Introduction
It’s been almost 30 years now since
I first met my very good friend, Bob At the prestigious facility where we both
worked, Bob held the top management position while I was making sure the bottom
of the ladder didn’t get lonely. For whatever reason, Bob took an interest in
me and over the years trained me and taught me and kept promoting me until I
held the position that was second only to him. I had never had anyone in my
life that encouraged me the way that Bob encouraged me. But what was most
important to me; what drove me was that Bob believed in me. We became great
friends and remain that way to this day. When Bob moved on to a much-deserved
senior management position with another company, I moved into his position.
Although Bob was no longer there, his belief in my ability to do the job was by
then deeply rooted in my life. Over the last 20 years I have gone on to start
and operate two of my own companies, complete graduate school and begin this
ministry. My point in telling you this is not for the purpose of trying to
impress you. Instead, as I’ve told you before that growing up, my father often
reminded me that I was “worthless” and a “dumb jackass.” As a result, achieving
and risking were not part of my character. However, a very wise and thoughtful
man by the name of Bob thought highly of me and believed in me and along with
the encouragement of my amazing wife was used by God to guide me along the path
to this point in my life where I have the opportunity to offer encouragement not
only to my own children but also to countless people around the world through
this ministry. I am so very thankful for my friend Bob and his encouragement
because I know how powerful it has been in my life.
The idea of “belief” is not foreign
in the Bible. I know that I’m stating the obvious but “belief” in God is the
central idea of the Bible. But what if told you that “belief” is reciprocal
between us and God? I know some of you are frowning right now but just stay
with me for a bit and I’ll try to explain. We “believe” in God; put our “faith”
in Jesus because of who he is and what he has done in us, to us and for us. But
doesn’t God believe in us in a certain respect? Didn’t God say that he has
prepared great works for us to do (Eph 2:10)? If so, then that must mean that
God “believes” we can accomplish those things. Can you imagine God saying:
“___________ (insert your name) I believe in you!” Wow! Is there anything you
couldn’t accomplish? I mean, the Creator of the universe believes in you! That’s almost too hard to fathom,
but I’ll let you in on a little secret—God does this all the time, it’s just
that we’re not always listening well. I believe God says to those who seek to
be faithful and obedient to him: “I believe You
Will Do Great Things!” Jesus did this on one particular occasion with his
disciples that I want to look at together in greater detail for this week’s
lesson.
Subject Text
John 14:12-14
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. 13 And
I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the
Father. 14 You may
ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
Context
It
appears from the text that Jesus is speaking these words during his last meal
with his disciples. Chapter 13 tells us that it was the evening before the
Passover Feast and that Jesus was preparing his disciples for his departure.
This is important in light of Jesus’ words to his disciples in our subject
text. The disciples were witnesses to all of Jesus’ miracles—the exorcisms (Mt
12:22-23; Mk 9:14-29; Lk 8:30-39), healings (Mt 8:5-13; Mk 7:24-30; Lk
17:11-19; Jn 9:1-41), resurrections (Lk 7:11-17; Mk 5:21-24, 35-43; Jn
11:1-44), laws of nature (Mt 15:32-39; Mk 11:12-14; Lk 5:1-11; Jn 6:16-21). Why
is this an important point? Because Jesus is going to make a profound
revelation immediately preceding and following our subject text. Jesus gives us
a glimpse of the Trinity! Even though the word “Trinity” is not used, we find
the individuality and unity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in perhaps the
closest textual proximity in all of Scripture in 14:6-18. Furthermore, Jesus
uses the evidence of his miracles to convince his disciples of the truth of his
teachings and to prove that he is “The way and truth and the life” and that “No one” gets to the Father unless they
go through Jesus. Jesus has drawn a line in the sand with these words. The Way
to ultimate Truth; the Way to eternal Life; the Way to the Father, is not by
keeping the Law perfectly; not by being good; not by going to church; not by
giving money; not by anything we do. The Way is Jesus! “Salvation
is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to
mankind by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12).” Can you imagine what is
going through the minds of the disciples at this point? They are replaying all
the miracles now in the context of Jesus claiming to be one with the Father
when Jesus gets to our subject text and says You Will Do Great Things! Wow! The Lord of all creation; the Healer;
the Giver and Sustainer of life; the One who walks on water, believes in me!
Their heads had to be swimming by this point. Let’s look at our subject text
and try to hear what they heard in Jesus’ words.
Text Analysis
Everything
about our subject text can be desperately confusing beginning with v. 12. Jesus
says if we have faith in him then we will be able to do what he has done. But
he doesn’t stop there. No, Jesus goes on to say that we will do even greater
things. Let’s see…we just reviewed Jesus’ miracles and his claims about himself
in relation to the Father. So what are these “greater things” Jesus is
referring to? Well it’s not really as mysterious as it seems but let’s look at
the first part where Jesus promises that his disciples will do what they saw him
doing. We don’t have to read too far along to find the fulfillment of this
promise. The disciples, like Jesus, perform miracles: Exorcisms (Acts 16:18);
healings (Acts 3:7-11; 5:12-16; 14:8-18, etc.); resurrections (Acts 9:39-42;
20:8-12); laws of nature (Acts 4:31; 5:19; 12:10; 16:26, etc.). Whether or not,
in our cynical state of enlightenment, we are able to recognize miracles in our
present age, we must admit that the Scriptures affirm Jesus’ promise to the
disciples that they would do what they saw and understood him to do. Having
established that, we can move on to Jesus’ other promise that the disciples would
do even “greater things.”
What
could be “greater” than relieving someone of their demonic possession? That
depends on who you ask—If you ask the person possessed or the people who had to
endure that person, nothing could be “greater.” But would Jesus agree? What
could be “greater” than curing someone’s infirmity? That depends on who you
ask—If you ask the person who received their sight or hearing or ability to
talk or if you ask the person who is no longer sick, or the people who care for
those who are infirm, nothing could be “greater.” But would Jesus agree? What
could be “greater” than raising someone from the dead? That depends on who you ask—If
you ask the person raised from the dead or the survivors, nothing could be
“greater.” But would Jesus agree? What could be “greater” than being able to
manipulate the laws of nature? That depends on who you ask—If you ask the
person who could steer severe weather away from your home and the home of
others that might be injured, nothing could be “greater.” But would Jesus
agree? I’m purposely being redundant in order to illustrate a point. Jesus and
his disciples performed all these miracles and many more yet people continue to
be possessed by demonic forces; people continue to suffer with cancer, birth
defects and every other unimaginable infirmity; people continue to die at all
ages and people are still devastated by horrific natural disasters. So perhaps
we should reconsider our understanding of the general purpose of these and
other miracles. Perhaps we should begin to understand them as markers or
signposts directing us to something else; something “greater.” Perhaps we
should begin to understand them as a reminder of the way things should have
been and will be again someday; maybe they are a reminder of something
“greater.” What if the “greater” thing that Jesus was referring to has been
staring us in the face the whole time? Pick the greatest thing that Jesus ever
did—could that be the “greater thing” that Jesus was talking about? I don’t
know what you picked as the greatest thing Jesus did but I picked Jesus’
greatest work as making it possible for me to be reconciled to God for
eternity. If the “greater thing” Jesus’ wanted to do was to do more miracles
then wouldn’t that have been his preeminent instruction to his disciples? I
would think so, but it wasn’t. Instead, what was his overriding instruction to
his disciples? You can find it at the end of Matthew’s gospel: “Therefore
go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father
and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I
have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age
(Mt 28:19-20).” Do you remember what this is referred to? It is best known as
“The Great Commission!” Could this be the “greater thing” that Jesus was
referring to? I believe it is! “Is the point in view not rather the conveying
to people of the spiritual realities of which the works of Jesus are ‘signs’?
All the works of Jesus are significant of the saving sovereignty of God at work
among humankind through the eschatological Redeemer. The main reality to which
they point, and which makes their testimony a set of variations on a single
theme, is the life eternal of the kingdom of God through Jesus its mediator.”[1]
Although
we have perhaps established some clarity to v.12, we’re now left trying to
understand vv. 13-14 which can be even more confusing. Jesus says that he will
do anything for us that we ask in his name. Ok by show of hands, how many of
you have tried this and failed? Yeah, me too! It seems so easy doesn’t it? Just
pray for something, throw in the words “In Jesus’ name” at the end and: Poof!
Stand back and watch the miracles happen! Except when you’re sitting at the
bedside of your child who has cancer, there’s no: Poof! Only sickness, pain and
sorrow. When you’re standing over the grave of a loved one, there’s no: Poof!
Only grief, anger and loneliness. We pray for a child addicted to drugs and
living on the street to be healed and come home but it doesn’t happen. We pray
that our marriage will be healed and our spouse would love us the way they once
did, but it doesn’t happen. We pray that our lessons and classes would be
easier, but it doesn’t happen. We offer countless prayers “in Jesus’ name” that
are never answered. So we think we’re left with only one of two options: Either
God won’t answer our prayers or he can’t. But what if it’s not that easy? What
if it’s not “either/or”? “To pray ‘in Jesus’ name’ is to pray in union with
Jesus’ person and purpose because the ‘name’ of a person symbolized his essence
and destiny.”[2]
During Jesus’ time, officials and wealthy landowners would send representatives
to do business on their behalf. In the process of doing this business, the
representative represented the official or landowner’s name as though the
official or landowner had themselves been involved in the business dealing. As
such, the representative wouldn’t or couldn’t do something contrary to what the
actual official or landowner would or could do. It’s kind of like this when we
pray “in Jesus’ name.” Let me illustrate: What if we prayed, “in Jesus’ name”
of course, to be able to break the law without being caught? When the prayer
goes unanswered, is it because God can’t or won’t answer? Neither and both!
It’s because the prayer misrepresented the name of Jesus. A prayer was made in
the name of Jesus that Jesus wouldn’t have made! This illustration is rather
obvious but the same principle applies to all prayers offered “in Jesus’ name”
even if they seem completely legitimate. God hears all prayers but answers
those that are in accordance with his will whether we think it’s fair or not.
Ultimately, all answered and unanswered prayers will serve to bring glory to
God at all times. What then does it mean to pray in the name of Jesus? “This is
not some magical formula. It signifies that the suppliant takes the posture and
attitude of Christ toward God and toward the world. To pray ‘in his name’ is
therefore to pray in a manner consistent with our new identity effected by the
reconciliation of God and humans in Jesus Christ. That is to say, the use of
Jesus’ name in prayer is effective not as some sort of password that can be
used indiscriminately by every petitioner. It is only effective to pray ‘in
Jesus’ name’ if we are truly living
in the name of Jesus. This phrase, then, has more to do with the identification
of the person who prays than it does with right methods or conditions of
prayer. Such prayer guards against a misreading of God’s nature and will, and
saves prayer from human selfishness and presumption.”[3]
So
are these verses bound together in an unbroken circle that includes the
“greater things” of spreading the Gospel message and praying in Jesus’ name to
be able to do the “greater things” of spreading the Gospel message and nothing
else? Yes and no. Sorry, I wish it were that basic but the two are bound
together in the everyday life of believers in ways we don’t always realize. Yes,
because spreading the Gospel message is always the “greater thing.” No, because
we don’t just pray “in Jesus’ name” for the opportunity to do the “greater
thing.” We pray for many different things yet God always seems to use our
various prayers to accomplish the “greater thing” anyway. Let me try and
illustrate.
During the 2nd
century AD, the Roman Empire experienced what some believe was the first
recorded appearance of smallpox in the west. The pandemic was so devastating
and widespread that it is reported that at least one third of the empire’s
population died over a 15 year period. At its height, it is reported that as
many as 5,000 people were dying each day. In the midst of this, unbelievers who
could, were fleeing the empire while Christians remained behind to care for the
sick and dying at the very real risk of being infected themselves. Dionysius
wrote:
“Most
of our brother Christians showed unbounded love and loyalty, never sparing
themselves and thinking only of one another. Heedless of danger, they took
charge of the sick, attending to their every need and ministering to them in
Christ, and with them departed this life serenely happy; for they were infected
by others with the disease, drawing on themselves the sickness of their
neighbors and cheerfully accepting their pains. Many, in nursing and curing
others, transferred their death to themselves and died in their stead…The best
of our brothers lost their lives in this manner, a number of presbyters,
deacons, and laymen winning high commendation so that death in this form, the
result of great piety and strong faith, seems in every way the equal of
martyrdom.”[4]
Nevertheless, the
mortality rate for Christians was far lower than that of unbelievers because
Christians cared for Christians and others who grew sick until they grew strong
enough to care for themselves while unbelievers cared only for themselves until
they were too sick and week and would eventually die. Dionysius continued: “The
heathen behaved in the very opposite way. At the first onset of the disease,
they pushed sufferers away and fled from their dearest, throwing them into the
roads before they were dead and treated the unburied corpses as dirt, hoping
thereby to avert the spread and contagion of the fatal disease; but do what
they might, they found it difficult to escape.”[5]
So what, I’m sure you might be wondering, does this have to do with our subject
text or your everyday life? I’m getting to it. I surmise that it is quite
likely that these Christian caretakers prayed for healing for those who were in
their care. In fact, we shouldn’t be surprised if they offered those prayers in
Jesus’ name. Not all survived but many did. So what was the point then? “For
one thing, if, during the crisis, Christians fulfilled their ideal of
ministering to everyone, there would
be many pagan survivors who owed their lives to their Christian neighbors. For
another, no one could help but notice that Christians not only found the
capacity to risk death but were much less likely to die.”[6]
The result of these actions by Christians during this particular crisis was
instrumental in the significant expansion of Christianity during and after
those years of disease, death and restoration. Ultimately, the “greater thing”
was accomplished even if that was not the overall objective of the caregivers.
So we see that the believers cared deeply for the health and welfare of those
who were sick and dying and that was very good. But the “greater thing” was
that some of those who became well through the care and prayers of believers
became Christians themselves. And simple, everyday Christians were instrumental
in making that happen! If I have established that this is the “greater thing”
Jesus was referring to then it is truly amazing that he “believes” in us enough
to actually do it. It is no small matter to encourage someone to do great
things and this is exactly what Jesus was doing with his disciples and what
countless Christians do every day with believers and unbelievers alike. With
the exception of convincing someone that they are loved, I’m not sure there is
anything more powerful than the encouragement of hearing the words You Will Do Great Things!
Application
Alfred
was a star high school football player in Houston who caught the eye of many
college football scouts. Alfred eventually agreed to play college football at
the University of Colorado. Bill McCartney was the head football coach when
Alfred arrived in camp. Alfred tells the story that he didn’t really take his
opportunity to play college football very seriously and like many 18-year olds,
he took his talents for granted. After some time, Coach Mac (as everyone
affectionately knows him here in Colorado), a devoted Christian, took Alfred
aside to speak with him privately. Alfred tells the story that Coach Mac looked
him in the eyes and said: “Alfred, I believe in you. You are going to be a
great football player.” Alfred recalls that this singular event spoke to the
very core of his being. People had simply used his skills to accomplish their
goals but this was the first time someone believed in him for his sake. Alfred
Williams went on to be a consensus All-American in 1989, a unanimous
All-American and Butkus Award winner in 1990. He was the captain of the 1990 University
of Colorado National Championship Team and was inducted into the College
Football Hall of Fame in 2010. He was drafted 18th overall in the
1991 National Football League draft. He was selected as an All-Pro defensive
end in 1996 and was part of the Denver Broncos Championship Teams of 1997 and
1998. Of the countless stories Alfred has shared about his career, being told
that someone believes in him and believes he will do great things was the
transformative event of his life.
We
won’t all have the opportunity to encourage a football champion but that shouldn’t
stop us from encouraging the people in our lives with the knowledge that we
believe in them. This is not just a matter of words. This is a process of being
deeply involved with people so that your words of encouragement carry weight in
their lives. Let me just add a few practical suggestions to help you in this
regard. First, if you come across someone who is an encourager in your life,
hold fast to that person and don’t let go because they are few and far between.
Then, if you have been the beneficiary of encouragement, cultivate a
relationship with someone in need of encouragement and be the person in their
life to lift them up to do “great things.” Additionally, move outside your own
age demographic. If you are young, please find someone older than you are to
encourage. At times, older people require more encouragement than do younger
people because they believe their value has diminished. If you are older,
please find a young person to encourage. You know very well how discouraging
life can be. Be there for a young person so when the difficulties of life begin
to wear away their confidence, you can be there to lift them up. If Christ
believed in us to do “greater things” than he did, it is incumbent on us to
occasionally encourage those we are in relationship with by reminding them that:
You Will Do Great Things!
[1] George
R. Beasley-Murray, John, Word Biblical
Commentary, (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1999), p. 254.
[2] Bruce
Barton, Philip Comfort, Grant Osborne, Linda K. Taylor, and Dave Veerman, Life Application New Testament Commentary,
(Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2001), p. 436.
[3] Walter
A. Elwell, ed., Baker Theological
Dictionary of the Bible, (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1996), p. 624.
[4] Rodney
Start, The Rise of Christianity,
(Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1996), p. 82.
[5] Ibid.,
p. 83.
[6] Ibid.,
p. 90.
