POLITICS: “THE GREATER WORKS THAT JESUS COULD NOT DO THAT YE SHALL DO” John6:47

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By Edward O’Hara

Jesus told His disciples “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.”

This was in reference to the ministry they would have when they would be filled with and led by the Holy Spirit. Works they would be doing after Jesus’ death and resurrection when He left to be with the Father. When a New Covenant would be in power by His death and resurrection that would make all of this possible.

But, when I first heard this as a new believer it used to make me wonder how anyone could do greater works than Jesus did. I mean Jesus healed the sick. The lame were made to walk. The blind could see. And He cast demons out of people who were possessed. And so much more. What else is there that could be greater works than these? Have you ever wondered what Jesus meant when He said this?

When we look into the ministry Jesus had. And compare it to the ministry Paul said believers have. We begin to see what this means. And what exactly it was that Jesus was referring to when He told them that greater works shall you do than these.

Our first clue can be found in Gal.4:4 where Paul said Jesus was born under the law. Because as long as Jesus was here on earth and under the law there was something that could not be done that can only be done in the New Covenant under grace.

Under the law Paul says they were subject to “touch not, taste not, and handle not”. He also said under the law the wages of sin is death. And that the ministry of the law was one of condemnation and death.

This is why Jesus said in Mt.5:17,18 “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” He was telling them that the reason He came was to fulfill the law so that it could pass away. Because as long as the law remained they would continue to be “shut up unto the faith” that should after Jesus’ death be revealed.

After Jesus told them that He came to fulfill the law so that it could pass away. He said, 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

Does this sound a little contradictory to you? It certainly can if we don’t get what Jesus is doing here. He is showing them how things are while the law remains. That they must keep it. And here He says that while it remains those who do not keep it will be considered least in the kingdom.

Because all who are under the law are slaves to it. Slaves to touch not and taste not as Paul said in Col.2 when he said, “Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,

21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;

22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body: not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.”

Now going back to vs.20 of Mt.5 Jesus brings them to His conclusion saying, “For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

Now how could anyone have a righteousness that exceeded the righteousness of the Pharisees who vigorously and religiously kept the law. They attended temple services. Made sacrifice. And kept all of the demands the law made upon them.

Because simply keeping the law does not show faith toward God. But, only a fear of punishment for not keeping it. And for many it was the means for righteousness. A righteousness of works and not of faith.

This is why Jesus told them they were whitewashed tombs full of dead men’s bones. On the outward they were keeping the law blamelessly. But, it had no affect in regard to loving one another. Which is why Jesus told them that love for God and one another fulfills all that the law ever said.

This is also what Paul taught in Heb.9 when he said, “For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh”.

Here he was speaking of the whitewashed tomb that Jesus referred to. The flesh here is analogous to the tomb. It was cleansed by the keeping of the law and its sacrifices just as Heb.9:13 says. But, by the keeping of the law nothing is done on the inside of the man. But, only the outward.

Which is why in vs.14 Paul said, “14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”

Here he shows us that it is Jesus’ death alone that has the power to cleanse the man in his heart. Making his conscience to be purged from the dead works of the law. So that he is delivered from sin by being delivered from the law. By the taking away of the law itself, something that was confirmed when Jesus said “it is finished”.

This makes it possible for the Jew to be completely cleansed from sin both outwardly and in his inner beliefs. Something that was never possible while Israel was under the law.

This is done by the creation of a spirit in man that was never there before. A spirit that relates the man to God spiritually. A relationship that is as that between a Father and His children. Enabled to hear Him when He speaks to us now in a way that before Jesus’ death was never possible.

Having His love shed abroad in our hearts by the now indwelling Holy Spirit. Also something that never happened to any man before. In times past only coming upon a man only to leave again and again.

This is the righteousness of faith that was never possible by the law. The righteousness that exceeds the righteousness of the Pharisees. Because the Pharisees sought only the righteousness that comes by the works of the law. And never knew the righteousness of faith that men like Abraham, and Jesus had.

This is why in Ps.51 David prayed saying “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.” He never knew the indwelling Holy Spirit. Because it was not for them. It was for us who believe who live in the New Covenant.

So all of this. Jesus’ death, the spirit birth, the indwelling Holy Spirit, and all that comes with this is why men in this dispensation “do greater works than these” as Jesus said.

Because New Covenant believers are equipped for a ministry that previously men could not be equipped for. Which is why until this dispensation there was no call from God for His people to proselytize. A ministry that in 2Cor.5:18-20 Paul calls “the ministry of reconciliation”.

This ministry brings the gospel to those who do not yet know Jesus. So that they can also have created in them a spirit that joins them to God making them His children. And a part of God’s ecclesia. His fellowship of believers in Jesus. And the indwelling Holy Spirit to teach them to love as God does. A love no man knows until he knows Jesus.

This is the greater work than Jesus did that all who believe in Him for eternal life can now do. This is a greater miracle than all the blind ayes being able to see. Or the lame legs being able to walk. Or any of the miracles that Jesus ever did while living as a man here on earth.

But, first we have to know Him. And to know Him we must first believe the gospel when it is preached. Because to know Him we first need to believe in Him. And knowing Him is eternal life. And with His Spirit and our new spirit that has been created in us we need to allow the dynamic power of the Holy Spirit to help us share the gospel with others.

Not just any gospel. But, only that gospel which Paul preached. Not one that says Jesus was just a man as JW’s believe. Not one that says Jesus was a man who later became a God as Mormonism teaches. And not one that says Jesus could not come in the same flesh all men have as RC and Protestants preach because they believe the gnostic doctrine of original sin and sin nature that says the flesh is evil.

These are all the false christs that Jesus told the Jews would come that they were not to listen to in Mt.24. And those of the false gospel Paul spoke of in Gal.1 saying those who preach such a false gospel are anathema. Which is to be accursed.

The true gospel is found in Paul’s message of the ministry of reconciliation that says, “19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”

To preach Paul’s gospel of reconciliation to God we must tell them then that “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them.” And we are not to tell them that God has condemned them because their sins are imputed to them. As many of these cults I just mentioned do.

Any other gospel leads to a belief in false Jesus. And therefore a false atonement. Which is why Paul said in Gal.1:6-9, “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:

7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”

So when speaking to men about salvation we must show them that first and foremost God does not condemn them for any bad behavior they may have done. But, has instead made every provision to show them they are not condemned by bad behavior.

And that if they will trust in Jesus for eternal life to be joined with God by the creation of a spirit in them they will be born again and on their way to the kingdom of God. To live with their Father forever.

These are the greater works that Jesus told the disciples they would do. These are the greater works that we can also do. They and we would preach the gospel and men would be made a new creation as 2Cor.5:17 says. That old things would pass away. And all things would become new.

This is the promise of eternal life and immortality that is available only by believing in Jesus unto eternal life. By doing as Paul said in Rom.10:9,10 saying that if we will confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus. And believe in our hearts that He has raised from the dead. We shall be saved.

And being commissioned by God we share this gospel with the whole world. So that they can choose of their own free will to either accept God’s gracious gift. Or to reject it.

Because it is with the heart Paul says a man chooses to believe and is righteous. And with the mouth a man confesses and is saved.

If you will do this then you will have eternal life now. And made a child of God and heir to His kingdom because of the spirit He creates in you. If you will do this then immortality will also be yours at the resurrection. If you will do this… then I will see you there or in the air!