Christ’s ministry- finished works

 The finished works of Christ impact every area that touches our lives, in the natural as well as the spiritual. The last words Jesus spoke before dying on the cross apply just as much now as they did then. “So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished!’ And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit” (John 19:30, NKJV). This declaration means that our healing, deliverance, prosperity, victory, joy, peace, and everything else we need in life is already finished and ready for us to claim.

Just when Satan thought he had beaten Jesus, Jesus rose up in victory and proved otherwise. The kind of eternal life Jesus has is now available to us; this isn’t any ordinary, dreary existence to which most people are accustomed, but a joyful, celebratory life. The enemy doesn’t want us to have this, but when he tries to step into our path and block God’s blessings, wenow have the authority over him. “And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you” (Luke 10:17-19). Remembering this keeps the devil powerless to cause trouble for us.

Jesus made sure that we have everything we need to succeed in life. “By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires” (2 Peter 1:3, 4, NLT). It’s significant that this is written in the past tense, in that we don’t have to work to earn the right to stand in God’s presence the way the people had to in the Old Testament. Jesus makes us holy and righteous, and gives us the same nature that He has. We receive this, and all of God’s other promises, by faith.

Forgiveness for sins was also given at the cross, which means we’re free from the burden of guilt or shame for something that happened in the past. “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do…” (Luke 23:34). There’s no need to be tied down by condemnation when Jesus died to take it from us. We’re now living with all of the blessings and none of the curses. The knowledge of this radically transforms us and empowers us to live up to our highest potential.

The four Gospels provide our principal source of information concerning Christ in His life on earth. Though the narratives are selective, in keeping with the principle governing each Gospel, and though only a fraction of the incidents which might be of interest are related, the picture provided in the inspired Scripture is intriguing to all classes of scholars and is replete with theological significance.

Though the historical character of the Gospels makes them easy to understand, their theological interpretation is by no means uncomplicated. Few sections of Scripture require more careful analysis and precise interpretation. The reason does not lie in the complicated narrative, but rather in the fact that the incidents recorded are more than just history. They constitute a revelation of God and His purposes.

The Major Spheres of the Earthly Life of Christ

One of the reasons why the Gospels are difficult to interpret is that Christ lived in three major spheres and His teaching as well as His life are related to them. The right understanding of this fact is essential not only to a correct interpretation of the Gospels but gives the key to the entire New Testament.

The sphere of Jewish law. The law which was inaugurated for Israel through Moses was still in effect throughout the lifetime of Christ and in one sense is not terminated until His death (Gal 3:23-25; 4:5 ). In much of His teaching, Christ affirmed the Mosaic law and declared it must be fulfilled (Matt 5:7-19). As related to the life of Christ, it can be said that Christ lived under the law, that His teaching constituted a major interpretation of it, and that He kept it perfectly (2 Cor 5:21). Christ on numerous occasions contradicted the customary teaching of the law. He insisted, moreover, on its practical application to the spiritual issues of His day in contrast with the common evasion of the law by the scribes. As the Son of God, He also was free to interpret authoritatively the law and in some cases contrasted His own teaching with that of Moses.

Christ insisted that keeping the letter of the Mosaic law was not sufficient. The Mosaic law could be properly fulfilled only by those who attained its highest form of interpretation, centering in the love of God and love of one’s neighbor. In some cases, Christ pointed out that the Mosaic law represented divine condescension in that God accommodated Himself to the weakness of the people, as in the case of the teaching on divorce. Frequently, Christ appealed to the higher law of God of which the Mosaic law was a particular expression.

The sphere of the kingdom. Much of the teaching of Christ is directly related to the doctrine of the kingdom. The Gospels connect this line of truth specifically to the Old Testament revelation of the kingdom to be established on earth by the power of the Messiah. The Gospel of Matthew, in its opening portion, especially related Christ to David as fulfilling the Davidic covenant. The Gospel of Luke records the angelic messenger who promised Mary that her Son would reign on the throne of David and rule over the house of Israel forever.

In the opening section of Matthew the credentials of the King are presented and the predicted signs are recorded as fulfilled. In keeping with His relation to the kingdom, Christ revealed the spiritual principles which govern this kingdom in the Sermon on the Mount, giving present application of these principles to the particular situation, as well as speaking prophetically of the spiritual qualities which are to enter into His millennial kingdom. In the Olivet Discourse, specific prophecy is given concerning the great tribulation which will introduce His second coming and the establishment of His throne on the earth.

Though the New Testament doctrine of the kingdom necessarily is based on the Old, the tendency of scholars to limit the teaching of Christ to one phase of the kingdom or another is open to question. An examination of what Christ had to say about the kingdom should make plain that in some instances He spoke concerning the general government and authority of God over the universe. In other cases He dealt with the reign of God in the heart, or a spiritual kingdom. In other cases, He spoke specifically of the kingdom promise to David. It is, therefore, an error to limit His teaching to making all His kingdom messages apply to the millennial period alone. On the other hand, it is equally erroneous to limit His teaching to a spiritual kingdom to be fulfilled in part before His second advent.

The kingdom teachings are found principally in the Old Testament, and the kingdom partakes to some extent of the legal character of this period. As presented in the teachings of Christ, however, the millennial kingdom is a distinct sphere of rule both in its content and in its application, and is to be contrasted with the present age of the church or the past dispensation of law.

The sphere of the church. In addition to the teachings of Christ relating to the Mosaic law and the kingdom, prophecy is given of the church. The first mention of this is found in Matthew 16:18, following the rejection of Christ as King and the opposition to His message on the spiritual principles of the kingdom. Earlier, in Matthew 13, the entire interadvent age is revealed under the seven mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. Chronologically the church coincides with much of the development of this period revealed in Matthew 13.

The chief revelation concerning the church, however, is found in the Gospel of John in the Upper Room Discourse. Here, apparently for the first time, the essential principles are revealed which pertain to the purpose of God in the present interadvent age. The basic spiritual principles are given in John 13. In chapter 14 the fact that Christ will be in the Father’s house during the present age and will send the Spirit to dwell in the believer is unfolded. The vine and the branches in chapter 15 speak of the organic union of the believer with Christ, the new intimacy of being friends of Christ, and the fact that believers are chosen and ordained to bring forth fruit. The opposition and persecution which will characterize the present age is revealed also in chapter 15 , in contrast with the protection of the saints in the millennial kingdom. A major doctrine given in John 16 is the work of the Holy Spirit in relation to the world and the believer. The great purposes of God as they will be fulfilled in the church are also implicit in the intercession of Christ recorded in chapter 17 . The fact that the believer will be perfectly united to God and that he will be in Christ and Christ will be in him forms the center of the revelation.

A study of the four Gospels, therefore, will demonstrate three major spheres of revelation. It is a hasty generalization, however, to characterize the Gospels as law or that they pertain to the church or kingdom. It is rather that Christ taught in all these spheres, and each utterance must be understood in its context and content.

Christ as Prophet

Without question, Christ is the greatest of the prophets. His teachings contained in the four Gospels demonstrate a great variety of subjects, a broader scope of prophecy, and a more comprehensive revelation than is found in any of the recorded prophets of Scripture. In almost every aspect of revelation, Christ made a distinct contribution.

Unlike all other prophets, Christ revealed God not only in His spoken ministry but in His life and person. As the Logos of John, Christ was eternally the source of knowledge, truth, wisdom, and light. When He became incarnate, He became a declaration in human flesh of what God is (John 1:4-18). In His life, death, and resurrection, Christ was a revelation of God far beyond that of any preceding prophet. Even after His resurrection Christ continued to exercise His prophetic office, teaching His disciples the things they needed to know to adjust themselves to the new age into which they were going. After His ascension, the Holy Spirit was sent to continue the prophetic work, however, revealing to the sants the truth that Christ would have them know (John 16:12-15).

The Office of Priest

Just as Christ, fulfilled to the utmost the office of prophet so also He qualifies as the High Priest and is the embodiment of all that is anticipated in the Old Testament priesthood. As a priest, He fulfilled the primary definition of what constitutes a priest, “a man duly appointed to act for other men in things pertaining to God.”1 Not only in His person but also in His work, Christ fulfilled the ministry of a priest, offering gifts, sacrifices, and intercession. He acted as a true Mediator between God and man. According to the Epistle to the Hebrews, Christ fulfilled the five necessary requirements of the priesthood: (1) He was qualified for the office (Heb 1:3; 3:1-6 ); (2) He was appointed of God (Heb 5:1-10); (3) His priesthood was of a higher order than that of Aaron’s, as Christ’s priesthood superseded Aaron’s as Aaron’s had superseded the patriarchal system (Heb 5:6, 10; 7:1—8:6 ); (4) all functions of the priesthood were performed by Christ (Heb 7:23-28; 9:11-28 ; 10:5-18 ); (5) His priesthood is eternal, indicating His superiority and finality (Heb 7:25). A detailed discussion of His priesthood is planned for a later section.

The Office of King

One of the fundamental purposes of the incarnation was the fulfillment of the earthly purpose of God in the Davidic covenant. The Old Testament had predicted the coming of a King who would fulfill the promise of God to David (2 Sam 7:16; Pss 2 ; 45 ; 72 ; 110 ; Isa 9:6-7; Dan 7:13-14; Mic 5:2; Zech 9:8). When Christ came, He fulfilled the requirements of the prophesied King, though the full revelation of His work as King was reserved for His second coming.

The record in the New Testament is both historical and prophetic (Luke 1:31-33; John 1:49; 18:37 ; 19:12 ; 1 Cor 15:25; 1 Tim 6:15; Rev 1:5; 17:14 ; 19:16 ). The rejection of Christ as king by Israel (John 19:15) resulted in the postponement of the millennial kingdom, but it did not alter the certainty of complete fulfillment of His work as King, nor the fact that in His person He is the King of Israel.

Taken together, the three offices of Christ as Prophet, Priest, and King are the key to the purpose of the incarnation. His prophetic office was concerned with the revelation of the truth of God; the priestly office was related to His work as Savior and Mediator; His kingly office had in view His right to reign over Israel and over the entire earth. In Christ the supreme dignity of these offices is reached.

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This article was taken from the Theological Journal Library CD and posted with permission of Galaxie Software.

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¹ Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, II, 464.

God, by definition, can never fail in what He undertakes to accomplish. As we approach another season in which most Christians place special emphasis on the death and resurrection of Christ, the Bible verse that always springs first to my own mind is His great victory cry on the cross: "It is finished!" (John 19:30). 

Right at the beginning of His ministry, He told His mother: ". . . mine hour is not yet come" (John 2:4). Later He told His brothers: "My time is not yet full come" (John 7:8). Whether or not He told them what He had come to do, or when He would do it, the record does not say. 

Even before this, however, John the Baptist had introduced Him as "the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29), and this great purpose had guided His whole ministry. Finally, His hour did come, and He "became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (Philippians 2:8), bearing "our sins in His own body on the tree" (I Peter 2:24). 

There, during the awful three hours of supernatural darkness, the Father had to forsake Him (Matthew 27:46), because He had "made Him to be sin for 
us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" (II Corinthians 5:21). After enduring this unspeakable period of utter separation from God (which is the essence of hell itself), then He could finally shout "with a loud voice" (Luke 23:46), the great cry of triumph, "It is finished!" 

The divine approval and acceptance of His substitutionary offering was signaled once and for all by His bodily resurrection on the third day following His burial. 

Now, if Christ's wonderful work of paying for our forgiveness and salvation is finished, what is there left for us to do to implement it for ourselves personally? 

There is nothing left for us to do! "The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23). One does not receive a free gift by working for it, or by doing something more to be sure he gets it. 

He can refuse to accept it, of course, if he does not want it. But if he considers the proffered gift to be desirable, and truly wants to have it, he must simply accept it gratefully, thanking the one providing it. "In (Christ) we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace" (Ephesians 1:7). 

We are saved, of course, entirely by God's grace, plus nothing. We then, however, become "His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10). 

The Work of Creation

Long before the Lord Jesus undertook and then completed His heaven-sent work of redeeming lost sinners, He had completed another great work—that of creation. The first chapter of God's written record tells us about His sequential creating and making of all things in six days, climaxed by the creation of the first man and woman, all of whose descendants He would later have to redeem if He were truly to accomplish His great purpose in creating them. 

"Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had made" (Genesis 2:1,2). Once it was finished, of course, there was no more creating to be done. Just like salvation, with the price fully paid, the creation was complete, with all the work of creating and making fully done. Just as a redeemed sinner can never augment the payment for his redemption, neither can some imaginary creative process called evolution augment the completed creation. 

Furthermore, the completed creation was "very good" (Genesis 1:31), with nothing bad or unfair or hurtful—certainly no "struggle for existence" or "survival of the fittest," or any lack of anything needed by any of God's created beings or systems. In analogous fashion, our finished salvation is "so great salvation" (Hebrews 2:3) and "eternal redemption" (Hebrews 9:12), fully meeting our need for forgiveness and endless life with God. 

The creation is not "very good" at present, of course, for sin and death have entered the world and, therefore, Christ's work of redemption had to be undertaken. Nevertheless, the creation, like salvation and redemption, is eternal. 

Speaking of the stars and all the physical creation, the Bible says that "He commanded, and they were created. He hath also stablished them for ever and ever" (Psalm 148:5,6). There will, indeed, be drastic changes in the earth and heaven when sin and all its effects are purged out of it (II Peter 3:10), but then once again the creation will be very good, with "no more death," and "no more curse" as nothing can ever again enter it that "worketh abomination or maketh a lie" (Revelation 21:4;22:3;21:27). 

God is the Creator, not an "un-Creator," and His works of both creation and redemption are eternal. "Whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it" (Ecclesiastes 3:14). 

It is significant that, as far as creation is concerned, the most universal and certain law of science is the law of conservation of matter and energy. Energy can be changed in form (electrical energy to light energy, for example) and matter can be changed in state (solid to liquid, for example). Matter can even be changed into energy (e.g., nuclear fission) and energy into matter (thermonuclear fusion), but the totality of matter and energy can be neither augmented nor diminished. Energy (including matter) can be neither created not destroyed. 

At the end of the six days of creation, Christ the Creator (John 1:3,14) "rested from all His work which God created and made" (Genesis 2:3), and He is now "upholding all things by the word of His power" (Hebrews 1:3). His present work is one of conservation as He is resting from His finished work of creation, as far as the physical world is concerned. 

Our salvation is now also eternal and our life is everlasting because of Christ's finished work on the cross. After He died and rose again, He could say: "I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold I am alive for evermore" (Revelation 1:18). Therefore, He could also promise concerning those who have accepted His gift of salvation: "I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish. . . . I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live" (John 10:28; 11:25). 

The Finished Word of God

There is another very important finished work of God—vitally important, in fact, because it is this work that tells us about God's finished works of creation and redemption. I am referring, of course, to His work of revelation and inscripturation of that revelation in the written Word. This has given us all we need to know about His great purpose in creating and saving us for fellowship with Himself in the eternal ages to come. 

That wonderful Word of God was "forever . . . settled in heaven" (Psalm 119:89) before the world began. Then God "at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets" (Hebrews 1:1). He revealed some to Moses, some to David, some to Isaiah, and some to all the other human writers of the Old Testament. All these Old Testament Scriptures were "given by inspiration of God," or literally, "God-breathed" (II Timothy 3:16). 

Then, when Christ came, He promised His chosen apostles that the Holy Spirit would "teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you" (John 14:26), so that they could write the New Testament. 

Finally, when the last of the apostles, John, completed his final book, Revelation, the inspired record was finished. It was still settled forever in Heaven, but now also had been sent to Earth. 

This fact was firmly emphasized by Christ Himself in the final section of John's prophecy, "For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book. And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book" (Revelation 22:18,19). 

Thus the Book of God is completed, just as the creation of God was finished and the salvation of God was accomplished once and for all when Christ died and rose again. 

Therefore, there can be no such thing as origin of new kinds of plants or animals by evolution, no extra-Biblical "Scriptures" or "prophecies" that can be added to God's Word, and no works of any kind (other than the "work" of believing on Christ and accepting His gift of eternal life) that can produce or add to our redemption and salvation. 

The conclusion, as we contemplate the death and resurrection of Christ in these special days is: "That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord" (I Corinthians 1:31). 

* Dr. Morris is Founder and President Emeritus of ICR.

Cite this article: Henry M. Morris, Ph.D. 2000. The Finished Works of God. Acts & Facts. 29 (4).

• Whoever believes in me shall never thirst” (John 6:35).
• “Whoever believes in me . . . ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water’” (John 7:38).
• “Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live” (John 11:25).
• “Whoever believes in me will not remain in darkness” (John 12:46).

In other words, this is normal Christianity. This is what it means to be a Christian. Believing on Jesus is what unites you to him for eternal life. So when it says, Whoever believes in Jesus will do this or that, it is describing the normal Christian life.

That’s the first observation: the promise in verse 12 is not made to the apostles alone, but to all who believe.

All Believers Will Do His Work

The second observation is that Jesus promises all believers will do his works. It’s not yet a promise that we will do greater works, just Jesus’s works. Verse 12a: “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do.” Now we create problems for ourselves immediately by thinking of Jesus’ most amazing miracles. At this point in the Gospel of John

• Jesus has turned water into wine (John 2:1–11).
• He has read the mind of the woman of Samaria (John 4:18).
• He has healed the official’s son (John 4:46–54).
• He had healed the man crippled for 38 years (John 5:1–9).
• He had fed 5,000 people with five loaves and two fish (John 6:1–14).
• He had walked on water (John 6:19).
• He had healed a man born blind (John 9:1–7).

And he had raised Lazarus from the dead after four days in the grave (John 11:43–44). What did Jesus mean when he said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do.” Did Jesus mean that every Christian would do all these? Or that every Christian would do one or two of these? And if you don’t, you don’t believe?

That’s not likely in view of the fact that in the New Testament letters where miracles are mentioned they are a gift that some Christians have and not others. For example, in 1 Corinthians 12Paul says,

To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom . . . to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles . . . Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? (1 Corinthians 12:7–10, 29–30) 

Well, if Jesus doesn’t mean that all believers will do miracles like his, what does he mean when he says, “Whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do”? Let’s look closely at the connections here and then at a more distant parallel.

Works to Believe

First, the connection between verse 11 and 12. Verse 11: “Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.” So the word “believe” and “works” occur together in verse 11 just like they come together in verse 12. Jesus’ works are designed to help people believe. Right? “Believe on account of the works.” If my verbal testimony is leaving doubts in your mind about who I am, look at my works. Let the works join with my words and lead you to faith. That’s what verse 11 says.

Then verse 12 follows: “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do.” Now put verse 11 and 12 together and let the function of the works be the same in both verses. Verse 11: my works function to lead people to faith in me. Verse 12: when you believe in me, I will work in you (like a vine works in a branch, John 15:1–7), and your works, like mine, will lead people to faith.

So the connection between verses 11 and 12 goes like this: believe in me on account of my works — let my works lead you to faith (verse 11), because whoever believes in me (verse 12a), will also do works that lead people to believe in me.

Works That Point to Jesus

So whatever the specific works are that Jesus has in mind, what defines them here is that they are pointers to Jesus which help people believe in him. They are a witness along with Jesus words that lead people to faith. That’s what his works do, and he is saying, at least, that’s what all believers’ works do. “Whoever believes in me will do the works I do” — the works that point people to faith. If you are a believer in Jesus, that’s what your life is. Your works, your life is a display of the trustworthiness of Jesus.

“Your life is a display of the trustworthiness of Jesus.”

Here’s another support for this. If we search for the exact phrase in verse 12a, “the works that I do,” it occurs in one other place in John, namely John 10:25, “Jesus answered them, ‘I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me.’” So again the function of the “works” in John 10:25 is exactly the same as here in John 14:11–12. My works are the things I do that bear witness about me.

So at least we can say with confidence that in John 14:12a Jesus means that all believers will be marked by this: they will be so united to Jesus that they will carry on his work by his power and do the kinds of things that will “bear witness” about Jesus. They will point people to Jesus, and through Jesus to the Father.

In his prayer in John 17 Jesus prayed, “[Father,] I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.” His work was what he did to draw attention to the glory of his Father. In John 13:35 Jesus said, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” A life of love will draw attention to the truth of Christ and the reality of our own new life in him. And in Matthew 5:16 Jesus said, “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Christians are defined by works or life which flow from faith in Jesus and point to the glory of Jesus. 

So I conclude that, however many Christians God may give gifts of miracles and healing, all of them (and that is what the text is about, “whoever believes in me”) — all of them will do the works of Jesus in the sense that all his works of every kind testified to his truth and deity. And every Christian does these works — that is, lives this life. We are the aroma of Christ. We are the light of the world. We were dead. And we are alive, “created in Christ Jesus for good works — the works that Jesus did — which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). A life of words and deeds that help people believe in Jesus. That’s the first part of our text: verse 12a, “Whoever believes in me will do the works that I do.”

2. Doing Greater Works Than Jesus

The second part of this text (John 14:12b) is that, in some wonderful way, we will all do something greater than the works of Jesus. “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do because I am going to the Father.”

Again it is every believer, not just the apostles, not just pastors or elders or charismatics or evangelists. “Whoever believes in me . . . greater works than these will he do.” This is the mark of being a Christian, not being an apostle.

If you think “greater works” means “more miraculous” you will be hard put to exceed walking on water, feeding five thousand with five loaves and two fish, and raising the dead. I don’t know of any Christian who has ever lived — inside or outside the New Testament — who has ever done all three of those miracles, let alone something more miraculous. Let alone every Christian having done these miracles or something more miraculous.

And again, remember that the New Testament tells us not to expect it for all Christians. “Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues?” The answer, Paul expects, is No (1 Corinthians 12:29–30). Which means that when Jesus said, “Whoever believes in me . . . greater works than these will he do because I go to the Father,” he probably did not mean that every Christian was expected to do things more miraculous than Jesus — at least not more spectacularly miraculous. No apostle, no missionary, no Christian has ever done this.

Two Clues for Clarity

So what does he mean? There are many suggestions and I don’t claim to have the final or decisive word here. But here’s what I see. There are two clues that lead me. The first is the phrase at the end of verse 12, “because I am going to the Father.” “And greater works than these will [every believer] do, because I am going to the Father” (John 14:12). And the other clue is the text we looked at on Easter (John 20:21–23). Jesus said to his disciples after he was raised from the dead,

“As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” (John 20:21–23) 

So in John 14:12 Jesus is saying that his disciples will not only continue his works, but will do greater ones because he goes to the Father. And on the way to the Father, he goes to the cross and lays down his life for the sheep (John 10:15; 1:29), rises from the dead and ascends to God, from where he sends the Holy Spirit so the disciples can do the works they are called to do.

And in John 20:21–23 he is saying that his disciples are to continue his work by receiving the Holy Spirit and, in that power, imparting the forgiveness of sins in the name of Jesus — on the basis of Jesus death and resurrection.

Is there, in the connection between John 14:12 and John 20:21–23, a pointer to what Jesus means by the greater works they are all going to do? My suggestion is this: what’s new and greater is that never before in the history of the world had anyone ever been forgiven by faith in the alreadycrucified, already risen, alreadyreigning, already indwelling Christ.

All salvation up until now had been by anticipation, by promise of the coming Redeemer. But now — now that Jesus has gone to the Father, now that he had been crucified, buried, raised, exalted, and sent in the person of the Holy Spirit — the great purchase of forgiveness by substitution was finished once for all.

So I think Jesus would have said, “Even when I have forgiven sinners during my earthly life, I have forgiven them in anticipation of that. But you will forgive them in my name on the finished basisof that. The Spirit in you will be the Spirit of the crucified and risen Christ. The message you preach will be the message of not of a promised ransom but a paid ransom, a completepayment, a finished propitiation.”

Your Greater Works

What are the “greater works” that you will do — all of you? You will receive the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of the crucified and risen Christ. Before the resurrection of Jesus, nobody in the history of the world had ever done that, not even Jesus. And in the power of that absolutely new experience — the indwelling of the crucified and risen Christ — your works of love and your message of life in union with Christ, will point people to the glory of the risen Son of God, and you will be the instrument of their forgiveness on the basis of the finished work of Christ (John 20:23). This will be new. This will be greater than Jesus’s earthly miracles because this is what he came to accomplish by his death and resurrection.

Which leaves just a moment for the third part of the text. And I won’t begrudge the brevity because this truth turns up again in chapters John 15:7, 16and John 16:23–24.

The first part of our text was: all of us who believe in Jesus will carry on with his work. The second part was: we will all do something greater than the works of Jesus. And now the third part is . . .

3. Everything We Need, We Can Ask for and Receive

Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. (John 14:13–14) 

“You will have everything you need to do the works that Jesus does — even the greater works.”

As you seek to carry on my work in the world, and as you seek to let your light shine, and live in love, and offer forgiveness of sins in the name of the crucified and risen Christ, ask me for whatever you need and I will give it to you. “Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it.”

No condition as in John 15:7, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” No condition as in 1 John 5:14–15, “If we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.” No condition as in Mark 11:24, “Whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

Only one condition: “in my name.” Verse 13: “Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it.” Verse 14: “If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.” So, does Jesus mean we can ignore all those other conditions: abide in him, ask according to his will, believe his word? Or are all these included in the meaning Ask in my name?

That’s what I think Jesus would say. I give you the Holy Spirit. I give you the power of the crucified and risen Christ. And I now promise you that you can ask for anything in my name for this mission — for the glory of my Father.

“In my name!” That is, for my fame and not yours. Because of my divine worth and my infinite payment on the cross. And according to my sovereign wisdom. Put every request though that filter — my fame, my worth, my purchase, my wisdom. And every prayer will be answered. You will have everything you need to do the works that I do, and even the greater works.

prophet had a twofold function. They spoke forth the word of God as well as foretold the future. Jesus, in his prophetic ministry, fulfilled the role of a prophet. The New Testament says the following about the prophetic ministry of Jesus.

Jesus Spoke God's Words

The words of Jesus were prophetic - they spoke forth God's Word.

Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying (Matthew 5:2).

The crowds were amazed at His teaching.

Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes (Matthew 7:28,29).

Jesus testified to the power of His words.

It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. (John 6:63).

Jesus' words were like the sound of a trumpet.

I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet, saying, "Write in a book what you see, and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea" (Revelation 1:10,11)

The Extent Of His Prophetic Ministry

The prophetic ministry began when Jesus began His public ministry at the river Jordan when the Holy Spirit came upon him at his baptism. His prophetic ministry ended when he offered himself as a sacrifice for the sins of the world upon Calvary's cross.

And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. Then his fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and he healed them. Great multitudes followed him-from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan (Matthew 4:23-25).

Jesus Performed Miraculous Deeds

While not all of God's prophets performed miraculous deeds, many of them did. Jesus performed miracles as part of his prophetic ministry.

But I have a greater witness than John's; for the works which the Father has given me to finish-the very works that I do-bear witness of me, that the Father has sent me (John 5:36).

Jesus emphasized His miraculous deeds.

Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father's name, they bear witness of me (John 10:25).

Jesus said.

If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both me and my Father (John 15:24).

Peter said.

Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves also know (Acts 2:22).

He Was A Matchless Example

Jesus was a spokesman for God by His matchless example.

For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you (John 13:15).

Peter wrote.

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow his steps: "Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in his mouth"; who, when he was reviled, did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but committed himself to him who judges righteously (1 Peter 2:21-23).

He Was Silent When Necessary

Jesus not only spoke forth the Word of God, He was also silent when necessary.

Then Pilate said to him, "Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?" (Matthew 27:13,14).

Peter wrote.

Who, when he was reviled, did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but committed himself to him who judges righteously (1 Peter 2:23).

Jesus Sent The Holy Spirit

Jesus also fulfilled the role of a prophet by sending the Holy Spirit.

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you (John 14:26).

Jesus also said.

But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, he will testify of me (John 15:26).

Peter wrote.

Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when he testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow (1 Peter 1:10,11).

John wrote.

But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things (1 John 2:20).

John also wrote.

But the anointing which you have received from him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in him (1 John 2:27).

Peter said.

Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves also know- him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death (Acts 2:22,23).

The writer to the Hebrews stated.

He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, he has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation (Hebrews 9:26-28).

Summary

Jesus fulfilled the prophetic ministry in a number of ways. As a prophet He publicly spoke the words of God to the people. His prophetic ministry extended from the time of His baptism at the Jordan River until He died on Calvary's cross.

Unlike some prophets, Jesus also performed miraculous deeds. His words and His life give a matchless example to all. While Jesus was God's spokesman while He was here on the earth, there were times when He was remained silent. Today, the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus sent, carries on the prophetic ministry of Jesus.

Christ

Since His ascension, what is Jesus Christ busy doing? During this “present session” (as some theologians call it), what is the Messiah’s position, His present work in heaven and His present work on the earth? Which seven figures illustrate what Christ is doing in His Church today?

The present position of the Messiah is at the right hand of God the Father. This is in accordance with Old Testament prophecies (Psalms 80:17; 110:1), Jesus’ own predictions (Matthew 26:64; Luke 22:69), and as confirmed by New Testament writers (Acts 2:33-36; Romans 8:34; Ephesians 1:20-22; Hebrews 1:3, 13; 1 Peter 3:22). At His incarnation, the Son of God took on human nature and thus from that point in time until all eternity, the one Person of the Lord Jesus Christ has two natures: fully divine and fully human. The Messiah is the God-man whose position today is at the right hand of God the Father.

During the present session, what is the Messiah doing in heaven today? He is doing five things in heaven today:

1. He is exercising His authority (Matthew 28:18), controlling the universe in general as well as the affairs which come into a believer’s life (Ephesians 1:20-22; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 1:3-13; 1 Peter 3:22).

2. Jesus is preparing a place in heaven for His disciples (John 14:1-3).

3. Jesus is mediating between God the Father and believers (1 Timothy 2:5). Whereas Israel had a Levitical high priest as their mediator, believers today have the Lion of the Tribe of Judah who mediates for them.

4. Jesus Christ serves as an advocate as well as a comforter. Satan still has access to heaven today (cf. Revelation 12:10) and when a believer sins, Satan has grounds to accuse us. However, as Fruchtenbaum (2005:5) phrases it, the Messiah can counteract these accusations by saying “lay that sin upon my account; I have already paid for that sin when I died for that person on the cross”. Not only is Christ our advocate (cf. Hebrews 9:24; 1 John 2:1), He also comforts believers, giving us wise counsel and wisdom.

5. Another work that the Messiah does while He is in heaven is to intercede on behalf of believers. This work is necessary because of our weaknesses and our helplessness (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25). Christ meets with God the Father on a face-to-face basis on our behalf and for our benefit, pleading our cause. The objects or beneficiaries of His intercession are believers only (John 17:9, 20). Christ intercedes for us when we are tempted (Hebrews 4:14-16), to purify us and also help us not to sin (Hebrews 10:21-22).

What is Christ’s present work on earth? Note that while Jesus in his humanity is in heaven on the throne of God the Father, in His divinity the Son of God is omnipresent and can therefore do work on earth. During the present session, Christ is doing the following work on earth:

1. He heads up the Church on earth (Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18).

2. Christ is building His Church on earth (Mathew 16:18) and, when completed, He will remove the Church from the earth by quickly snatching his bride away.

3. Christ is present in His Church (Matthew 28:20; John 17:23, 26). Again, remember that since His incarnation, the Lord Jesus Christ is one Person with two natures: divine and human. In his divinity, the Lord Jesus Christ can be present in His Church because God is omnipresent.

4. Christ imparts eternal life to believers (John 1:4; 10:10; 11:25; 14:6; 1 John 5:12).

5. Christ indwells all believers on earth today (John 14:20; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 1:26-27; 1 John 3:24).

6. Christ is the source of strength for believers on earth today (Philippians 4:13).

7. Christ is the source of power for believers on earth today (Matthew 28:18-20).

8. Christ answers prayers of believers on earth; every answer to prayer is a work of the Messiah (John 14:14).

9. Christ helps believers on earth who have particular needs (Hebrews 2:18; 4:16).

10. Christ is the ground or basis of believers’ hope. Although believers on earth may suffer physical limitations or struggle in spiritual battles, we have the hope of glory, the hope of adoption and the hope of the redemption of our body. Christ Jesus is the basis, the foundation and the ground of this incomparable hope (Colossians 1:27; Romans 8:23).

11. Christ sends the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49; John 14:16-17, 26; 15:26; 16:7-15).

The New Testament portrays or illustrates the present work of the Head of the Church and his Body by using various figures. Later in the year we will discuss these figures in detail, but now we merely mention them briefly: The first figure is that of the Last Adam and the New Creation. The second figure is of the Head and the Body. Third is the Shepherd and the sheep, fourth is the Vine and the branches, fifth is the Chief Cornerstone and the stones of the building, sixth is the High Priest and the royal priesthood, and the seventh figure is of the Bridegroom and the Bride.

We at FaithEquip proclaim the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvellous light (1 Peter 2:9). Glory to the Lord Jesus Christ, great things He has done (in the past) and great things He will yet do (in the future). But we must add: Glory to the Lord Jesus Christ, great things He is doing today, not only in heaven but also on earth!

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