“Most assuredly, 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 My Father.” – John 14:12

“For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.” – Romans 12:3

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I recently met with a good friend and also a very smart, wise Pastor to discuss a theological point of difference. Each time we meet I’m stumped by some question he raises. It is good to be challenged. Why? Because it challenges me to go to God and get answers – maybe even revise my thinking about what I believed to be true. (Read Romans 12:3 above again – which basically says, Don’t think so highly of your own opinions)

The last time we met we discussed Jesus’ challenge in John 14 where Jesus says that His followers could do what He did and even greater things/works. I’ve written a post and even a chapter in my book Emptied about this so I won’t repeat my argument – that concludes what Jesus was referring to in John 14:12 was not limited to the church body as a whole and exclusive to making converts (I do acknowledge that as the greatest “thing/works”). I maintain that it is also meant for individual followers and for all the “things/works” pertaining to the earthly ministry of Jesus.

The issue we focused on was my position that the reason we don’t see every follower expressing the fullness of Jesus’ ministry is the fact that Jesus had the Spirit without measure (John 3:34) while we have the Spirit with measure (Rom. 12:3). However, based on that my friend argued Christ-followers can’t experience the full ministry of Jesus, so why should we expect that we can do even greater things? In other words, if God provided Jesus with the fullness of the Spirit and only gives us a portion, how can we operate in the full ministry like Jesus? Hmm? Good question.

First, I make the distinction between the Gospel Mission of the Son of God and His Ministry on Earth. Jesus’ as the Son of God/Messiah had a unique mission on earth that only He could fulfill. But, while on earth Jesus provided the perfect example of the ministry that (I believe) Christ-followers can imitate. We have Jesus in us and access to His fullness but as imitators of Jesus, we will fall short.

Jesus had the Spirit without measure because of His sinless life and His absolute devotion to the Father, while we are limited by our ongoing sin and the distractions in our life. Even if faith is something that is a gift and a distribution from God (as some argue by 1 Cor 12:9 – “To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;”), God supplies up to limits based on our level of devotion and whole-heartedness toward Him. Yet, God promises in Hebrews 11:6 – “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” What are the rewards? – most likely a deeper relationship and knowledge of God which leads to the gift of increasing faith. (Romans 10:17, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word (Rhema) of God.” – Faith comes by hearing to the point of living out God’s word.)

Note: Those who commit to following Jesus are absolutely forgiven for our sins by God’s gracious work through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, yet, we still have ongoing sins and distractions that cause us to be limited in being fully filled with the Holy Spirit and exercising the full ministry of Jesus – even while it is all available to us.

Or, it can be argued that God does fill each one of us up to the brim but the filling is limited to the space we allow for the Holy Spirit. Why do I go through the drive-through and order a soda without ice? Because I’m a cheapskate and I want a full cup of soda, not a lot of ice and little soda. If we fill up a jar of water that is already filled with rocks, there is not a lot of room left for the water.

So, once again, Jesus uniquely had the Spirit without measure based upon John 3:34 – “For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit” because he was a perfectly clean vessel that God filled to the brim with His Spirit. Whereas, Believers have the Spirit by measure Rom 12:3 – “. . . each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.” limited by the room we allow for God to fill us up. If we, therefore, determine to make more room, God fills us up more.

Someone might say that this mentality smacks of a works-based faith – that we have to earn our increasing faith. It is not about earning it but being rewarded/entrusted with more for a growing desire to have more. If I want to give an expensive gift to someone, say a guitar, I do that based on their expressed desire to play the guitar.

And, as far as Christ-followers being limited in the fullness of the Holy Spirit – it does not preclude that when we are led by the Spirit to step out in faith, we can’t do some of the Things Jesus did or even a Greater Work. God is generous to allow us to partner in His work regardless of our level of faith because He wants us to grow in our faith and knowledge of Him. (Colossians 1:9-10) Jesus exercised all the Spiritual gifts to the fullest but as imitators of Jesus, we will never replicate all Jesus did. That does not mean we cannot do the things Jesus did and some even greater things. It can be argued that there are many examples of works that Jesus’ followers do that are what Jesus did and to even exceed what Jesus did. (Jesus walked on water but Moses parted the Red Sea. Which is greater?)

Why do I push this narrative? Because Jesus said it in John 14. I take it at face value with a reasonable argument. And, I have seen some of the same miracles Jesus did that led to increasing faith and salvation.

That’s not to say that others who believe differently (likely the majority of Christians) are wrong, it’s just what I believe. However, I do believe the interpretation that “greater things/works” is restricted to the church as a whole, and a greater reach of the Gospel seems to me to be a construct to rationalize why many don’t do or see the other related “things/works” Jesus spoke of in Luke 7:22-23, “Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”

Note: Just to be clear, God loves us. His love is not predicated on our wholeheartedness. If we have embraced Jesus as our Savior but we draw a line in the sand and say that is as far as I go in my faith – He loves us. However, He is always on the other side coaxing us with open arms to draw closer to Him, and is so pleased when we step out further in faith.

Anything in My Name

In the next post, I will take a look at the verses that follow – John 14:13-14. More challenging scriptures where Jesus promises He will do anything that you ask in His name. Anything? Yahoo! Cha-ching!

Or, does He?