"Greater Works" ??

The following is a guest post from Daryl Rahfeldt:

There is considerable controversy concerning the meaning of Jesus’ statement in John 14:12, that those who believe in him will do the works he did and will do even greater works than those.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works will he do, because I am going to the Father.”

— John 14:12

In fact, we might call this verse a classical “crux interpretum” (a fancy Latin theological term for “a tough exegetical nut to crack”). Jesus did not explain precisely what he meant by that pronouncement, which leaves the understanding of it an open question. How are we to arrive at a cogent and plausible interpretation of this difficult verse? Let’s begin with some basic information about Jesus’ works.

If we assume that Jesus must surely have been speaking about his miraculous works, then we can draw an initial conclusion about his meaning by examining what those works were. Jesus did the following miraculous works during his life on earth: turned water to wine, walked on a stormy sea, calmed a violent storm, fed 5000 people with one small meal (and repeated the miracle with 4000 people), healed a man who had been crippled for 38 years, restored a man’s withered hand, healed a man born blind, healed at least one other blind person (or maybe two), healed some lepers, provided some fishermen with a huge catch of fish (twice), knew about a woman’s life without ever having met her, healed a number of other people of illnesses and infirmities (including Peter’s mother-in-law), raised several people from the dead (including one man who had been in the tomb for four days), and raised himself from the dead with a new kind of body. In addition, he knew ahead of time who would betray him, saw his disciple Nathaniel under a fig tree without actually being present there, and more than once simply vanished when people were trying to arrest or kill him. This is quite an impressive list of supernatural activities.

List of 37 Miracles in Chronological Order

Our first logical step is to ask, “Is it possible for anyone to do any miraculous deeds which would exceed the quality of Jesus’ miracles?” Could anyone actually do greater miracles than these? If so, what would they possibly be? Jesus was able to control nature, change one substance into another, defy gravity, instantly heal sick people, feed huge crowds by multiplying a small amount of food, put fish into fishermen’s nets on command, restore deformed body parts, give sight to blind eyes, instantly bring dead people back to life, and raise himself from the dead and escape a tomb with a new kind of body. I would submit that it simply is not possible to consider for even a moment that anyone could do greater miracles than those Jesus performed. We can exclude from consideration the idea that “the greater works” Jesus spoke about in John 14:12 are more impressive miracles than his. He left no type of miracle “on the table,” as the expression goes. He did virtually every kind possible. And, he did them instantly, without preparation or fanfare of any kind. When he spoke it, it happened. We are compelled by sheer force of logic to exclude at least this one interpretation from any consideration whatsoever.

Perhaps Jesus was referring to the quantity of miracles. Jesus was, after all, only one person who could be in only one place at a time while he walked the earth. Maybe he was saying that those who believe in him would do more miracles than he did. Given that the church has now been in existence for nearly two thousand years, and has been composed of millions of believers in Jesus over that period of time, it is certainly possible to think that he was referring to the quantity of miracles believers in him would perform. But here is something to consider: Jesus’ words are unconditional. He has made a promise. He did not say that believers in him would do “greater works” if their faith were strong enough or if their lives were holy enough. He spoke these words with no “ifs, ands, or buts” attached. Unless Jesus is a liar, then we must consider whether such a promise has been fulfilled. Have Christians throughout the past two thousand years of church history done more of the same type of miracles Jesus did while he was among us? How many Christians have walked on water? How many have multiplied a boy’s lunch to feed thousands of people? How many blind people or lame people or leprous people have Christians healed instantly or nearly instantly? How many violent storms have Christians stopped on command? How many dead people have Christians raised from the dead, especially after they have been in the grave for four days? How many Christians have raised themselves from the dead and appeared to others alive? Remember, Jesus’ words in John 14:12 are in the form of an unconditional promise. He has said, in effect, “This will happen.” If it has not happened, then we can give up the faith, because Jesus has lied to us.

Now, it is true that much of Christian history in the past two thousand years lies in obscurity. We only know about what certain people in the church have written about over that period of time. Perhaps we might believe that Christians have done more miracles than Jesus did. After all, we don’t know what happened in every city and every out-of-the-way place where Christians have lived in the world since the time of Christ. It is possible that Jesus’ words may have been fulfilled in this way without our being aware of it. But surely, if this had been the case, those whose writings we do have would have seen the miracles happen in their circle and in their day. If Christians were to be doing more miracles than Jesus did, then they must have been doing miracles regularly wherever they lived. Furthermore, we would expect to see Christians doing these same miracles regularly in our own time in history. Jesus did not put a time limit on his promise. Christians should be doing miracles all the time, if that is what Jesus meant. An honest person must admit that recorded church history does not affirm that miracles were happening on a regular basis, nor is there any evidence that they are happening today or have happened in the past several hundred years. There are preachers today who talk about doing miracles, but they fail to provide any proof for them.

At this point, let’s consider another question. What was Jesus’ attitude toward miracles? How important was it that he and his followers performed them? Obviously, he did do many miracles. From John 20:30-31 we learn that Jesus did many more miracles than the Gospel writers recorded. We don’t know how many miracles he actually performed. Perhaps he did hundreds or thousands more than we know about. There are those today who are insisting that Christians must perform miracles in order to lead people to faith in Christ. It is the miracles, they say, which are supposed to convince people that our faith is real. What would Jesus have said about that idea? In Matthew 12:39ff. the Pharisees and teachers of the Jewish law asked Jesus to show them a sign. They wanted a miracle on demand in order to be convinced to believe in Jesus. Jesus replied, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now something greater than Jonah is here.” The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, and now something greater than Solomon is here” (NIV). Jesus speaks similarly in Matthew 16:4, “A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah” (NIV). It seems from these texts that Jesus would say to those who require a miracle or sign in order to believe in him, “You are part of a wicked and adulterous generation that requires a sign. No sign will be given to you except my resurrection from the dead.”

When the seventy-two disciples came back from their preaching and miracle mission, they were excited that the evil spirits had obeyed them. Jesus affirmed that he had given them authority to overcome the power of the enemy, and that nothing would harm them as they went out in his name. But he added, “. . . do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven” (NIV). It is not the doing of miracles (even exorcisms) that Jesus wanted his followers to be excited about, but rather that they had received eternal life. In Luke 16:19-31, Luke records Jesus’ parable of the rich man and Lazarus. Lazarus spends his impoverished life begging at the rich man’s gate, while the rich man revels in his luxurious lifestyle. When they die, the rich man goes to hell, and Lazarus goes to heaven (“Abraham’s bosom”). Of course, the rich man wants to warn his five brothers who are still alive, and he asks Abraham to send Lazarus back from the dead to warn them so that they will not end up in hell. Abraham’s response is telling: “They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them” (Luke 16:29, NIV). The rich man insists that if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent. Abraham’s final word is this: “If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead” (Luke 16:31, NIV). This memorable parable makes the point that miracles do not necessarily convince anyone to repent and believe. According to Abraham in this parable, even if a dead person were to rise and relate eternal realities to the man’s brothers, they would not believe. If they haven’t believed the Scriptures, miracles will not convince them. The truth is, miracles or signs from heaven of whatever kind do not convince the unbelieving heart and mind. Jesus put into Abraham’s mouth in this parable the truth that if people do not listen to the Word of God, as recorded in Holy Scripture, no miracle will lead them to faith. 

Some people today—especially some in the NAR and “Word of Faith” camps—are deceived into believing that Christians must do miracles in order to evangelize. Romans 10:5-15 makes a similar point to Jesus’ parable, although without mentioning miracles. In that passage, we read that faith in Christ comes from hearing the preached Word, proclaimed by those who are sent to give out the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Even the miracles which Christ performed failed to convince the Jewish religious leaders. Instead of believing in Jesus because of the miracles, they accused Jesus of doing them (casting out demons, specifically) in the power of the devil (Matthew 12:22ff. and Luke 11:14ff.). The parable of the rich man and Lazarus is a prediction of the religious’ leaders’ response to Jesus’ own resurrection. They refused to believe in Jesus even after he had risen from the dead. Jesus had already told the Pharisees in John 5:39 that the Scriptures (the Old Testament) testify about him. But they refused to understand and accept their testimony. All of Jesus’ miracles did not convince them, either. We recall that after Jesus raised his friend Lazarus from the dead (not the same Lazarus as the one in the parable), the chief priests wanted to kill Lazarus (John 12:10-11)! They were jealous that many Jews were putting their faith in Jesus.

We can see from the above discussion that miracles are neutral phenomena. They may convince some, but they may harden the hearts of others. Those who witness miracles must interpret them. What is their source? Do they come from God or from Satan? Perhaps they are magic tricks of some kind, done to fool people (like the so-called “leg lengthening” trick that a certain popular preacher performs in public). When Moses displayed God’s power to Pharaoh, Pharaoh’s magicians duplicated some of the miracles God did through Moses. Eventually, the magicians were unable to duplicate God’s miracles, but the miracles still did not convince Pharaoh. He remained an unbeliever. Jesus was not always anxious to perform miracles, especially when asked to do so to satisfy the demands of the unbelieving Jewish leaders. He knew they would not be convinced by them if they were not also convinced by the Scriptures.

What, then, are we to make of Jesus’ statement that the person who believes in him will also do the works that he (Jesus) does, and further, “he will do greater things than these, because I go to the Father”? We have already established some basic facts which will help us in our interpretation of this difficult verse. The first fact is that it is impossible to conceive of Jesus’ followers in any age doing miracles greater than those which he did. We have also established that church history does not inform us of great numbers of miracles being done by Christians for the past two thousand years. In fact, quite the contrary is true. Verifiable accounts of miracles are rare. There is anecdotal evidence in modern times, such as testimonies of evangelists and missionaries about miracles happening in places like Africa and India. Perhaps some of these reports are true, but there has never been in the past nor in recent times any solid evidence of a genuine outbreak of great numbers of miracles performed by Christians. Some of the earlier church Fathers do write of healings taking place, as well as tongues-speaking and prophecies, but there are also testimonies from the same period that these miracles and gifts were on the decline since the death of the Apostles. During the Reformation, Luther and the other reformers were opposed to the claims by Rome and by the “radical” reformers of miracles and miraculous gifts of the Spirit. They believed that an emphasis on these things led people away from God’s Word and into heresy.

In John 14:11, Jesus challenges Philip and the other Apostles to believe that he is in the Father and the Father in him, and that the Father is responsible for the works he is doing. If they somehow fail to believe these things outright, then they should at least believe them based on the works he has performed. He is implying that such works (miracles) could have their source only in the Father. Jesus gave this challenge after Philip asked him to show them the Father. His immediate response was to state, “He who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). In effect, he tells them that they have seen the Father’s works being done by him, so they should believe that he and the Father are one based upon these miraculous works. Jesus was not speaking to the crowds when he made these statements. He was alone with his disciples in the upper room. Verse twelve follows, in which Jesus makes the statement that the one who believes in him will do “even greater things than these.” Since we have excluded from our interpretation both the greater quality and greater quantity of the same miracles Jesus did, what could he have meant? Let’s take a look at what some Christian commentators have written in answer to this question.

In The People’s Bible Commentary on John, by Gary Baumler (Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, 2005), we read, on p. 199, “The works Jesus mentioned were first the works he did in the physical realm, such as healing the sick. The disciples, by Jesus’ power, did similar miracles while establishing the early church. These miracles decreased as the need for them to substantiate the Word decreased. But the greater works were the miracles in the spiritual realm, such as the conversion of the Gentiles. By the power of Jesus’ gospel, every believer in Jesus can have a part in changing hearts from sin to the Savior, in giving eternal life to the spiritually dead, in opening heaven to lost sinners. To this day, we can do these works all around the world. God in his grace uses us for that purpose.”

Leon Morris, in The Gospel According to John, The New International Commentary on the New Testament, Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, 1977, p. 646, writes, “What Jesus means we may see in the narratives of the Acts. There there are a few miracles of healing, but the emphasis is on the mighty works of conversion. On the day of Pentecost alone more believers were added to the little band of believers than throughout Christ’s entire earthly life. There we see a literal fulfilment of ‘greater works than these shall he do.’ During his lifetime the Son of God was confined in His influence to a comparatively small sector of Palestine. After His departure His followers were able to work in widely scattered places and influence much larger numbers of men. But they did it all on the basis of Christ’s return to the Father. They were in no sense acting independently of Him. On the contrary, in doing their ‘greater works’ they were His agents.”

In Light in the Darkness, Studies in the Gospel of John, Homer A. Kent, Jr., comments, In the light of Christ’s departure, two privileges are explained as encouragements for the disciples. First, they are granted the privilege of performing greater works (14:12). This certainly did not mean that believers would perform more amazing physical miracles than Jesus did (e.g., stilling the storm, feeding 5,000). The answer is indicated by the fact that Christ’s return to the Father is said to be the cause. Hence these greater works would be spiritual ones, in which the good news of Christ’s death and resurrection would be proclaimed as the transforming power for sinful men. As a consequence, Gentiles as well as Jews would be reached, and a new spiritual body, the New Testament church, would be created. The second privilege is prayer in Jesus’ name (14:13-15)” (Baker, Grand Rapids, 1974, p. 174).

In The Intimate Gospel, Earl F. Palmer, writes on p. 125, “In His answer to Philip, Jesus continues to assure his friend of the durability of their relationship. Later in this commentary we will examine Jesus’ teaching on prayer, but note here that the Lord promises the disciples that they will participate in even greater works than they have already witnessed. I believe greater should be seen in its sense of wider, larger. These twelve, and the somewhat larger circle of men and women who have followed Jesus, are in for a surprise beyond their greatest expectations when following Pentecost they will see thousands of men and women, young and old, slave and free, Greek and Jew, come to trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior with the same faith as these disciples now experience. These disciples will share in and enjoy that great and wide expansion of the family of believers” (Word Books, Waco, 1978).

F. F. Bruce, in The Gospel of John, p. 300, comments on verse 12, “When, after the healing at the pool of Bethesda, Jesus affirmed that the works he did were those which the Father showed him, he added, ‘he will show him greater works than these, to give you cause for marvel’ (John 5:20). Now he tells his disciples that they in turn would do the works that he did. That must have been surprising enough. But what were they to think when he went on to say that, because he was going to the Father, they would do even greater works than they had seen him do? His promise indeed came true: in the first few months after his death and resurrection many more men and women became his followers through their witness than had done so during his personal ministry in Galilee and Judaea. The disciples knew that in themselves they were quite incapable of any such achievement, but he went on to tell them of the coming of the Paraclete, who would empower them and make their witness effective” (Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, 1983).

I believe we can conclude from our discussion above and from the consensus of the commentaries we have quoted, that “greater works” does not mean more miracles or more impressive miracles than Jesus performed. I believe the word “greater” indicates, not more of the same in quality and quantity, but rather “of a greater kind.” The Apostles and other Christians performed some of the same miracles Jesus had done, but not better ones nor a greater number of them. In fact, they did not do some of the miracles he did, such as nature miracles, multiplying food, or healing the blind or leprous. They cast out demons, healed some crippled people, and even raised a few from the dead. But these were not the main emphasis of the rest of the New Testament. The Book of Acts and the Epistles are about the gospel message and the conversion of thousands of people and the establishment of churches in every major city of the Roman Empire. The preaching of the gospel, the conversion and baptism of sinners, and the planting of churches continue to this day. These are the miracles Jesus was referring to. Jesus’ promise to his disciples has proved true, “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). Those today who use this passage to support a miracle-based Christianity are, I believe, misunderstanding what Jesus was telling his Apostles and their successors. I do not deny that miracles of healing and other miracles still happen, nor do I deny that they have always occurred throughout the church age here and there and from time to time. I have personally witnessed a couple of miraculous healings in answer to prayer. God answers prayer and cares for his children. After all, Jesus said in these verses that the one who believes will do the works he was doing. However, Jesus was not promising that his followers would perform more and greater miraculous healings, nature miracles, and raisings from the dead, but that they would do more of a greater kind of miracle, the miracle of raising sinners to new life through the preaching of the gospel.  

Daryl G. Rahfeldt, Ph.D.