Greater Works Than These

Dearly beloved of God, early in his ministry, Jesus Christ told his disciples, “My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me, and to finish His work.” He said, “the works which the Father has given me to finish, the same works that I do bear witness of me, that the Father has sent me.”

At the end of his ministry, in the prayer to His Father he said, “I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do.” As he hung on the tree, before his death he said, “It is finished.” He had finished the work for our salvation and redemption.

People marvel at the works Jesus did during his earthly ministry. He healed the sick, and cast out devil spirits which afflicted people. He healed the lame, the deaf, the mute, the blind; he even healed the eyes of a man born blind. He healed a man’s withered hand and many other miracles. He raised three people from the dead; he even raised Lazarus from the dead after he had been dead for four days and buried!

He had the power to heal the sick, to forgive sins, and now by his finished work he made salvation available. That makes the statement to his disciples even more extraordinary.

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believes 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.”

The Lord Jesus Christ said, "...and greater works than these shall he do..." Dearly beloved, do you believe on him? If so, you can do the works he did and even greater than these because he has gone to be with his Father.

He fulfilled the work his Father sent him to do. Now we are complete in him; completely filled in him who is the head over every ruler and authority.

He completed the work of salvation and redemption and he sent the promise of the Father, which is to be baptized with the holy spirit; to receive power from on high. This is what qualifies us to be witnesses unto him and do the works he did and greater.

The twelve had been with the Lord and witnessed extraordinary works that he did, but that did not qualify them to be witnesses unto him.

Later, Jesus sent these twelve out with the authority over devil spirits, and over all manner of sickness and disease. He charged them to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils, but that did not qualify them to be witnesses unto him.

After they were born again of God’s spirit on the Day of Pentecost he poured out the holy spirit, power from on high. According to the Lord Jesus Christ, that qualified them to be witnesses unto him.

The power in the new birth is greater power than anything they had previously.

Jesus Christ completed the work his Father sent him to do and he has gone to the Father, and he has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realm. He freely gives us all things with Christ.

Jesus Christ completed the work of redemption and we are witnesses that he did it every time we speak in tongues.

God gave that manifestation of the spirit as the proof that God raised him from the dead; that God made Jesus both Lord and Christ; that he ascended into heaven and now sits at God’s right hand; it is the proof that since we are in Christ our sins are forgiven, we are saved, redeemed, and have the hope of eternal life.

Every time we speak in tongues we are speaking the wonderful works of God, and we are witnessing that Christ completed the work of redemption and salvation.

We are doing the greater works that the Lord Jesus Christ said we could do.

This is far greater than healing the sick, casting out a devil spirit, or raising someone from the dead; we are witnesses that his work to make salvation available is finished, and that all who call upon his name shall be saved. Rejoice forevermore!