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Sermon

How to Do Greater Works than Jesus Did

Speaker
David Capoccia
Scripture
John 14:7-17

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Note: This transcript and summary was autogenerated. It has not yet been proofread or edited by a human.

Summary

This passage from John 14:7-17 teaches that believers already see the invisible Father through the Son, and that through Jesus’ accomplished salvation, answered prayer, and indwelling Spirit, we are empowered to do even greater works than Jesus did during His earthly ministry. The promise of greater works is not about surpassing the cross or performing mightier miracles, but about the expanded extent and impact of God’s work through His people in the post-cross era.

Key Lessons:

  1. Believers already see the invisible Father through Jesus — there is no need to pine for some further revelation of God beyond what is revealed in Christ.
  2. Jesus personally answers the prayers of His people from heaven, especially prayers for the grace and strength to obey Him.
  3. The Holy Spirit as “another Paraclete” carries on and even surpasses the ministry Jesus had with His disciples physically, because the Spirit dwells *in* believers rather than merely *with* them.
  4. The “greater works” believers accomplish are greater not in quality or power but in extent and impact — the gospel has spread across the world because Jesus went to the Father.

Application: We are called to pray boldly for obedience and faithfulness, to rely on the indwelling Holy Spirit, and to attempt great things for God with confidence — not in our own strength, but in the assurance that Jesus Himself empowers every good work through His accomplished salvation, His answering of prayer, and His Spirit within us.

Discussion Questions:

  1. In what areas of obedience or service do you feel too weak or afraid, and how does Jesus’ promise to personally answer your prayers for help change your perspective?
  2. How does understanding that we already see the Father in Jesus reshape the way we approach Scripture, worship, and longing for God’s presence?
  3. What “great things” might God be calling you to attempt this week, and what would it look like to rely on the means Jesus provides — prayer, His Spirit, and His accomplished salvation — rather than your own strength?

Scripture Focus: John 14:7-17 — Jesus teaches that seeing Him is seeing the Father (vv. 7-11), promises believers will do His same and greater works (v. 12), pledges to personally answer prayer (vv. 13-14), calls for love-motivated obedience (v. 15), and promises the indwelling Holy Spirit as another Paraclete (vv. 16-17). Supporting passages include John 1:18, 1 John 2:1, Hebrews 4:16, and Ephesians 2:10.

Outline

Introduction

Let’s pray together.

Holy God in heaven, we ask for your empowerment now. God, empower me to speak your word.

Lord, empower those who listen to hear your word and to apply it. God empower us that we would not be distracting or distracted, but that we would persevere to give close attention to what you speak to us today from your holy word.

Be glorified in the outcome in Jesus name. Amen.

Now, it’s been a while since I featured my children in a sermon introduction.

So, I figure it’s about time.

Recently, I noticed that my two and a halfyear-old son, Benjamin, has developed a fear. A fear of street lights.

Actually, Benjamin loves lights generally, but he does not like the way that street lights seem to loom over him.

So these days when I walk with him around the neighborhood and we approach one of the street lights, he will suddenly announce skirt.

And he is hesitant to move forward. I’ve tried reassuring him that he has nothing to fear from the lights and that he has passed under them and by them many times before and he’s been totally fine. But this does not move him.

The only way right now that I can get Benjamin to walk past street lights is by holding his hand because then he feels then he knows that his daddy is with him and that if anything goes wrong, daddy will protect and provide.

Now, like my son, have you ever similarly longed for someone to help you with the looming issues of your life?

Someone who has consently strong, wise, and experienced. Someone who loves you no matter what. Someone who will not only be with you, but who will also enable you to do whatever it is that you need to do.

The 11 disciples thought that they had found such a person in the man Jesus of Nazareth.

Over three and a half years of following him, the disciples saw for themselves Jesus powerfully bringing them through many dangerous and seemingly impossible to resolve situations.

Jesus even empowered the disciples themselves to preach the gospel and do miracles when he sent them out as 12 and then also as 70 in a a test period of ministry.

The 11 disciples therefore came to rely on Jesus not merely as a great rabbi but as the long awaited Messiah and the son of God even God himself in human flesh.

I mean, this would be their attitude. If Jesus is at their side, they’re ready to take on the world for his sake.

But then during Passover in AD30, Jesus announced that he was shortly going away.

His disciples could not come with Jesus, but they were instead to do important work for Jesus after Jesus left. They were to love and serve one another just like Jesus loved and served them. They were to keep his word. They were to teach it to others. And they were to persevere in following Jesus amid many trials and persecutions.

What would the disciples have thought of these sudden declarations? You’re going away, but you’ve given us these great tasks to do.

Perhaps they were thinking the following.

But Jesus, we can’t do these things without you.

This is too hard. This is too scary. We are too weak. We’ve come to rely on you, Jesus. If you go away, how can we do anything?

Well, again, Jesus knew how his disciples would be troubled.

And anticipating their worries, he speaks special words of comfort to them before he departs.

In our next passage in Jesus farewell discourse in John 13:17, we will see that one of the comforts that Jesus gives his disciples is a striking promise about the work that he has called them to do.

Jesus promises that his disciples would not only do the same good works that Jesus himself did, but also that his disciples would do even greater works.

And this promise is not just for the original 11, but for whomever believes in Jesus. And that includes us today here at Calvary.

How is it that Jesus going away to the father made it so that we Christians will accomplish even greater works than Jesus did?

And why should this promise give us great confidence as we face the looming issues and tasks set before us in our lives? That’s what I want to investigate with you today. So, if you would take your Bibles, please open to the Gospel of John, chapter 14.

We’re going to be looking at verses 7-1 17 today as we consider what I’ve entitled How to Do Greater Works Than Jesus Did John 14 7-17. If you’re using the Bibles that we provided, you can find our passage on page 178. We’re looking at how to do greater works than Jesus did. And we’re going to jump right into the passage. So, please follow along as I read John 14:7-17.

This is Jesus speaking.

If you had known me, you would have known my father also. From now on him and have seen him.

Philip said to him, Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know me, Philillip? He who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, “Show us the Father?” Do you not believe that I am in the Father, the Father is in me?

The words that I say to you, I do not speak on my own initiative, but the Father abiding in me does his works.

Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Otherwise, believe because of the works themselves.

Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me, the works that I do, he will do also, and greater works than these, he will do, because I go to the Father.

Whatever you ask in my name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

I will ask the father and he will give you another helper that he may be with you forever. That is the spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive because it does not see him or know him. But him because he abides with you and will be in you.

The Farewell Discourse Context

So here we are again in the upper room with Jesus and his 11 disciples after the Passover meal and after Judas has left to betray Jesus. Jesus again is speaking his farewell discourse to his 11 disciples. These final words of instruction and encouragement before Jesus departs to the cross and later to glory.

Now, this discourse opened in John 13 with Jesus fundamentally calling on his disciples to follow his example. Love one another. Serve one another as I have served you. But chapter 14 is all about comfort. You may notice just glancing back up to verse one, Jesus begins what is this chapter in our Bibles by saying, “Do not let your heart be troubled.

Believe in God, believe also in me.” And that theme carries through even to the end of the passage as you go to or the end of the chapter as you go to verse 27 near near the end the latter part of verse 27. Do not let your heart be troubled nor let it be fearful.

So if you’ll allow me to revise the outline I previously provided you for the whole discourse very slightly, I would say this whole chapter John 14:1-31 is just comforts. Jesus provides eight heavenly comforts for the troubled heart to embrace by faith. Now, we’ve already seen a few of these in the earlier part of the passage. Last time we were together in this gospel, we saw the first of the three heavenly comforts that Jesus gives his disciples in verses 1-6. I’m not going to take the time to review those in a in a great way.

“Chapter 14 is all about comfort. ‘Do not let your heart be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me.’”

I’ll just repeat the titles I gave to you before. And remember, I articulated these in such a way that we see these comforts are for us as well.

In verse two, we saw comfort number one from Jesus, which is that Jesus has prepared a home for us by going to the cross. By accomplishing redemption, Jesus secured, he prepared a home in heaven, in God’s house for us. In verse three, we saw comfort.

Number two, Jesus is coming again for us. He desires so much for us to be where he is, to be enjoyed, and to enjoy us that he will come and get us. And he will do that at the rapture. And then in verses 4 to 6, we saw comfort number three.

We already know God’s only way. We don’t have to worry that somehow we’ve missed the way to the father. We’ve missed true life or we’ve missed truth. No, we already know it in Jesus, in the person of Jesus.

And he is our way and really the only way anyone gets to God. Now, in verses 7 to 17, Jesus provides two further comforts and that’s what we’re going to focus on today. Two further heavenly comforts for the troubled heart to embrace by faith.

Comfort #4: We Already See the Invisible Father

The next heavenly comfort that Jesus announces to his original disciples and us is in verses 7 to 11. And that’s this comfort number four.

We already see the invisible father.

Jesus’ Promise: Knowing Him Means Knowing the Father

We as believers already see the invisible father. Look at verse seven again to start.

Jesus says, “If you had known me, you would have known my father also. From now on him and have seen him.” Now that statement might strike you as a bit cryptic. What is Jesus really saying? Well, before I try and break it down, I should tell you that there is some variation in the surviving biblical manuscripts for the beginning of verse 7.

Namely, two of the verb phrases that we see reflected here in our New American Standard 95 translation, had known and would have known, are different in certain other ancient copies. In some other copies of of John, we have for verse 7, have known and will know. So, not had known, but have known and not would have known, but will know.

And if you happen to have the Legacy Standard Bible translation, you’ll actually see that the translators went with those other ancient copies for their rendering of the beginning of verse 7, which is I’ll give it to you if you don’t have that translation. Jesus saying, “If you have come to know me, you will know my father also.” The LSB’s translation is likely more accurate here, and it’s the one I’m going to go with for my explanation of this passage.

Because you see, Jesus is not rebuking his disciples at the beginning of verse 7 for not really knowing him, which is what a phrase like had known would suggest.

After all, Jesus just said in verses 4 to6 that his disciples do know him as the way, the truth, and the life. And therefore, they should find comfort.

He’s not going to turn around in the next verse and say, “You guys don’t really know me.” Instead, Jesus is now providing a further comfort.

Since they have come to know Jesus, Jesus indicates that means they will know the father also.

In other words, coming to know Jesus in an intimate saving way, in an intimate saving relationship, it automatically means that believers will be given a greater revelation of Jesus’ heavenly father.

“Coming to know Jesus in an intimate saving relationship automatically means believers will be given a greater revelation of the Father.”

And though Jesus speaks of this new relational knowledge as future in the beginning of verse 7, he then clarifies at the end of verse 7, from now on him and have seen him. Now pay close attention to those verb phrases. Him is present tense indicating an already existing reality.

And you have seen him is present perfect tense indicating a reality that began in the past and continues into the present.

So what is Jesus saying?

That knowing him not only means believers will know the father in a greater way but also that they already know and have come to know the father.

Notice though the word Jesus uses at the end of verse 7. It isn’t know but it’s see. You have seen him that is the father. Now, why is that word choice noteworthy?

Because the Bible teaches that the father is an invisible spirit and cannot be seen with the unglorified human eye.

I won’t take you through the verse references, but 1 Timothy 1:17, 1 Timothy 6:16, and Colossians 1:15 all emphasize you cannot see the father. He dwells in inapproachable light. He is invisible.

So how then can Jesus make this assertion that his disciples have seen are seeing and will see God the father so as to really know him.

Actually our author John has already provided the answer earlier in his gospel John 1:18. Do you remember?

No one has seen God at any time. That is the father. The only begotten God who is in the bosom of the father. He has explained him.

John 1:18: “No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten God… He has explained Him.”

Philip’s Request to See the Father

Jesus himself will explain this concept to his disciples again in a moment. But first, we get a well-meaning but misunderstanding statement from Philillip in verse 8. Verse 8 says, “Philip said to him,”Lord, show us the father and it is enough for us.” That’s the fourth time Philip has popped up in this gospel.

This time, in response to Jesus’ promise about seeing the father from now on and in the future, Philip makes a seemingly spiritually mature request of Jesus.

Jesus, we’re in a tough spot. We don’t really know what’s going to happen next, but all we really want, all we really want is to see the father. That’s the burning desire of our hearts. We just want to see, we want to worship God and his glory. Jesus just grants us that and we’ll be satisfied. We We don’t need anything else.

That’s not a bad request, right?

In fact, it may remind you of a certain other person in biblical history who expressed his desire to see God and to see the glory of God and was partially granted the request. Who was that?

Moses. Exodus 33:18. Moses said to God, “I pray you, show me your glory.” Truly, as God is the source of all life, all joy, all satisfaction, there can be no greater gift than simply to see him, to behold him. And this is why ultimately heaven and the new heavens and the new earth, they are so good. It’s not just the absence of bad things and the new creation. It’s seeing God. It’s being with God.

“As God is the source of all life, all joy, all satisfaction, there can be no greater gift than simply to see Him.”

So, will Jesus grant Philip’s request?

Will Jesus commend Philillip for finally asking to see the father?

Jesus’ Gentle Rebuke

Well, actually here is where we see a rebuke from Jesus, a gentle one. In verse 9, Jesus said to him, “Have I been so long with you and yet you have not come to know me, Philillip?

He who has seen me has seen the father.

How can you say, show us the father?” Why does Jesus rebuke Philillip for Philip’s seemingly pious request?

It’s not because Philip asks to see the father. It’s because Philip is not realizing or appreciating how Philillip has already seen the father.

“Jesus rebukes Philip not because Philip asks to see the Father, but because Philip is not appreciating how he has already seen the Father.”

Understand verse 9 is not a contradiction of what Jesus just said in verse 7 or in verses 4 to six.

As if Jesus were finally admitting that he was mistaken and thinking that the disciples had really come to know him.

No, instead Jesus points out how Philip’s request makes Philip sound like he doesn’t know Jesus at all. Philillip, you’re talking like you don’t even know me and we’ve spent three and a half years together.

You see, like Thomas back in verse four, Philillip here doesn’t yet see how he already has seen the father in the sun.

So graciously Jesus explains again to Philip and to the rest of the disciples why they can know and believe that they already know and see the father in Jesus. Look now at verses 10 and 11.

Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you, I do not speak in my own initiative, but the Father abiding in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Otherwise, believe because of the works themselves.

The Father and Son’s Mutual Indwelling

If these words sound slightly familiar to you, it’s because Jesus gave a similar explanation to a group of angry, overzealous Jews who are trying to stone Jesus for blasphemy back in John 10 37 to 38. Remember he said, “I and the father are one.” And they’re like, “You can’t say that.” And he’s like, “But the father is in me and I’m in the father.

Don’t you see it from my works?” Very similar argument here. Again, Jesus provides a basic explanations for why the disciples should see the father and the son. And that explanation is the reality of the trinity’s mutual indwelling.

Now, I know we’re talking about trinity. We’re talking about something that’s on the edge of our ability to understand, but notice Jesus says, “I am in the father and the father is in me.” No, Jesus is not saying that he is the father and the father is him.

No, that is the heresy of modalism. One god, just three different masks or modes. No, that’s not what the Bible teaches.

That’s a damning heresy.

Rather, Jesus says that he is in the father and the father is in him. You see, this is how the fullness of the one true God can dwell in each of the three persons of the Godhead. One and three, right?

“The fullness of the one true God can dwell in each of the three persons of the Godhead. One and three.”

Jesus is not onethird God and the father one-third God and the spirit one-third God and together they make up one God.

No, each person, father, son, holy spirit is three God because each person is wholly in each other person.

Now you say, how can that logically be true?

It’s not like anything else we know or can see in our world.

But God declared it and it can be true of God because what’s one thing that the Bible says over and over about God? He is holy, meaning set apart, different, other, special.

He’s not completely like us. Yes, he can be one God in three persons with each person having the whole of the godhead.

Jesus’ Works Prove the Father Is in Him

Now, if the father is indeed in the son as Jesus says, then surely those beholding the son cannot help but see the father.

And Jesus has proof of this. Besides his words, what is Jesus proof of the father’s being in Jesus? Jesus works.

Or you could say Jesus works and words together.

Notice back in verse 10, we see something a little bit odd. Jesus begins by clarifying once again, he’s said this before, all his words, all his teaching is not his own.

But at the end of verse 10, whereas we might expect Jesus to say, “But I speak only the words of the father,” Jesus instead says that the father abiding or dwelling in Jesus does the father’s works.

Huh? We’re talking about words and now you’re talking about works.

Well, evidently Jesus can speak even of his spoken words as works of the father.

And you could say works of the son.

Jesus words fit into broadly speaking Jesus works.

Now of course Jesus surely has other works in mind besides his spoken words when he talks about what what proves the father is in the son. Jesus miracles most notably prove that. But really all of his holy acts of love and obedience they show the father is in the son.

The these two Jesus says they are not ultimately from Jesus but they are the father doing his works in and through Jesus.

So then if both Jesus words and works are just the indwelling father doing the father’s works then neither the Jews nor are the original disciples nor we today can claim to see Jesus but not see the father.

“If both Jesus’ words and works are the indwelling Father doing His works, then we cannot claim to see Jesus but not see the Father.”

Cannot be.

Well, maybe one exception and we also see this in Jesus words. The one way that you could fail to see the father in Jesus when the evidence from Jesus is so abundant, look at the works.

Look at the words and works. The one way that you could fail to see the father is by unbelief.

Believe What You Already Have

Jesus says, “Do you not believe?” And then he says, “Believe.” Now remember, kind of backing up a little bit here, verses 7 to 11, they are meant ultimately as a word of comfort rather than reproof.

So Jesus essentially is saying to his disciples and to us today, us who say that we believe, appreciate that you already have what so many have longed for.

You see God.

You behold the invisible father.

You see his astounding glory. How? In the astounding glory of his son.

Especially in the son’s special hour of suffering and exaltation.

Don’t see Jesus and then say, “That’s wonderful. What’s the father like?” Don’t see Jesus and then pine after some further greater revelation of the father.

No, you already have it. Believe that.

“Don’t see Jesus and then pine after some further greater revelation of the Father. You already have it. Believe that.”

Believe what Jesus says back in verse 7.

If you have come to know me, which you have, you will know my father also. From now on him and have seen him.

You see the father and the son.

Comfort #5: We Will Do Jesus’ Greater Works

Now Jesus discussion of how his works manifest the father’s indwelling leads Jesus to give another comfort in verses 12 to 17. And that’s what we’ll focus on with the rest of our time. The fifth heavenly comfort in this chapter and the second of the two we’re looking at today. Comfort number five.

We will do Jesus greater works.

We Christians will do Jesus greater works. Now, that that wording may sound a little bit odd to you, but wait till the end of the sermon and you’ll see why I’ve chosen that that title, that sermon point.

Let’s now reread verse 12.

The Stunning Promise of Verse 12

Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me, the works that I do, he will do also, and greater works than these he will do because I go to the Father.

Now, here’s a verse that should make you sit up and blink about 10 times.

Did I hear that correctly?

Appropriately, appropriately, Jesus begins verse 12 with one of his favorite phrases. Truly, truly, I say to you, that is to say, what I’m about to declare is shocking but true. So, believe it.

John 14:12: “He who believes in me, the works that I do, he will do also, and greater works than these he will do.”

What does Jesus declare?

Well, notice first about whom Jesus declares. He says, “He who believes in me.” Who’s that? Jesus 11 disciples. Yes. But not just them. What Jesus is about to say is going to be true of everyone who believes. All Christians, including us.

And what does Jesus say about all Christians, all his believers? That they not only can do but will do both his same works and even greater works than Jesus himself did.

“All Christians will not only do but will do both His same works and even greater works than Jesus Himself did.”

Okay. Whoa. If what Jesus says is true, then Jesus departure by the cross had a surprisingly magnificent effect on his people, supercharging their capacity to do Jesus own works. Of course, the question now is which works of Jesus will his believers also do and surpass.

Well, in context, we already answered that question, haven’t we? We were already talking about Jesus works in the previous section. Works not ultimately from Jesus, but from the father. And what were those works?

Well, we summarize it by saying all of Jesus obedient and loving acts, including his spoken words and his miraculous signs.

In short, verse 12 must be referring generally to all the good works Jesus did during his life.

Jesus says that all his believers will do the same works and even greater works. Same good works and even greater good works.

To which we surely respond by asking, how can that be?

And what do ? Jesus provides a multi-part explanation. And I’ll give you those parts as subpoints for the rest of the sermon. How is it that believers will copy and even exceed the good works of the son of God himself?

5A: By Jesus’ Accomplished Salvation

5A.

By Jesus accomplished salvation. By Jesus accomplished salvation. If you look again at the end of verse 12, notice that Jesus himself gives the reason for this new amazing reality. He says, “Because I go to the Father.” Now, that’s a short phrase, but it is packed with significance.

Because what does Jesus mean when he says, “I go to the Father.” It doesn’t simply mean that he’s going to be transported from the earth to heaven, but he’s going to accomplish salvation.

I go to the Father means I’m going to the cross. I’m going to take on myself the sin debt of all those who believe in me. And I’m going to pay it once and for all. I’m going to pay the hellish penalty. And then at the same time, I’m going to give those believers my perfect righteousness, the perfect record of my whole life. I’m going to account it to them. I paid off their sin totally. I’ve given them my righteousness totally so that now they are acceptable to God. I’m going to die. I’m going to be buried.

I’m going to rise from the dead. I’m going to ascend to the Father’s right hand. And I’m going to shower my believers with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.

Then you can just peruse the rest of the scriptures to know what those are.

Adoption, regeneration, sanctification, intercession, all those things, they’re summed up really. They’re packed into that phrase, I go to the father.

This really is the basic, the broad answer to the question of how could we possibly do great good works. It’s because Jesus has accomplished salvation on our behalf.

“How could we possibly do great good works? It’s because Jesus has accomplished salvation on our behalf.”

It’s like I said when we talked about the new commandment in John 13:34, what makes it new? Well, the new reality of the context in which it is to be obeyed.

The work of redemption is complete. That new covenant in Jesus’ blood has been inaugurated. So now you are freed up to radical love to holy service to God because Jesus went to the father.

That’s not the only answer that Jesus gives. He gets more specific in explaining how his accomplished salvation results in new good works from his people. So we’ve seen 5A, but we do this by Jesus accomplished salvation.

5B: By Jesus Answering Prayer

But next 5B, by Jesus answering prayer.

By Jesus answering our prayers. Look at verses 13 and 14. Now, whatever you ask in my name, that will I do so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. Pretty amazing verses.

Throughout Jesus ministry, as many of you probably already know, Jesus taught his disciples to pray in a particular way. Pray to God with expectant faith.

He says, “Ask and you will receive.” Ask believing that you will receive and you will receive.

We see this concept in Matthew 7:7-11, Matthew 21:22, Luke 11:10.

So in some ways that what Jesus is saying here is not new. But there is something totally new in these two verses from Jesus. Nowhere else in his teaching on prayer does Jesus speak in such a way as to emphasize his own active role in answering his disciples prayers.

“Nowhere else in His teaching on prayer does Jesus so emphasize His own active role in answering His disciples’ prayers.”

What It Means to Pray in Jesus’ Name

Notice here, well I’m going to say more about that in just a second, but notice something else. Notice how inclusive here Jesus is of his disciples prayer requests. It says, “Whatever you ask, verse 13, anything.” Verse 14, that that contains a lot. And notice next how Jesus says his disciples ought to ask. He says, “In my name.” Okay, what does that mean?

Well, it doesn’t mean merely signing off your prayers within Jesus name. In Christ’s name. As if that phrase itself were a magic formula that obligates God to answer your prayers.

No, instead to pray in Jesus’ name, and our brother Khalif was teaching about this recently in Sunday school means to pray according to Jesus own authority and will.

After all, what right have you on your own to approach God or have your requests granted by him?

None.

But if Jesus has accomplished salvation for you, he has given you the right, he has given you the authority, yes, the privilege to approach God’s throne, to approach the throne of grace in prayer with confidence, with boldness.

Jesus has given you that right.

This is because you don’t come in your own name. You come in the name of Jesus as Jesus has already told us. He is the only way to God.

“You don’t come in your own name. You come in the name of Jesus. He is the only way to God.”

So praying in Jesus me name means you come on the authority of Jesus. But it also means you come praying according to his will. That is seeking his will and not merely your own. Imagine if someone were seeking money donations in the name of or on behalf of our sitting president.

He says, ‘In the name of our president, please contribute this money. Imagine that he did that, but then afterwards after getting the money, the person doesn’t use any of it for what the president really wanted or would really want.

Could such a one say that he truly asked or acted in the name of the president?

No, not at all. It was a sham. It was a scheme.

So it is when we pray.

We cannot look at a promise like we see here from Jesus. Whatever you ask in my name, I will do. And then just load up whatever prayers we want. Prayers to make our lives easy. Prayers to serve our fleshly lust. Prayers to have situations turn out the way that we think they should turn out.

If we do, we should know that those prayers may not be granted and probably won’t be because James 4:3 says, “God is not in the business of serving our lusts.

But if we pray according to what Jesus told us to pray, if we pray according to what Jesus desires for us and desires for himself, if we pray according to the promises that Jesus himself gives in his word, well then we can be sure that we have what we ask because now we are praying really in Jesus’ name.

Jesus Personally Answers Our Prayers

But who’s going to answer our prayers?

The Bible normally treats prayer as being addressed to the father. So will Jesus simply put a good word in with the father for us so that the father can answer our prayers.

Notice that’s not exactly what Jesus says here. Rather verse 13, whatever you ask that will I do.

And verse 14, if you ask me anything, I will do it.

Whoa. Do you see the assertions that Jesus is making now?

Not only does he say that you can rightly pray to him, which you definitely cannot do unless Jesus is God.

And when you do that, he says he will do as you ask. But also verse 13, even if you’re not specifically praying to him, even if you are praying to the father instead, Jesus says, “I will still be the one to do as you have asked.” Wait a second, you might say. Is Jesus going to intercept my prayers to the father? Is he like some kind of glory hog? And he’s like, “No, I’ll answer it.” No.

But Jesus is clarifying that he will be the means of the father’s answering your prayers.

“Jesus is clarifying that He will be the means of the Father’s answering your prayers.”

Jesus will be the personal means of the father’s own answer to you.

So that as Jesus says the father may be glorified in the son. This is not about robbing glory from god. It’s actually giving it’s about giving glory to the father. Jesus serving as the means of the father answering prayer.

But why clarify this?

It’s because Jesus wants to emphasize to his disciples and to us that his leaving them does not mean that he’s going to stop caring for them. Sorry guys, I cared for you while I was here, but I’m done now. No, he may be leaving their sides. He may physically be no longer on the earth with us, but he re reassures his original disciples and us. When I go to the father, I’m going to be the one who answers the prayers that you pray.

I’m going to be the one to give you whatever you need.

You won’t be left derelictked. I’m not abandoning you. I myself will diligently care for you from afar.

Isn’t that a wonderful promise?

It’s because we have a loving and powerful savior.

But which prayers from us will Jesus be most interested in answering?

Look now at verse 15.

Prayer for Obedience

If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

Huh?

What is this verse doing here?

This verse may at first glance seem random and indeed Bible interpreters have puzzled over how this verse fits into the larger section. Why is he suddenly talking about keeping commandments?

Notably, the theme expressed in this verse, loving Jesus and thus obeying him. It is present throughout the whole farewell discourse. You’re going to see this actually reappear several times.

Clearly Jesus wants to emphasize to us to his original disciples and to us today that you cannot say that you love Jesus and then show little interest in obeying him. It just it just goes together. If you love him, you will keep his commandments. You will keep his word.

But I think we can say more than merely this is a theme in the farewell discourse because the juosition the placing side by side verse 15 with verses 13 and 14 is instructive.

Consider why speak a word about love motivated obedience right after a word about Jesus answering prayer.

The answer is Jesus is telling us what kind of prayers we should pray and why we can be confident of the positive answer. Remember again verse 12 which launched this whole second section. Jesus declares to his disciples that they will do the same and even greater good works because Jesus leaves.

Then Jesus tells his his disciples about him being the one answering their prayers as one of the reasons why they can do these good works, why they can why these things he said in verse 12 are possible.

So do you see the connection?

Prayer and good works and now being obedient.

What must Jesus believers be praying out of love that they would be obedient to him out of love that they would be able to fulfill the good works that Jesus left for them to do?

Because doesn’t it often feel like we can’t?

Doesn’t it often seem like obedience and faithful service and perseverance for the Lord are too hard.

God, I can’t do it. I need help.

What does Jesus preemptively promise to all of us?

He says, I personally will answer those prayers.

I as God’s orained agent when you cry out to me saying, “God, I need help to obey you.” I will be the one to give you the grace. I will be the one to give you the grace to endure the trial. I will be the one who gives you the strength to accomplish every task that you must for my name’s sake.

“When you cry out saying ‘God, I need help to obey you,’ Jesus says, ‘I will be the one to give you the grace.’”

Just ask me about it and then believe that you have what you ask.

If you pray for the Lord’s help to be obedient to do the good works that he sent for you to do, he promises, “I will answer that prayer personally.” And does not the writer of Hebrews say the same thing about Jesus.

In Hebrews 4:16, after describing Jesus as our great high priest, sympathetic to our weaknesses, sympathetic to our temptations, yet himself without sin, Hebrews 4:16 says, “Therefore, let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Brethren, is obedience hard? Is doing the good works that Jesus has ordained for us to do hard? Yes. And guess what?

It is impossible unless Jesus helps us.

Hebrews 4:16: “Let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

And he says, “I will. I will. I will.

And therefore, you will do my same good works and even greater good works.” It’s wonderful. But wait, there’s more.

5C: By Jesus’ Indwelling Spirit

Jesus accomplished salvation and his answering of our prayers are not the only explanation as to how we can do the same and greater good works than Jesus did. Jesus mentions one more means in this section and that’s verses 16 to 17 5 C.

By Jesus indwelling spirit by Jesus indwelling spirit we will do the same and greater good works than Jesus did.

Let’s read these final two verses again.

Jesus says,”I will ask the father and he will give you another helper that he may be with you forever.” That is the spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive because it does not see him or know him.

But him because he abides with you and will be in you.

Here we see for the first time in the farewell discourse another truth that’s going to pop up again and again. That is Jesus promising a new ministry of the Holy Spirit to his disciples.

Notice at the beginning of verse 16 that Jesus says he will ask the father and the father will give the spirit.

Interestingly Jesus will say later on in John 15:26 that Jesus himself will send his disciples the spirit from the father. So wait a second. Who’s sending the spirit? Is it is it the father or is it the son? Is there contradiction here?

No. This is just the trinity working together in harmony. The father even sending the spirit by the son or the son asking the father and the son sending it. They’re working together.

The Paraclete: Another Helper

Notice though next in verse 16 that there’s a special title given to the spirit. Our New American Standard 95 translation says helper. He will give the helper.

Other translations they use the word advocate or comforter.

Why these different words? Why these different titles? Well, all these titles are efforts to translate a very hard to translate Greek word which is peracle.

That’s fun to say, right? Peracle, a word that you may have heard transliterated into English as perlete.

And that’s the word I’ll keep using for the rest of the sermon. Now a pariclete most literally means one being called alongside and you can actually see that in the word parah like think parallel and calto the Greek word for call. So someone being called alongside the Greeks often used this word originally to describe an ally in some legal cause even an advocate or a witness for the defense that’s a pariclete them. However, the biblical writers use the word in a broader sense.

It’s not just in a legal context. A pariclete is all at once a helper, an intercessor, an advocate, a witness, a teacher, a counselor, a strengthener, and a defender.

Basically, whatever aid a person truly needs, the pariclete will show up to provide.

“A Paraclete is all at once a helper, intercessor, advocate, witness, teacher, counselor, strengthener, and defender.”

Jesus says God is going to send a pariclete. But notice the word that comes right before it. He says another pariclete, another helper. This word is significant. The Greek word for another specifically means usually another of the same kind. Suggesting that the pariclete who is coming is replacing another pariclete who is leaving.

And that is exactly the case because who has been the disciples first pariclete?

Jesus himself. Actually, 1 John 2:1 explicitly identifies Jesus as our pariclete.

Indeed, thus far in the life together of Jesus with his disciples, Jesus has been the one to provide his disciples assistance however they have needed. He has taught them, strengthened them, defended them, interceded for them, etc.

He has been the one to provide whatever aid they needed continually.

But now Jesus is going away. The pariclete is going away. So will his disciples suddenly be left helpless and vulnerable? Not at all. Because another pariclete is coming to pick right up where Jesus is leaving off.

And this pariclete Jesus says, notice the end of verse 16, he will be with Jesus disciples forever. They don’t have to wonder, are we going to lose this one too? Nope. He will abide with you forever.

“Another Paraclete is coming to pick right up where Jesus is leaving off, and He will be with Jesus’ disciples forever.”

Now notice in verse 17 that Jesus identifies the Holy Spirit, there’s periclet with another title, the spirit of truth. His title is probably meant to emphasize that the spirit as God’s own spirit fundamentally is true and speaks the truth.

Consequently, as Jesus himself explains in verse 17, the world cannot receive this spirit. It cannot even see it or know it because the world, and remember by that term we’re speaking of rebellious mankind, it hates the truth.

It rejects the truth. Therefore, it cannot know the spirit of truth.

What about the disciples?

Well, God has caused them to love the truth and to know the truth who is Jesus himself.

The Spirit Will Be In You

Thus, Jesus says, “The disciples already know the spirit of truth because the spirit already dwells with them.” But now, notice the last phrase in verse 17.

And he will be in you.

What’s that all about? Well, Jesus is clarifying that what will be so new and amazing about the spirit of truth ministry, the Holy Spirit’s ministry. He won’t merely be with the disciples as he already has been, but the spirit will be sent to be in the disciples to continually guide the disciples in God’s truth and to be called alongside in whatever way the disciples need forever.

In other words, to sum up what I’ve been saying, the inddwelling Holy Spirit will carry on the ministry of Jesus for his disciples in a way better than Jesus could that Jesus himself could carry on that ministry.

For as Jesus could only be with his disciples, the spirit will be in Jesus disciples.

“As Jesus could only be with His disciples, the Spirit will be in Jesus’ disciples.”

This then is also what will enable Jesus’ disciples to do Jesus same good works and greater ones besides because they have received the continually empowering, interceding and guiding of the Holy Spirit.

Now remember brethren, what’s true of those original disciples is true of you too. Do you realize that you have received the spirit of truth? You have received a pariclete if you are in Jesus. You have received a comprehensive ministry of God to you from the inside to give you whatever aid you need. So as you face the trials, as you face the the prospect of obedience, as you look at the good work set before you and you say, “I don’t think I can do it.” The pariclete is there. The spirit of truth is there to enable you to do it. Amen.

He’s called alongside. He will help you.

You can do it. You will do it if you believe in Jesus.

Jesus Himself Dwells in Us by the Spirit

Now, you may be wondering why I labeled this subsection 5C by Jesus indwelling spirit. Are we talking about someone separate from Jesus? Why do you say Jesus indwelling spirit? Well, peak ahead to John 14:23.

Look down at John 14:23 and listen to what Jesus says. He says, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word.” Hey, there’s that theme again. And my father will love him and we will come to him and make our abode with him.

Wait a second.

How will the father in heaven, how will the son in heaven come and make their abode in the future with the disciples still on the earth?

Jesus talked before about coming and taking his disciples to be with him in heaven. But now he says he’s he’s going to come back and dwell with his disciples.

He’s going to he and the father are going to make their abode with the disciples apart from that. How’s that going to happen? And the answer is by the Holy Spirit.

For what did we learn earlier? Each person of the Trinity is in each other person of the Trinity.

So if Jesus promises that the Holy Spirit will indwell and minister to believers however they need, who else will indwell and minister to believers by the spirit?

The Son, Jesus himself.

For the Holy Spirit is Jesus spirit.

“The Son, Jesus Himself, indwells and ministers to believers by the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is Jesus’ Spirit.”

So to sum up what we’ve seen in verses 13 to 17, by Jesus accomplishing our salvation, by Jesus answering our prayers, and by Jesus indwelling spirit, we can and will do Jesus same good works and greater works besides.

We have been fully prepared, fully equipped, fully resourced to do those works.

And do you notice the commonality in these three means mentioned by Jesus or at least as I’ve articulated them? Who’s behind it all? Who is enabling us in multiple ways to do these good and even great works?

Ourselves?

No, it’s Jesus the whole time.

Jesus inaugurates the new covenant.

Jesus answers our prayers. Jesus empowers us by his spirit.

So in a way by going away to the father, Jesus is not helping his disciples toward obedience any less than he was while he was on the earth while he was on the earth. He’s actually helping them more.

So we don’t have to say Jesus if only you were here I could do it. He says I am here. I am here by my spirit. I am answering your prayers. I have inaugurated the new covenant.

I haven’t left you at all in a certain sense. I’m only helping you even more than I could if I were with you physically.

So, isn’t it good that Jesus went away to the cross and to glory?

For by doing so, he made possible his own good works. It’s really his good works. He made possible his good works to continue in a greater way through his people.

Just as the father was the one ultimately accomplishing Jesus good works in Jesus, so Jesus really is the one accomplishing his own greater works in us.

Which is why I articulated this fifth comfort as I did.

What Makes Our Works Greater?

Now, I finally need to address the question that’s probably burned in your minds the whole sermon, which is, what exactly makes our good works after Jesus departure greater than the good works Jesus himself did?

That is a significant question and Bible interpreters have answered it in different ways.

For sure, we can say two things the answer is not. The answer is not that we will accomplish something greater than Jesus monumental work of redemption through the cross and the resurrection.

No, in referring to Jesus own good works, Jesus must be referring to his works pre-cross. It’s nothing greater than what Jesus accomplished in saving all of us.

Also, we can safely say that Christians will not do greater feats of miraculous power than Jesus did.

Though the apostles and certain others were granted miraculous au authenticity providing gifts in the century after Jesus ascension and then those passed away.

These gifts only matched and did not exceed Jesus’ own miracles. I mean, how can you do better than raising the dead?

You can raise more dead, but it’s still the same miracle. And that’s what Jesus did.

So, in what sense could our works be greater than Jesus? Jesus’s The answer that makes the most sense to me is that we believers do greater works than Jesus, not in quality or power, but in extent and impact. Not in quality or power, but in extent and impact. For just compare the ministry of Jesus before the cross to the ministry of the apostles after the cross.

“We believers do greater works than Jesus not in quality or power, but in extent and impact.”

Jesus ministered as one man in one country, mainly to Jews, for three and a half years, and only saw a few hundred timid and failing converts by his ministry’s end.

Meanwhile, the apostles ministry over decades exploded across and beyond the Roman Empire to see thousands of Jews, Gentiles, and Samaritans saved and sanctified.

And that was just the beginning.

Consider how the gospel and the good works of God’s people have multiplied across the planet through the centuries.

Even ancient Israel never saw such impact on the world in their history.

So what changed? What made all these spectacular works the the words and works of God’s people possible on behalf of God and behalf of his son? It is as we saw from the passage today. Jesus went to the father. He answered his people’s prayers and he gave his people his spirit.

And then timid disciples who could barely comprehend God’s word and only reluctantly serve one another, they found themselves preaching the gospel boldly, understanding God’s word clearly and loving one another radically.

All of this changed because Jesus went to the father.

Application: Expect and Attempt Great Things

Now, brethren, see how you fit into that.

We, yes, we here today have been granted to enter into the same age of gospel boldness, understanding and love. We are postc cross. We are post Jesus going to the father. So we are in that same supercharged empowered reality, empowered situation that Jesus inaugurated for his disciples. Amen.

We as Jesus church also may do will do the same good works and greater good works than Jesus did.

Do you believe that?

Are you taking hold of the same comforts that Jesus meant for his disciples to take hold so that you may be enabled to do great things on Jesus’ behalf?

Do you believe that’s really possible for you? You say, “No, no, no. I’m so weak. The situation’s so hard. I don’t think anything good is going to come for certainly not anything great.” Who’s the one who’s going to do it? You.

No, Jesus said it’s him.

He did the inauguration. He’s answering the prayers. He’s given you his spirit.

He says, “You will do these good works.

You will do even greater works despite what you see, despite what you feel.” Do you believe that you really can do great things for God? Now, understand when I mean great things, I don’t mean that you’re going to affect all the outcome. You’re going to bring that wonderful, that dramatic, that spectacular outcome. Now, the great things that Jesus is talking about, remember, are the works themselves. You can show mighty obedience and faith to the Lord.

Even when it seems like there’s no way that could be possible because he’s the one who’s going to be able to do it.

He’s the one who’s going to do it for you. Do you believe that?

“Who’s the one who’s going to do it? Jesus. He did the inauguration. He’s answering the prayers. He’s given you His Spirit.”

Do you believe that you can be radically obedient for the Lord and then let him do with that as he wishes?

He frequently uses to He frequently wishes to use that to accomplish something truly wonderful.

William Kerry famously once said, “Expect great things of God. Attempt great things for God.” Can we live according to that motto?

God says, “You should expect great things because I’ve given you this promise. Will you attempt great things?

Will you pray? Will you rely on Jesus Holy Spirit?

Will you obey?

Remember Jesus word in verse 15. If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

We do love the Lord Jesus. He’s empowered us. So, let’s keep his commandments and allow him to put his greatness on display. Let’s close in a word of prayer.

Closing Prayer

God, it seems appropriate in my closing prayer that I should pray exactly according to this passage.

You have shown us, God, that the one of our chief concerns in prayer would be that we would be obedient and that we would do the good works that you have for ordained for us to do. As Ephesians says, we are your workmanship, Father.

We are your workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works. You have laid these good works before us from before the foundation of the world.

So if you’ve already decreed them, will we not accomplish them?

We will. But the means will be prayer and faithfilled obedience. So God, we pray, help us to accomplish the good works that you have set for us to do. This Thanksgiving week, God will be a great opportunity to speak your gospel. You have ordained certain conversations for us. Certain loving acts of service for us. Help us to do them. Enable us to do them. Empower us to do them. That we are weak. We are scared.

But you have given us your spirit. You are with us and you answered prayer. So God, you will enable us. Help us then to be full of confidence, full of boldness.

We don’t know what the outcome of these things will be is. God, we know you frequently will make it truly glorious.

But we know that the obedience has already been guaranteed or rather promised if we are willing if we embrace the means that you’ve given us.

God, I pray that this congregation, this congregation would be mighty in obedience, mighty in faith, that you would enable us to do this.

That your spirit would equip us to do this. Lord, we take you at your word. We will proceed forward in boldness because we know you are with us and will never leave us or forsake us.

Lord, be glorified. Father, be glorified in the outcome. Be glorified in the son.

In Jesus name, amen.

Amen.

Amen. Please stand as we sing our closing

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