Do you think anybody could "out-do" Jesus in terms of miracles? Consider all He did that is recorded in the Bible: He walked on water, calmed a storm, changed water into wine, healed all kinds of diseases, cast out numerous demons, and even raised a man from the dead. Surely no one would ever argue that they could top these!!
Yet, in Jn. 14:12, we read these words spoken by Jesus...
"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to the Father."
It is clear Jesus is referencing miracles in v. 11. Is He really saying that others who follow Him will do "greater works than these"? Well, yes and no.
We have to consider the complete teaching of the N.T. to adequately answer this question. Would there ever be anyone else after Jesus who would do the same works He did? Yes; we can read of the apostles doing the same kinds of things Jesus did. There were healings (Acts 3:1-8; 19:12). There were demons cast out (Acts 16:16-18; 19:12). There were resurrections from the dead (Acts 9:36-41; 20:9-12).
Did Jesus mean that "all" believers in all ages will be able to do these works? No; along with these verses one must read passages like 1 Cor. 13:8-10 that place limitations on the exercise of these spiritual powers.
But now to the real dilemma...
What did Jesus mean when He said, "...greater works than these"? How can any man today "out-do" the Lord or one of His chosen apostles? With respect to these physical miracles, no one can. However, I believe that to which Jesus refers would be non-miraculous works, works in which all followers of the Lord are to be engaged. Would not bringing a lost soul to the Lord "out-do" walking on water or even restoring life to a dead body? It would, when we consider the eternal ramifications of the work itself. While not diminishing anything Christ did, those miracles affected conditions in the earthly realm (water, sickness, the human body). Teaching somone about the Lord so that he obeys the gospel and has his soul saved reaches far beyond this realm...it reaches into eternity. That, my friend, is a "work" greater than any miracle...a work Jesus would gladly see us do.
