A Greater Good
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, 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." And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
(John 14:12 - 13 KJV)
One of the most astounding statements that Jesus makes to his disciples is found in John 14:12 "...greater works than these shall he do..." Jesus is making a reference to the works of his disciples. He claims that they will do greater works than he had done. Now, anyone who knows anything about the life and ministry of Jesus knows that this statement is at first blush, unbelievable. Jesus did great and miraculous things in his ministry. Things that had never been done before. But now the Lord is telling his disciples that they will do even greater works than he. How is that possible?
His statement was a part of his 'good bye' speech. He is preparing to go to Calvary to be crucified, resurrected and then to return to the Father. He is trying to calm their fears and prepare them for the days ahead, days where they will no longer be able to enjoy his physical presence. As he says good bye he makes this remarkable statement that they will do greater things.
The key to understanding to this text is found in the phrase that follows "...because I go unto my Father." Jesus is explaining to his disciples that it is important he goes away physically so that he comes back in the power of the Spirit. Elsewhere he declares, "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you." (John 16:7 KJV)
Essentially, Jesus is saying to them, that when he goes away physically, initially for them it will feel like a great loss. But with that great loss will come greater gain. As long as he stayed with them in the flesh he would be limited. He could only be in one place at one time. But once he returned in the person and power of the Spirit he could be everywhere at once. While he remained in the flesh he could only be with them. But once he went away and returned in the Spirit he could live in them. It may have been difficult to hear and hard to accept, but the loss would result in greater gain.
God works that way sometimes. Sometimes it is loss that brings greater gain. Sometimes God subtracts in order to add and divides in order to multiply. God reduced Gideon's troops from 32,000 to 300 in order for him to get the victory. His problem was that he had too many of the wrong kind of soldiers, so once he trimmed the troops he enhanced the quality, less was more so the loss led to gain. A little boy had to give up his two fish and five loaves in order for 5000 people, not including the women and children. He gave something good in order to experience something greater. Abraham had to leave his native land in order to go to a better land. Sometimes God allows a good job to be taken so that a better job can come. He allows you to lose one opportunity so that a greater on can be realized. He allows you to get fired from your job to force you to start the business you've always wanted. Sometimes people have to leave your life so that others can finally come into your life. Sometimes you have to let go of the good in order to receive what's better or even let go of what is better in order to make room for what's best. Sometimes you have to lose what you are used to so that you can finally have what you have always dreamed of. Your children have to leave your family in order to start their own family. They have to leave the safety of your home in order to go to school and one day have a home of their own. Sometimes great loss leads to greater gain, even though initial the loss causes so much pain.
Jesus was crucified on a Friday out on Calvary's hill. When that happened the disciples lost all hope. But the Bible says that early Sunday morning Jesus was raised from the grave, conquering death once and for all. If there had not been the apparent loss of Friday there would not have been the glorious gain on Sunday morning. It was good to have Jesus before Friday. But his death, though horrific, brought the greater good resurrection. And that’s infinitely good for all humankind
