Jesus says something to his disciples in John 14 which seems a bit gutsy, maybe even a bit hyperbolic. At the very least, it is puzzling. He says, "Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father" (John 14:11-12). Jesus is talking to his closest friends about his impending departure, telling them not to be troubled, assuring them that he is not abandoning them. The unity Jesus enjoys with his Father is the unity into which Jesus invites his disciples through the Spirit of God, the Advocate, the Helper. In this passage, Jesus is not making a statement about how impressive their miracles will be, but letting them know that his physical departure will not result in a cessation of the work of God. In fact, quite the opposite.
Much time has been spent by readers and interpreters trying to decipher what Jesus means by "greater works." The charismatics tend to believe this means miracles and healings. The more conservative evangelical folks say this refers to the spreading of the gospel resulting in salvation for many. It is interesting how much time is spent defining "works" and how little attention is given to the accompanying qualifier.
Let us take a close look at some of our assumptions around this word, "greater." When it comes to this adjective, we automatically think in terms of something being superlative, better than, superior to, near the top of a hierarchy. In other words, we think in terms of scarcity, where only one can be at the top of the heap. This vertical way of thinking always gets us into trouble, especially if we try to apply it to the way of Jesus. The teachings of Jesus dismantle a competitive, exclusive orientation. He says the first will be the last, the greatest is actually the servant of all, and he identifies himself with the least of these. So what does he mean when he uses the word, "greater?" Is it really a step up from great? A besting of Jesus's inaugural works? A case where the students outperform the teacher? No, because that would contradict the rest of Jesus's teachings and actions. You never see him encouraging comparison and competition, never see him urging his disciples to best each other. Jesus is always moving people toward humble service, faithful community, and loving inclusion.
So what is Jesus saying? Like many of his teachings, I believe he is both critiquing the way people think about the kingdom of God and energizing them so that they can participate more fully in this kingdom (thanks to Walter Brueggemann for this phrasing). Megas, the Greek word here, means abundant, large, spacious, all the more, great in the widest sense. Instead of a competitive word, we have a word which invites us into the broad and expansive nature of God's work. Instead of setting up a hierarchy of great works where one person outperforms the other, Jesus is throwing open the doors for the disciples to participate in the great work of God, assuring them that the ministry of Jesus is not coming to a close, but, in a sense, has just begun.
In the last supper that Jesus shares with his disciples, we find this same idea: at the very point of apparent dissolution and disintegration, there is actually a broadening and expansion taking place. Jesus breaks bread into pieces and distributes them to his disciples, saying, "This is my body," indicating his impending death. In the breaking of bread, in the dismembering, he asks his disciples to re-member, to join the parts together again. This is the birth of the church, the body of Christ, and it is "greater than" the physical body of Jesus. Not because it is superior, but because it is a new expression, a broader, more expansive, more inclusive, more pervasive, more diverse expression of the love of God. The body of Christ is "greater than" the body of Jesus and yet it serves Christ. It is also the least.
In John 14, I believe Jesus might be turning the idea of greatness or competition on its head. He does tend to do this. Speaking to the crowd about his cousin, the prophet, he says: "Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he" (Matt. 11:11). The least is greater than the greatest? What is that supposed to mean? It means that we have to rethink the idea of greatness. Back to John 14. The disciples have been known to quarrel about who is greater, who will be Jesus's right-hand guy, who will reign with Jesus, etc. When Jesus tells them they will do greater works, I can imagine him pausing for a second, noting their reactions. Have they grasped what he has taught them and showed them? Do they see that following Jesus means to serve, not to be served? Do they know that the doorway to life is death? Do they comprehend that love is shown through sacrifice? Do they understand that the way of Jesus is not moving up a holy hierarchy but extending a hand to strangers and sinners? Do their eyes widen at the possibility of an impressive ministry of miracles or do their eyes fall to the ground as they realize that greater sacrifice, greater service, and greater persecution await them as they step into the "greater works" of the Spirit of Jesus?
Their reactions probably varied from hopeful excitement to puzzlement to fear. Jesus reassures his disciples that the great love of the Father encompasses them all, that they do not need to be troubled or afraid, that the peace of Christ is their constant companion. To me, that is a promise greater than doing "greater works."
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Image from edublog.amdsb.ca
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