John 14:12,
In this context, we see that Jesus spoke to the disciples about them doing greater things than what Jesus did during His days. There are many seen and unseen messages in that one sentence alone. Let's see what He really meant and what the world has understood from it.
Firstly, we see the fulfilment of that promise in just few months after Jesus saying them. The book of Acts confirms the journey of the Gospel outside Israel for the first time and now The Holy Bible and Jesus Christ are no more strangers in almost every part of the World. These were definitely possible only with His power.
Besides, we also see that so many prayer meetings, big scale concerts, healing meetings, crusades and the transition of the Gospel throughout many media channels happen in front of our eyes. Its for sure that we are doing Greater Things already. The Word wasn't preached so efficiently and effectively like this before.
These have certainly motivated and inspired many Christians to rise up to do Greater Things for Jesus Christ and The Kingdom of God. But out of 100 only 1 stands till the last winning line of that race. Many fall down and many back off and some still thinking of how to start. Why the initial motivation could not glide them through? Have they lost their spirit?
No, none of these are true. The real reason behind the 'slow down' is that they misunderstood or selectively understood the context of John 14:12. Jesus did say we will do the same works He did, and yes we are doing it. He also said we will do greater things, and yes we are doing it too. But the fact is that, for doing what Jesus did also means that doing the same works He did and GOING THROUGH THE SAME TROUBLE AND PERSECUTION HE WENT THROUGH.
Doing Greater Things means, GOING THROUGH GREATER TRIBULATIONS THAN WHAT HAPPENED TO JESUS. Most of us look at the face part of that verse and forget the remaining part of it. Our heart gets ready to perform miracles but not ready to be persecuted. Jesus Himself said that There will be Persecutions. But somehow Christian life just tries its best to skip that part.
It was not His miracles alone saved us but it was His persecutions and tribulations that powerfully promised us eternal life. So its not wrong to believe in greater things but greater persecutions will result in performing greater things shall not be forgotten.
Amen!
True. Also that NOT everyone are called to be martyrs otherwise there will be no one left to continue to share the gospel.
ReplyDeleteFor us to have eternal life, He had to suffer and die on the cross so that we may have life and life more abundantly!
Because of what He did for us, we are able to come to Him and talk to Him anytime and He hears and always there for us.
He has given us the power as in Acts 1:8, commission us to share to the ends of the earth. AMEN!
hahahah! Yes indeed. But what inspired me to write this article was that He said, If you treasure your life, you will loose it but if you lay it down for His glory, you will gain it. Something like that lar the verse goes. We are saved to enjoy the fruit of the harvest but people tend to forget that after they eat, they are supposed to plant back in the Good Soil. Usually that part is not as easy as its preached today!
ReplyDeleteYes yes indeed! :)
Delete