John 14:12 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.
These words are stunning, important, and encouraging. Do you remember that I mentioned when we looked at the first few verses of this chapter, that the place Jesus had in mind to prepare for us was not a mansion in heaven when we die? This verse verifies that assertion. Notice that Jesus told them that because He was going to the Father (to prepare a dwelling place for them) they would do the greater works in this world than He has done. That’s why I suggest that Jesus was explaining to them how they were going to love one another even as He had loved them rather than encouraging them that they were going to have a home in heaven when they died. Don’t get me wrong. He did prepare a place for us in heaven when we die, but His going to the Father was primarily about salvation in this world, now, not salvation after we die. He who believes in Jesus as the way, truth, and the life of God has a new purpose in life—to do the works of Jesus like Jesus did the works of the Father. This is pivot point number two! Pivot point number one: Jesus and the Father are one. Pivot point number two: Believers and Jesus are one. Now when we testify about ourselves that Jesus is alive and living in us, we not only have our testimony about ourselves, but we also have the works of Jesus to testify that He lives in us and we in Him. Jesus was calling His disciples to a new purpose in life. They were to no longer live to make a name for themselves (by the way they had just been arguing about who was the greatest only minutes before) or to discover their best life or for self-actualization or even to live for Him. This is a call to a radical, this-changes-everything new purpose: to live to love with and in Jesus as He lives in them. A call to do the works of Christ for the glory of God.
Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com
