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)
In a typical PGA Tour season, if a player were having a year like Xander Schauffele, it would be a done deal that he would be the PGA Tour Player of the Year, especially with two major championship victories.
However, we still have Scottie Scheffler, with six wins, including The Players and The Masters, along with some of the other biggest events on tour. Regardless, both players had amazing seasons!
2024 stands out for both players, but they have been among the best of the best for the last three years. Notwithstanding their accomplishments, Jesus of Nazareth had a three-year run that is hard to compare.
He turned water into wine, gave sight to the blind, healed men and women of all kinds of infirmaries, raised a dead man from the grave, and then told his followers that they would do “greater works than these.”
If you are like me, I don’t believe I will ever play golf like Scottie or Xander, nor will I do greater works than Jesus. However, I am curious about what Jesus knows is possible for me through the works of the Holy Spirit. He said that because he was going to be with the Father, “He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever” (John 14:16).
What does Jesus know about the power of the Holy Spirit given us that we don’t?
Only two gospel writers mention his divine virgin birth, although all four emphasize how the Holy Spirit came upon him to empower his ministry. Jesus taught his followers that the same Helper would be given to all of his followers, and it was.
Every day, the Holy Spirit empowered men and women and did amazing things in the name of Jesus. We can read about many of these accounts in the Book of Acts and the amazing things that God did through his everyday followers.
I write this out of humility because I believe that I have not always taken Jesus at his word or believed everything that he wants to do through my life – I am getting curious.
Maybe Jesus meant what he said when he said, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him” (Luke 11:13)?
I don’t write this with spiritual authority but rather spiritual curiosity. Let us all ask what God is up to around us and how he wants to use us to administer on his behalf. I know it sounds ambitious, but let’s get curious about what is possible as ambassadors of his kingdom.
Prayer: Holy Spirit, show me what amazing things you want to do through me in your kingdom.