John 14:12 Study
- Jun 13, 2020
- 5 min read
"Whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father." John 14:12
"Whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father."
John 14:12
Why did Jesus say this statement?
First I must know that I am co-laborer in the work God has called me to do. That I may believe and know the power of the gift of the Holy Spirit on the inside of me that teaches me all things. It's easy to think the interpretation of this statement refers to "greater miracles" than Jesus performed in the scriptures. I realized what Jesus was actually saying; that we will do more works in our life because we have more time than Jesus because He only had a short three and a half years of ministry on earth before He went back to the Father.
Jesus had 12 disciples that followed him during his ministry for the three and half years. As I examined the scriptures, Jesus disciples while they were with Him on earth didn't do much to advance the kingdom of God not until Jesus was separated from them. Paul was an apostle in the Bible (not part of the 12 disciples) that fully embraced and displayed the power of God in his lifetime. He never physically saw, ate with, or touched Jesus but encountered Him through the power of the Holy Spirit more than the disciples did.
en·coun·ter | to come upon or experience especially unexpectedly
So what's the point?
The Holy Spirit reveals to us the person of Jesus. I believe and gave my life to Jesus Christ yet I never physically fellowshipped, ate with, or saw Him one day of my life yet I have come to know Him because of my encounter or for better understanding; my experience with Him. My experience with Jesus started and came through the person of the Holy Spirit that convicts one even of our sins.
ex·pe·ri·ence | the fact or state of having been affected by or gained knowledge through direct observation or participation
-----> SIDENOTE....
This is salvation! Salvation happens when the Holy Spirit convicts an individual of their sins and once acknowledged, they are given an opportunity to be united with Jesus. Salvation never comes through a human being it never was about man on earth but about us coming into a relationship with Jesus Christ. John 16:8
Growth in Jesus happens when I can be pulled away from comfortability because it forces me to grow and depend on the Holy Spirit. Some of the disciples weren't even aware of the very person Jesus was. How is that possible you say? How is it possible that they followed him everywhere yet some of them still weren't convinced about Him? It's very possible that you can be around someone your entire life yet know little to nothing about the individual. The disciples were too familiar with Jesus and relied on Him for everything. When you read Matthew 17:18-20 the disciples couldn't cast out a demon but they should have if they truly had faith in Jesus. I could see a lack of urgency for them to trust because in their minds, Jesus was there with them 24/7. I believe they fully did not understand the value of who He was not until He departed when he ascended into heaven.
Let's take a look at some interesting personalities of a few disciples:
Doubting Thomas (John 20:24-29)
Judas the betrayer (John 13:21-30)
Philip that questioned and wasn't aware of who Jesus was (John 14:8-11)
Read the book of Acts and you will understand that the moment Jesus ascended to heaven, the apostles ministry began to operate in great power once the promise of the Holy Spirit was fully released upon them that thousands were beings saved, healed, delivered. It was absolutely necessary for Jesus to be separated from the disciples because without that occurring John 14:12 would not exist today, there would be no book of Acts. If Jesus remained with them their spiritual growth would have reduced and stayed the same but instead they were elevated to the next level as you read in Acts because they no longer saw Jesus physically and had no choice but rather they had the Holy Spirit living on the inside of Him to depend on. Jesus believes so much in those who follow after Him because He has placed a mandate on each of our lives to accomplish in our life time to be lights in this broken world. Check out what Jesus told the disciples days before his death;
"Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you." John 16:7
Working with the Holy Spirit means you must surrender everything to Him, I have come to know that I cannot serve Him with my head knowledge, it is impossible. If I do this I'll just question God about everything and live my life in disobedience to His will. The will of God is for me to come before Him empty in humility like a child so that the Holy Spirit can truly fill and use me.
Before God uses a man, he sends them forth, empties them completely of their life desires so when that time comes, they don't come in their own:
strength
name
knowledge
capabilities
intellect
power
wisdom
authority
There has to be a significant separation in your journey with Christ that propels you to the next level. This separation can come in many forms.
"Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road." Luke 10:4
This scripture connotates a deeper meaning. Jesus sent out 72 individuals on a journey to witness about Him however He sent them forth without any belongings just their bodies. Sounds backward? Yes It does but Jesus knew what He was doing, He knew that provision would meet them when they reached their destination. Usually when we prepare for a journey for example a vacation you pack your items needed once you arrive but imagine going with nothing. God will never send a man on assignment without provision or the proper tools they need. Jesus knew that if they carried items with them it would slow them down or cause a distraction along the way. This is how many of us are without knowing, we carry our baggages of worry and heavy burdens of life when God sends us on assignment. We have forgotten that we have the Holy Spirit our friend that will lead us on our journey to what we need to do once we reach there.
When you are separated from the pleasures of this world, this is the opportunity for growth. You grow because there is nothing else holding you down. You can never feel alone because you have the Holy Spirit with you always. He pulls things away from us not to harm us but to push us closer to Himself. His promises to you are:
"He will never leave you nor forsake you" (Deuteronomy 31:6)
"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you" (John 14:18)
"Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!" (Isaiah 49:15)
Greater works will Jesus do in your life if you are willing to grow, empty your life of worldly pleasures, and completely live your life in reliance on the Holy Spirit for without Him we cannot accomplish a thing on this planet earth towards His kingdom.
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