WHY IS THIS DIFFICULT?

Theological

In what sense could Jesus' followers perform works greater than those performed by Jesus himself?

 Understanding the Saying

Jesus tells his disciples that whoever believes in him will do the works he has been doing—and “greater works than these.” The statement seems astonishing. Jesus heals the sick, gives sight to the blind, raises the dead, and performs signs that John presents as revelations of his identity. How could his followers possibly do something greater?

The answer depends partly upon what Jesus means by “greater.” Greater need not mean more spectacular.

 Interpretations

One interpretation understands the greater works quantitatively. Jesus' earthly ministry was geographically limited, while after his departure the message would spread through his disciples across nations and generations. The number of people reached through their ministry would therefore become vastly greater.

Another interpretation emphasizes the new situation created by Jesus' death, resurrection, and return to the Father. Jesus explicitly says the greater works will occur “because I am going to the Father.” His departure is therefore not incidental to the promise.

On this reading, the disciples participate in the work of the risen Jesus after the decisive events of salvation have occurred. Their proclamation brings people to faith in the crucified and risen Christ in a way that could not happen before those events took place.

Some Christians have understood the promise primarily in terms of miraculous works and expect Jesus' followers to perform miracles equal to or exceeding those recorded in the Gospels. The wording does not exclude miraculous activity, but defining “greater” simply as more impressive miracles creates an obvious difficulty: the New Testament does not portray the apostles as routinely surpassing Jesus' signs.

 Assessment

The phrase “because I am going to the Father” provides the strongest interpretive clue. The greater works belong to the period following Jesus' death, resurrection, exaltation, and the continuing mission of his followers.

They are therefore best understood not as disciples becoming more powerful than Jesus, but as Jesus' own work reaching a new stage through them. The worldwide proclamation of the risen Christ and the resulting transformation of lives can properly be called “greater” because it follows and communicates the completed work toward which Jesus' earthly ministry was moving.

Why It Matters

Jesus does not describe his departure as the end of his work. His followers become participants in its continuation. The saying gives extraordinary importance to ordinary Christian witness: the work begun in Jesus' earthly ministry expands beyond its original place and time through people who believe in him.

 Sources & Further Reading

Christian Dietzfelbinger, “Die größeren Werke (Joh 14.12f.)”, New Testament Studies 35, no. 1 (1989), pp. 27-47, 1989

Provides a focused exegetical treatment of John 14:12-13 and emphasizes Jesus' going to the Father as essential for understanding the “greater works” performed through his followers.