111. Do the Works
John 14:12 He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also, and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
The promise that believers will do the works that Jesus did, and greater works, is really unbelievable; in fact, it is so unbelievable that we look for other ways to interpret the promise, because we cannot take it at face value.
The interpretation turns upon the meaning of the word “works.” We think that Jesus means the physical miracles, healings, exorcisms and resurrections; we don’t see that happening. We can legitimately take the “works” that Jesus did to be spiritual: saving the world and forgiving sins and granting eternal life by His death on the Cross. But we do certainly not do these works, nor can we “save” anyone.
Therefore, we take it to mean that He promises that we will continue the works that He finished by proclaiming them through the Gospel. When we preach the Gospel we “finish” or continue the finished works of Jesus. The Gospel recreates and reproduces the miraculous works of salvation that converts the sinner and brings him out of darkness into light. The continued Gospel work is “greater” in that it reaches more people through the witness and the Word. We seldom recognize the “great work” that happens when we preach repentance and forgiveness of sin; we don’t see the power at work doing what Jesus did (saving people and making them whole). The Holy Spirit working through His people through their works and witness (the preaching of the Gospel) is an awesome miracle, and these greater works have been going on since then until now. Because Jesus has gone to the Father He could pour out the Holy Spirit on Pentecost and every day since.