Greater Works Even Than Jesus?

In His final discourse to His closest disciples, just before His death, Jesus says something quite incredible.

In the context of affirming that Jesus and the Father are One—and that Jesus speaks only on the Father’s authority, and that the work Jesus does is as a result of God the Father living in Him, He then says “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” Jesus is talking about the disciples, and He is talking about us.  Jesus says that part of our purpose is to do even greater works than He did.

He makes clear that the purpose of these works is “so that the Father may be glorified in the Son,” so instead of us being tempted to desiring greatness, our ability to do greater works that Jesus has the ultimate purpose of turning the spotlight back on God.

Jesus ends this set of statements with “You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it,” not meaning we can ask for all of our wants and desires to be fulfilled with material things and things of worldly importance but that if we ask Him to be able to live into our God-given purpose, to have power to exercise our God-given gifts, to serve others, to step into difficult places in the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus will answer that with a resounding “yes” (John 14:9-14).

Where, with regard to your God-given purpose, are you believing that God cannot do great things through you?  How are you relying on His Spirit to guide, direct, and empower you to do what you do? Are you able to let God be the One who defines “greatness”?

Shirley Giles Davis, author of the God. Gifts. You. Your Unique Calling and Design workbook, Your Unique Design Class Guide, Your Unique Design Facilitator Guide, and Gifts-Calling-Purpose blog, is a consultant, coach, facilitator who has worked with faith-based organizations, nonprofit agencies, and leaders in a diversity of fields for over 30 years. She has also been EquipConnectServe Director at her 1,200 member church since 1999.

Photo © Shirley Giles Davis, all rights reserved.