12 “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.”
In our verse for today, Jesus gives forth a comforting Word to His disciples. In a solemn announcement to them, He proclaims that His miraculous works would not cease just because His physical Presence would. Those with faith would continue His eternal work. I am reminded of the conversation between Jesus and the father whose son was possessed by a demon:
17 A man in the crowd answered, "Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not." 19 "O unbelieving generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me." 20 So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. 21 Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has he been like this?" "From childhood," he answered. 22 "It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us." 23 "'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes." 24 Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" Mark 9:17-24 (NIV)
Not too dissimilar to this father I find myself crying out the same oxymoronic phrase: "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" Lack of faith in God - lack of trust - is the root of all spiritual failure. To be sure, I can trust the Man who died for me.
Jesus would not leave His guys weak or helpless and unable to do things to attest to an unbelieving world. Then He adds this powerful statement - they would accomplish even - “Greater things than these”. Greater things than healing the sick, greater things than casting out demons, greater things than raising the dead or feeding the multitudes – what in the world could He possibly have meant by “Greater things”??? Perhaps it had something to do with the temporal versus the eternal works. For certain, Lazarus no longer walks on this dusty earth rather on streets of gold and the blind eyes that were opened now gaze upon the beauty of the Lord rather than a flower blooming in the springtime. The greater things - at the very least - must include the eternal salvation of souls. I am reminded of Pentecost when Peter, empowered by the Holy Spirit, spoke Truth to the crowds and over three thousand souls were converted. There is no recorded occasion where Jesus converted such a number as this – that would fall under the category of “Greater things” to me. We find in Acts:
36 "Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." 37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" 38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call." 40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. Acts 2:36-41 (NIV)
This ragamuffin group of guys - filled with the power of the Holy Spirit – miraculously carried the gospel of God’s kingdom out of Palestine and into the whole world. No jet planes, no cars, no computers, no Bibles simply the power of the Holy Spirit in willing and obedient vessels.
“One of the most urgent tasks facing Evangelical Christendom today is the recovery of the gospel.” J. I. Packer
There is power in the message of the cross. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians:
17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel--not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. 18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Cor 1:17-18 (NIV)
Brilliant and eloquently persuasive words may perhaps win a person’s mind but not their heart - leaving an unconverted soul in the wake of their jargon. Yet the simple unadorned words of the gospel – though seemingly silly by human standards – are made effective by the power of the Holy Spirit which indwells every true believer in Jesus opening the Way for their hearer’s hearts to believe.
“The Spirit of Christ is the spirit of missions, and the nearer we get to Him the more intensely missionary we must become.” Henry Martyn