John 14:12 “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.”

I could easily preach for a full year on the Upper Room Discourse, because it is so packed with incredibly rich, incredibly important teaching. This particular verse is so mind-blowing, it has either been ignored or sent people on “power trips” far too often. It is of course literally true, but if we take it as a power trip, we are in real trouble. This verse, and the ones immediately following, are dependent on a level of faith that we seldom exercise. It’s not that such faith is impossible, but that we focus on ourselves too much to operate in it. I think the greatest blessing of going to heaven will be that we will no longer be self-centered, but rather entirely God-centered. This verse and the ones following are fulfilled when that happens. We can approach that at times, and so see a partial fulfillment of these verses, but we must never be presumptive. We are all too prone to want to do things that will make us feel good or important, and if that is the motive, then these words are just ink on the page. The flip side of that is that we often fail to attempt great things for God because we are too aware of our own weaknesses. Knowing your weaknesses is good, but only if you remember that God is far greater and stronger than any human weakness. It is a miracle indeed that He chooses to use such as we are, but the fact remains that He indeed does use such as we are, and we should be grateful.

I have wrestled with this verse for many years. I don’t know the definition of “greater works,” but all sorts of things come to mind. However, I need to leave that in God’s hands. He alone knows what is truly great. I am to focus on trusting obedience, not being proud of faith but rather striving to be faithful. As I have commented before, I feel like God has given me the spiritual gift of faith, as in 1 Corinthians 12:9, but it being a gift is all the more reason not to focus on the gift, but rather on the Giver. I want to be fully available for whatever He wants to do through me, but I am a relatively unimportant part in that process. As Paul said, “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” (2 Corinthians 4:7) I am to remember that infinite power is in a sense available to me, but I have very little to do with it. If I will do that, then His works will indeed be done through me, for His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for all You are doing on this trip. Thank You that we have a “rest day” today. Help us indeed receive Your rest, Your refreshing, today, to be fully prepared for all that You want to do in and through us in the days ahead, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!