greater ones can be done.

The greatness of the works is connected to the pre-eminent place that will be occupied by Jesus. A clue to the meaning is found in John 5:20: ‘For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel.’ In that passage, one of the greater works that Jesus will perform is the role of Judge at the end of human history. The idea seems to be that Jesus, when he was on earth, did what the Father wanted him to do. When he would return to heaven, the Father would show him further activities to do.

This type of language speaks of Jesus as the Mediator. The role was given to him by the Father and involved him taking into union with his divine person a human nature. It is because he possesses a human nature, even in heaven today, that we can speak of Jesus as being continually informed about his activities.

The meaning seems to be this. When Jesus was on earth, his disciples shared in the work that he did. They did miracles similar to the miracles that Jesus did. The point that needs to be underlined is why Jesus did these miracles. The answer is that they proved he was the predicted Messiah and it was appropriate for his disciples to perform similar miracles. When Jesus will be in heaven, there will be a difference in that the disciples will do works in line with the purpose of the exalted Christ.

The purpose of the exalted Christ is to gather disciples to himself. Since that is his purpose, it is obvious that it will be the purpose of his disciples as well. So in what ways will this type of works be greater than the previous types of work?

One obvious answer to the question is that the number of disciples will be greater than they were before Jesus ascended. It is not clear how many genuine disciples Jesus had during his three years of public ministry. The largest figure that is given is the 500 who met on one occasion after he was risen from the dead. Even if we say that was half the number of disciples, it is still a small figure compared to the number that became disciples after the ascension of Jesus. Even at the beginning of the new era, on the Day of Pentecost, Peter’s preaching resulted in more sinners becoming disciples than had been known during the three years that they had been with Jesus.

A second answer to the question is that the message of the disciples after the exaltation of Christ was greater in the sense that it was presented in more clarity than before he died. We know that the disciples prior to the crucifixion did not believe that Jesus would die, so how could they present a clear message about his atoning death to others? Yet once Jesus was glorified they were able to present a coherent message about what had happened to Jesus, as we can see in Peter’s sermon on the Day of Pentecost.

The prayers of a disciple

Jesus then explains how their involvement in this great task will show itself and he mentions three ways. The first is answered prayer, the second is obedience, and the third is the presence of the Holy Spirit. These three details are the means by which greater works will be done. In this sermon, I will say something about prayer, and in the next sermons I will speak about the obedience that Jesus required and about the Holy Spirit that Jesus promised.

In verses 13 and 14, Jesus states that prayer is crucial for bringing about greater works. It is important to note that Jesus is not saying that he will give everything that we ask for. Some people think that if they say ‘in the name of Jesus’ loud enough and often enough, then God is duty bound to answer the request. That is not what it means to pray in the name of Jesus. What does it mean to pray in the name of Jesus?

First, such prayer realises who Jesus is and what he has done. It is aware that Jesus is the Saviour from sin, that he is the Saviour from my sin as far as I am concerned. Therefore to pray in the name of Jesus always involves the necessity of confession of sin. This is not merely a listing of wrongdoing as an attitude of heart. The believer knows that he is defiled by indwelling sin, therefore he prays penitently in the name of Jesus.

Second, such prayer realises where Jesus is, it confesses that he is exalted at the Father’s side. Inevitably, prayer offered through him will be submissive to his will, an expression of recognising his Lordship.

Thirdly, such prayer will be focussed on the ongoing honour of Jesus. This means that it will offer requests that have that purpose. It will not be selfish in its requests. Prayer is not a shopping list of my needs. I would suggest that the prayers here described by Jesus are connected to the greater works that he has given his church to perform, namely, the ingathering of disciples and instructing them in the faith. In this way, the Father is glorified.

Fourthly, to pray in the name of Jesus is to express dependence upon Jesus. We can imagine the surprise that the original disciples would have had on being told that they and other disciples would do greater works than Jesus did during his years of public ministry. How could they possibly do so? The answer to this concern is that only Jesus could enable them.

This means that prayer is an opportunity for his disciples to become sharers in his mission. Although they are separated from Jesus in a geographical sense, they are not detached from his mission because of that. What detaches them from his mission is a failure to pray. Apparently there are more people alive today than in all the previous centuries combined. This means that there are more people on earth today than there is in the combined total of those who are in heaven and in hell. It also means that by the end of this century the combined population of heaven and hell will double at least. It is impossible for us to reach all of them, but we know One who can, which is why we should pray.

Further, prayer is an opportunity for his disciples to become supplicants for the salvation of people, both for individuals and for the nations. They are to ask Jesus to bring sinners into his kingdom. Of course, their asking is not to be clinical and formal; rather it is to be passionate and heartfelt. This should be true of us as we think of the countless faces that inhabit the world. But it should be true in a sense as we think of those we know who are currently perishing.

In a sense, here we have part of Jesus’ strategy for mission. It involves his exaltation as the basis for it. It involves us as intercessors on behalf of others in order for them to be saved, and then to pray for them that they would mature. This is one of the great works to which Jesus has called his church. Is it a greater work to raise a person from the dead or to persevere in prayer until a spiritually-dead sinner becomes alive through the gospel? We know that the first work would get the crowd, but we also know that to engage in it is to lose sight of our high calling.

This is a reminder of the importance of the prayer meeting. What happens when people gather to pray? They are participating in the mission of Jesus to save sinners. There are effects of a prayer meeting that are more powerful than decisions taken by governments.