Primary Text: John 14:12-14
Supporting Text: Mat. 13:58; Mat. 17:20; Mat. 21:18-22;Ro. 4:20; He. 3:12; 19; 4:6; Lu. 11:9-13; 1 Jn. 5:14-15
The works Christ did on earth were a proof and evidence of the truth of His claims. They were works worthy of the Son of God, not only because they were works of mercy and love, but also of superhuman power. They did contribute to manifest forth His glory. They were, at the founding of His Church, a necessary link in the chain of testimony which pointed to Him as the promised Messiah and the Son of God. The remembrance of those mighty works, therefore, would make His words to the disciples, “If it were not so I would have told you,” more convincing and comforting. But here our Lord says that not only shall His disciples do His works, but greater works.
Was this possible? Could any works possibly be greater than those typical miracles related by John, culminating in the raising up of Lazarus? Yet these were not the Saviour’s greatest works. Christ might have cured humanity at large and forever from physical disease, etc., and yet the world might have been brought no nearer God and eternal life. Christ recognized the spiritual works He did to be the most important. It was higher to lead men to spiritual healing, and for this end He came to earth.
But His sphere on earth, so far as those works went, was limited. He was sent to “the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Whereas the disciples, after being enlightened and strengthened by the Spirit at Pentecost, had no limit set to their working: “Jerusalem, Judæa, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the earth.”
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