Big Healing Book - The Greater Works in John 14:12 Refer to Getting People Born

Objection: The Greater Works in John 14:12 Refer to Getting People Born Again, Not Miracles

It is indeed greater to be born again than to receive a miracle, or even perform one. Even the noted miracle-performing Old Testament preachers Moses, Elijah and Elisha are all consider lesser than the least person in the kingdom of God (Matthew 11:11), that is, someone born again under the New Covenant.

However, whether or not that is the only thing Jesus meant by greater works, the objector’s implication that His followers today can just evangelize the lost but not heal as He did is disproved by the very verse the objector cites! Just read the whole verse. Jesus did not just promise that we would do greater works than He did. He also promised that we would do the SAME works that He did, which indisputably include healing. Much of the text in the four gospels is devoted to accounts of how Jesus healed the sick.

I can see why Jesus said “verily” twice; He knew how hard it would be to get people to believe this wonderful promise!

John 14:12:
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.

We can both do miracles AND lead people to Jesus, and the first is a good setup for the second.

Personally, I don’t think leading people to the new birth is the only “greater work.” Helping people receive the Holy Spirit would be another one, and I don’t see why various miracles couldn’t be included. But regardless of your take on “greater works,” Jesus’ statement that we can do the SAME works He did blows this objection to smithereens.