“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.  I will do whatever you as in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.”

What works did Jesus do?  He restored sight to the blind, and hearing to the deaf, and cast out demons, and raised the dead.  He set the captives free and proclaimed good news to the poor as he announced that the kingdom of God had drawn near.

And then he sent his followers out to do the same, not in their own power, but in the power of the Holy Spirit.  Not by their own authority, but by his authority.   He said to them, in Matthew 10:7 ff:  As you go, proclaim the good news, “The Kingdom of heaven has come near.  Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons.”

As he departed the earth, he told his followers – all of them, not some of them – all of them, including US – to go to all nations and make disciples.  But he also told them to “Teach them to obey all the things I have commanded you.”

What did he command?  “Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons.”

This was not just a word for them.  This is a word for us.  This is the work we are called to, the work we are sent out to do.  These are the “greater works” that we are to do.

It’s our part of making the kingdom visible and real.

We don’t do it for our benefit, but to show the world how much God loves them and how far God will go to show that love.  We don’t do it in our power, by our authority, but in the power of the Holy Spirit and by Jesus’ authority.

We believe what he said, and do what he asked, for his sake.

Blessings and Peace,

Pastor Deborah