In John 14:12-14, Jesus says something really awesome.
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. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
Who can imagine doing greater works than Jesus? Can we walk on water? Create wine from water? Stop storms, cure cancer, raise people from the dead?
If God wanted us to do any of these things, He could certainly give us the power to do them. But miracles are not the point here. Miracles as short term solutions to temporary problems. The transformation of society is a much, much larger work. The real, permanent work of Jesus that brought down the Roman Empire and reshaped Western Civilization was not healing a few lepers, but multiplying Himself in twelve disciples who went out and multiplied that image in hundreds, thousands, and eventually millions more.
What concerns us here, though is not what those greater works might be, but why. Why can we do bigger things than Jesus?
We can do them because we are not the ones who are really doing them. Jesus is. He has given us authority to do things in His name. He made us His representatives on earth, with the ability to use His divine authority to accomplish His purposes. It isn’t that we are particularly great, but that He is, and He has given us the right to speak and act for Him.
“In Jesus’ name” is not some magic mantra that makes things happen. It is a sober accessment of our position in Him. It is who we are in His eyes, not who we claim in a moment of need or bravado. We have both the privilege and responsibility of representing Him in His dealings with the world.
This position is the basis for all our meditation and prayer. We can get aside and hear God’s voice because He has promised to speak for us, so that we can be His spokesmen. If we just come to Him in the morning, and be silent about Him all day, we cannot really claim to be “in Jesus’ name.” If we keep to ourselves and do not engage the world, we are not “in His name” either.
Our position in Him makes us a bridge between God and the rest of the world. That is why we must get alone with Him frequently, to keep that bridge open, and His love and power flowing through us, so the whole world may be blessed.
Today, get in your place of meditation and meditate on these verses.
What does Jesus mean when He says that we will do greater works than He?
Why does God says He will answer your prayers when we pray in Jesus name?
Why should the Father love us?
Jesus, help me remember today that You are the only reason I can speak to the Father. It is Your mercy and grace that makes it possible for me to approach the Throne. If it were not for You, I would not have standing before the Lord of creation. But thanks to You I have the privilege of being called a Child of God. “You died so that I might live. You suffered so that I could be forgiven. You endured the wrath of the Father so that I could be free from my sins. Nothing that I can say or do will ever make me worthy of Your love, but You gave it anyway. Thank You for Your amazing love.
In Jesus’ Name
Amen
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