Greater works

John 14 :12 says,"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".

A careful study of the meaning of  the word "greater" in John's gospel in  Greek word  shows that the word consistently refers to something that is greater in quality rather than something that is greater in number, and this does not mean that the  believers will do more works than Jesus, but that they will do works qualitatively better than those Jesus did in his ministry. 

The word "works" in John’s gospel in some contexts clearly includes Jesus' miracles (John 7:3, 21; 9:4; 10:25,32,33,37,38), even though the word often includes the idea of miracles, the word "works" cannot be limited to signs and wonders in John’s gospel.

We have some great Biblical scholars that have analyzed what Apostle John meant in John 14:12 as thus:

Four arguments

1) The "greater works" cannot refer to signs and wonders that are greater in quality than those done by Jesus because no believer ever has or ever will do greater miracles than Jesus.

2)  But perhaps John means that believers will do greater works in the sense that we will do more signs and wonders than Jesus? But the Greek word for "greater" used here does not refer to a greater number of works. If John wanted to refer to a greater number of works, he probably would have used the Greek word polla meaning "more." 

3)    The word "works" in John’s gospel in some contexts clearly includes Jesus' miracles (John 7:3, 21; 9:4; 10:25,32,33,37,38). The word "works" cannot be limited to signs and wonders in John’s gospel. For example, John 6:28-29 identifies the "work of God” as "believing in the one whom the Father sent." And in John 8:39 Jesus exhorts the Jews to "do the works of Abraham," and there is no record of Abraham doing miracles, and so Jesus must mean, "do the good deeds of Abraham." 

John 14:10 is especially interesting, for their Jesus says, "The words which I speak to you I do not speak From myself, but the Father abiding in me does his works." 

4)  The greater works, then, refer to the extended work of the Spirit, which will occur when Jesus ascends to the Father. This is not to deny that the Spirit was active previously in significant ways-John 14:12. Jesus says that it will be better if he goes because only when he goes will the Spirit be sent. 

These are some of the arguments  that have been made in validating or supporting the religious view of what our Lord Jesus met in John 14:12. 

This weekend the brethren of Foursquare Gospel Church  Ijeshatedo, Lagos ,Nigeria will be studying this word "Greater works" in order to know the truth and equip themselves for the master use.

Kindly, make yourself available of this great opportunity.

NB: The details are given below:

Venue: Foursquare Gospel, Ijeshatedo off Omilani bus stop, Ijeshamarket, Surulere, Lagos, Nigeria
Ministering: Rev Rilwanu Adamu, Rev. Tunde Nosiru-Host, and Rev. Olusegun Dada District Overseer)

Date and Time: 15th/05/2015 (Friday) by  10 pm, and 17th/05/2105 (Sunday) by 2pm.

May you be blessed as you come in Jesus name.