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.
(John 14:12; NASB)

How many times have you used the words “I can’t…” this week? This month? When you said it (or thought it), did you believe it or was it a way to avoid doing something? If it was a way to avoid doing whatever was at hand, you’re off the hook for now, at least as far as it concerns this discussion. What we’re interested in here is our tendency to underestimate the impact we can have if we were to believe the above verse.

When Jesus spoke these words, He had just finished washing the disciples’ feet. They had eaten a meal together and Judas had just left to complete his betrayal process. It was nearing the end of Jesus’ ministry on earth as a man. He had done some incredible things during His time here, such as:

• Raising the dead
• Making the deaf hear and the blind see
• Healing thousands of sick people, even those with incurable diseases
• Casting out demons
• Calming the sea
• , etc., etc

These were the obvious miracles, signs and wonders that He performed. We must also consider that He came against some of the most powerful religious leaders of that time. He even had many of them considering the things He was preaching. He also assembled a team of dedicated followers. These included fishermen (they were at the bottom of the social ladder), a tax collector (they were considered liars and thieves), men of little or no education, and women willing to help His ministry. All of them willing to walk with Him for over three years. Now, in this dinner meeting with His disciples, He says the things He’s done will be done by those who believe in Him. And not only those things, even greater things!

How could He make such a statement? Doesn’t He realize the things we’ve done and how incapable we are? How unholy we are? How much we’ve screwed up our own lives? OF COURSE HE DOES. What we fail to see when worrying about what we can’t do, is that Jesus’ death and resurrection paved the way for the Holy Spirit to come into our lives and empower us. The truth is we can do all things through Him, but the requirement is that we believe. It is unbelief that weakens us, not our inabilities or inadequacies. As Paul said: “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (Php. 4:13)

It is the Holy Spirit in us that enables you and I to live Christian lives and handle the work of the kingdom. You can speak truth in love to your co-worker. You can preach the Gospel in all you do. You can experience the fruit of the Spirit in your life. You can do all these things because it is not you that’s doing them, it is God, through Jesus Christ, by the Holy Spirit in you.

Have a great week and God bless.