John 14 12

John 14:12 kjv

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.

John 14:12 nkjv

"Most assuredly, 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 My Father.

John 14:12 niv

Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

John 14:12 esv

"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.

John 14:12 nlt

"I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.

John 14 verses

John 14 12 Meaning

John 14:12 is a profound declaration by Jesus to His disciples, promising that those who believe in Him will perform the very works He has been doing, and even "greater works," because He is returning to the Father. This promise signifies an empowerment for believers to continue and expand the mission of God globally, not through their own strength, but by the Holy Spirit's enablement, made possible by Christ's glorification and ascension. The "greater works" refer primarily to the spiritual impact of the gospel's spread and the salvation of countless souls, extended through the collective body of believers across time and space, rather than individual miracles surpassing Jesus's unique divine acts.

John 14 12 Context

John chapter 14 begins with Jesus reassuring His troubled disciples in the Upper Room, comforting them about His imminent departure and preparing them for a future without His physical presence. He reveals that He is "the Way, the Truth, and the Life" to the Father and promises that they will see Him again. The disciples are struggling with His prophecies of departure, feeling confused and abandoned. Against this backdrop of anxiety, Jesus gives them promises of the Father's dwelling, His continued relationship with them, and the sending of the Holy Spirit. Verse 12 serves as a pivotal encouragement, shifting their focus from His physical absence to the glorious, Spirit-empowered mission they will undertake in His stead, providing divine authorization and enabling them to continue God's work on a global scale. This promise counters any despair over His departure, redefining their future role and empowering them beyond their current understanding.

John 14 12 Word analysis

• Truly, truly: (Greek: Amēn, amēn) - A doubled "Amen" signifies profound emphasis, absolute truth, and importance. Jesus frequently uses this phrase in John's Gospel to introduce weighty declarations. It demands the listener's utmost attention and underscores the divine authority of the statement.
• I say to you: A typical prophetic formula, establishing the divine origin and authoritative nature of the promise that follows.
• who believes in me: (Greek: ὁ πιστεύων εἰς ἐμέ, ho pisteuōn eis eme) - This highlights active, ongoing faith and trust in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, not just intellectual assent. It denotes a relational, committed faith that is the prerequisite for divine empowerment.
• the works that I do: (Greek: τὰ ἔργα ἃ ἐγὼ ποιῶ, ta erga ha egō poiō) - Refers to Jesus's entire ministry: His miracles (healing, casting out demons, raising the dead), His authoritative teaching, and His loving acts of compassion. These "works" are a manifestation of the Father working through Him (John 5:19-20).
• he will do also: (Greek: κἀκεῖνος ποιήσει, kakeinos poiēsei) - Emphasizes continuity and participation. Believers are not merely passive recipients but active agents, participating in Christ's ongoing work through His power. This is not about self-generated ability but Spirit-enabled participation.
• and greater works than these: (Greek: καὶ μείζονα τούτων, kai meizona toutōn) - "Greater" (μείζων, meizōn) refers to something larger in quantity, scope, extent, or spiritual significance. This does not mean believers will perform qualitatively more impressive miracles than Jesus, as He is uniquely God. Rather, it points to:
  • Scope: The worldwide propagation of the Gospel and the church's global mission after Pentecost.
  • Duration: The continuity of God's saving work throughout the Church Age.
  • Spiritual impact: The conversion and spiritual transformation of countless millions (Acts 2:41) through preaching, teaching, and witness, which is arguably a "greater" spiritual work than physical healings alone. It also encompasses the broader application of Christ's compassion and justice in society through the Church's collective action.
• because I go to the Father: (Greek: ὅτι ἐγὼ πρὸς τὸν Πατέρα πορεύομαι, hoti egō pros ton Patera poreuomai) - This is the essential enabling condition. Jesus's ascension to the Father results in His glorification (John 7:39), His intercession for believers, and, most crucially, the sending of the Holy Spirit (John 16:7). The Spirit empowers believers collectively to continue Christ's work with supernatural gifts and strength, enabling the expansion that constitutes "greater works." Without His departure, the Spirit's comprehensive work in the church would not be fully realized.

John 14 12 Bonus section

The "greater works" can also be understood as the expansion of the effects of Jesus's single saving work on the cross. While His resurrection, ascension, and finished work are non-repeatable, the fruit of that work — salvation, sanctification, and Spirit-empowered living — multiplies through the Church. Therefore, believers continue to demonstrate the living reality of the resurrected Christ through lives transformed by the Spirit, manifesting love, joy, peace, and extending compassion. This daily spiritual transformation and moral witness, collectively expressed through the worldwide church, stands as a continuing testimony to Christ's ongoing, "greater" work in the world. Furthermore, while the emphasis is on spiritual impact, physical signs and wonders, as recorded in Acts, did and still do accompany the proclamation of the Gospel, affirming the message and testifying to Christ's living power, also facilitated by His going to the Father and sending the Spirit.

John 14 12 Commentary

John 14:12 is a powerful declaration of Christ's faith in His followers and a promise of empowerment. It is not an invitation for competition with Jesus, but a mandate for collaboration in His redemptive mission. The "works" refer to the ongoing divine activity of God through human instruments. While Jesus's miracles demonstrated His divine nature, the "greater works" primarily emphasize the expansive spiritual reach of the gospel. When Jesus returned to the Father, He inaugurated a new era: His earthly ministry became the blueprint for a global, Spirit-empowered movement. The Church, His body, spread the message of salvation across the known world, impacting generations and transforming cultures, which qualitatively surpasses the limited geographic and temporal scope of Jesus's three-year earthly ministry, though not the intrinsic quality of His singular acts. The power for these "greater works" stems from Christ's glorification at the Father's right hand and the subsequent outpouring of the Holy Spirit, enabling millions to repent and believe. This verse is both a profound comfort and a clear commission, assuring believers that they are equipped and called to participate actively in God's saving plan, empowered by the very Spirit of Christ Himself.

Examples:

• The widespread conversion of souls globally, as seen after Pentecost in Acts (thousands converted at once, Acts 2:41; 4:4).
• The ongoing global outreach through missionary endeavors, bringing the gospel to distant nations long after Jesus's earthly departure.
• The collective impact of the Church over centuries in societal transformation, acts of charity, and advocacy for justice, all rooted in the Spirit's empowerment.