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Christ’s Followers To Do Greater Works Than He, January 30
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.
John 14:12
.
Christ did not mean that the disciples would make more exalted exertions than
He had made, but that their work would have greater magnitude. He did not refer
merely to miracle working, but to all that would take place under the agency of
the Holy Spirit. “When the Comforter is come,” He said, “whom I will send unto
you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he
shall testify of me: and ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me
from the beginning” (
John 15:26, 27
).
Wonderfully were these words fulfilled. After the descent of the Holy Spirit,
the disciples were so filled with love for Him and for those for whom He died, that
hearts were melted by the words they spoke and the prayers they offered. They
spoke in the power of the Spirit; and under the influence of that power, thousands
were converted.
As Christ’s representatives, the apostles were to make a decided impression on
the world. The fact that they were humble men would not diminish their influence,
but increase it; for the minds of their hearers would be carried from them to
the Saviour, who, though unseen, was still working with them. The wonderful
teaching of the apostles, their words of courage and trust, would assure all that it
was not in their own power that they worked, but in the power of Christ. Humbling
themselves, they would declare that He whom the Jews had crucified was the
Prince of life, the Son of the living God, and that in His name they did the works
that He had done.
In His parting conversation with His disciples on the night before the crucifix-
ion, the Saviour made no reference to the suffering that He had endured and must
yet endure. He did not speak of the humiliation that was before Him, but sought to
bring to their minds that which would strengthen their faith, leading them to look
forward to the joys that await the overcomer. He rejoiced in the consciousness
that He could and would do more for His followers than He had promised; that
from Him would flow forth love and compassion, cleansing the soul temple, and
making men like Him in character; that His truth, armed with the power of the
Spirit, would go forth conquering and to conquer.
“These things I have spoken unto you,” He said, “that in me ye might have
peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome
the world” (
chap. 16:33
).—
The Acts of the Apostles, 22, 23
.
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