Weekly Sermon
THE FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
April 20, 2008 * Pastor Ed Foster
Scripture: Acts 7:55-60; Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16; 1 Peter 2:2-10; John 14:1-14
“Greater Works Than His?”
This is another one of those texts that is just jam-packed with good stuff. The first part, for instance, is great. “Do not let your hearts be troubled…” The word of God comes out of the blue to give us hope that even though Jesus isn’t here, the day will come when we will be a part of his mansion. It really is good stuff.
Then there is the line: “I am the way the truth and the life…” There aren’t 42 paths to Heaven. There isn’t another way to get to know God. Jesus is the way to salvation. It is in Jesus that we find the truth. It is in him that we find peace. It is Jesus and Jesus alone who can give us life. That is great stuff, isn’t it?
I am going to take another line for our time together today. “Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.” Greater works than Jesus does; that is a tough one, isn’t it?
Think about the things Jesus did. Jesus did all of those miracles; changing water into wine, calming the storms, healing people of terrible diseases, raising people from the dead.
Because Jesus has ascended to Heaven, he says that we will do even greater works than these. Oh really! That hardly seems possible, does it; greater works than healing; greater works than raising people from the dead?
Notice that Jesus doesn’t say that we might do greater works, or once in your life you will do a greater work, or if we all work together and try really hard we might do a great work. The grammar here is clear. Jesus is clear. We who have faith in him will be doing greater works than he did. Now that he has gone, through the Holy Spirit, we will do the works that he did and even greater works than his. We will do greater works than Jesus.
It just doesn’t seem possible, does it? What kind of great works can I do? Can I raise people from the dead? Can I gather great crowds of people to hear the gospel? Can I forgive anyone’s sins? Can I give them eternal life? Not a chance…what could Jesus mean, greater works than him?
Tony Compolo is a fairly famous Christian writer and speaker these days. He is famous enough that he spends much of his time now traveling around the country and the world speaking. He tells the story of attending some kind of a conference in Southeast Asia. On his way back to the hotel, he was stopped by a young woman, a girl really, maybe 13 or 14 years old. “Mister,” she said, “for 25 bucks I will stay with you all night long and do anything you want.” “Really,” he said, “anything I want?” “Yes, anything.” “What about your two friends over there? Will they come for $25 too?” She went and asked them and indeed, yes they would join them for $25 each. “Great,” he said, “I am in Room 327, meet me there in 20 minutes.”
Tony went to the main desk of the hotel and got all of the Disney movies that they had, and he went to the kitchen and had 3 gallons of ice cream sent up to his room. The girls came, and they watched movies, ate ice cream, and they giggled and laughed. They were little girls for a few hours until they all fell asleep.
What do you think? Were these greater works than Jesus? I bet Jesus would say so. Did he raise them from the dead? Maybe…he could not give them their innocence back, but he could give them one night of their childhood. He could give them a bit of comfort in a cold, hard world. He could give them a bit of hope that not all people were out to use them and throw them away. He could give them a bit of hope that there might be more to life. He gave them, for just those few hours, the love and care of God himself.
“You will do the works of Jesus and even greater works than these.” Let’s be very clear. Jesus is saying that the value of the works that you and I can and in faith will do, are greater even than the things he did. Feeding someone who is hungry is a real miracle. Comforting or supporting a friend who is grieving is as great as any good work that has ever been done on this earth. When you give hope and comfort, you are giving the gift of love and faith. It is God, through the Holy Spirit, who is loving them. In that hope, there may also be the faith that God is indeed caring for the loved one that they mourn. Bringing a smile to someone’s face; making their day a little brighter; helping them when they need a hand; letting them know they are important in truth, what things are bigger, more important, or greater than these?
Even a child can do them. In fact, who better than a child to share the gift of joy and wonder with us? They do the works of God, the works of Jesus, and even greater works than his.
Telling a child how proud you are of them; showing them that they can succeed in this world; that they are worthwhile and valuable; these are holy and Godly works; much greater than fancy tricks like turning water into wine.
A child who believes that they are valuable, capable, and loveable might also believe that they are a child of God. They can thrive. They can soar. They can live the eternal life that God has given them. This is a great work! It is greater, I contend and Jesus asserts, than raising someone from the dead, so that they can die again some day.
The ministry that God does through you in your daily life with the people God and places in your life, these are the great works. These are the things that really count. These are the ways that you share his love and his grace with those around you. These are the ways that you make his love real and live the good news of the Gospel.
These, my friends, are the greatest works of all. They are holy. They are precious. They are the work of God himself, saving the world through you.
Sometimes, I fear, we don’t really appreciate the works that we do and the works that the Holy Spirit does through us. It should not be so! You are doing the works of Jesus, greater works even. They are valuable. They make a difference. They are saving the world! Amen