Last Sunday, we were comforted by the fact that our Savior loves us and that he is there for us each and every step of the way. We talked about how it isn’t our good works that saves us, but the faith that we have in Jesus Christ. We know Christ to be the only way. We know him to have paid the price that was owed for our sins. We know him to have died the once for all death that was required in order grant us our forgiveness. However, when we ended our time together last week, there was still one piece of information that wasn’t entirely cleared up. We mentioned briefly that it was unclear whether or not the disciples completely understood what Jesus was saying when he spoke of going to his Father’s house. We mentioned that Jesus had made numerous references to God being his Father and not just the Father, but we didn’t really know how deep the disciples understanding of this wording went. We can be sure from the beginning of our text today that at the very least, Philip didn’t get it. And most likely, he wasn’t alone in that regard. He asks for Jesus to show them the Father. He tells Jesus that if they were to simply see the Father, then they would understand what Jesus was talking about. Yeah, that’s it. They ONLY need to see God and then they’ll be all set, that’s all.
One of the great joys of my life is being the father to my three beautiful children (yeah I count the third one already). Through raising them, Amy and I have come to know a love that we honestly could not have imagined before they came around. If I do nothing else well in my life, I hope that I would at least be a good father. However, I have also come to know another emotion in a way that I could never have imagined before, and that is frustration. Sure, I have always gotten frustrated from time to time, but my children take my frustration to uncharted levels on a pretty regular basis. I have to believe that if Jesus was to ever be frustrated or exasperated with his disciples, the group he referred to as “little children” back 13:33, then it would have been at this moment right here. Jesus has been with them for three years now and has continuously told them of his identity. Yet, they are still asking to see God, even though God has been with them this whole time. Jesus has to go over the entire concept of his oneness with the Father one more time. He and the Father are one, to see him is to see the Father. He is in the Father and the Father is in him. The Father has given him the power to perform all of the miracles that have taken place. The Greek word “seimon” can be translated as either miracle or sign. Each of the miracles performed by Jesus are in fact signs that are pointing to his oneness with the Father. Jesus is saying, “Look, even if you don’t understand all of the words that I have spoken, then look at the works that I have done. There is no way that a man could do these works alone. These miracles, these signs, must have come from the Father. I have been able to work such works only because the Father and I are one, He is in me.”
What comes next is quite honestly one of the most puzzling statements that Jesus makes in all of Scripture. He says, “Truly, truly (which means that what he’s saying is important and without fail), 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. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” So, let me get this straight, not only are we to continue the works that Jesus has done, but our works are to be even greater than his? How is this even possible? I don’t think anyone sitting here today has ever healed someone just by the laying on of hands or fed 5,000+ people using only a few sardines and scraps of bread or raised a man from the dead simply by telling him to get up. It shakes us to the core when we read these words and I would imagine that they had an even more profound effect on the disciples. Remember, the disciples have just heard Jesus tell them that he is leaving them, and now he is saying that they are to do even greater works that what he has done. Lucky for the disciples and us too, I don’t think that Jesus said these words with an apples-to-apples comparison in mind. I don’t think that each of us individually is called to do greater works than the person of Jesus. After all, how could we? No, as I see this text, this is an introduction of the third member of the Trinity. We’ve heard Jesus speak of the Father and say that he is the Son. Now, he is telling them about the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, the Helper.
You see, Jesus was able to perform his works because he was endowed with the Holy Spirit. If you will recall, the Spirit descended upon Christ like a dove at the time of his baptism and caused the earth to shake in a mighty way. God worked through the Holy Spirit through Jesus to perform his miraculous signs. In Acts 2, at Pentecost, this same Holy Spirit descended upon the whole church, the entirety of believers in Jesus Christ. Acts 2:2 says, “And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house…and rested upon each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.” Ever since that point in time, the Holy Spirit has been working through the lives of believers (and even non-believers who have yet to come to the faith) to accomplish some amazing things for the kingdom of God. That is why Jesus said that greater works would be done because of his going to the Father. Instead of the Holy Spirit residing in him, the Holy Spirit would now reside in all believers.
When we look at what has been accomplished for the Christian faith since the time of Christ’s ascension, it is quite astounding all the good work that has been done by Christians. Sure there have been some black-eyes that have come about throughout history: the Crusades, religious persecution, and some unwarranted bigotry to name a few. Many detractors are quick to point those out, but they so often leave out the rest of the story. Slavery was abolished with the Church as the primary driving force behind this movement. Most universities, colleges, hospitals, orphanages, outreach organizations, relief agencies, and countless other non-profit organizations have come about with the Church as their backbone. They were founded upon Christian principles and their establishment and work has taken place through the work of the Holy Spirit.
Now, I need to take a moment, just a second, and clear something up. It is important that we do not take the phrase “whatever you ask in my name, this I will do” to mean that we can ask for anything and just add “in Jesus’ name” to the end of it and expect for it to be so. God is not a genie. When I was a high school teacher and baseball coach, I used to get tickled at the number of students who would have their eyes closed in the moments before they began a test. I laughed because I knew exactly what they were doing. I knew because I had done it during my time in school. You pray to God to pass this test. You say that if you pass this one then you will study harder the next time. However, it doesn’t work that way. God is not a genie. Christ’s promise here for all that we ask in his name to be done pertains to those things that are in accord with God’s will, which cause Him to be glorified. We need only look at v.15 as further evidence to support this interpretation. “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever.” You see, the will of God cannot be stopped. God’s will will be done no matter what. The Holy Spirit was given so that these great works could be done. So that the great works that we mentioned a moment ago could be accomplished.
However, the Holy Spirit was not just given so that we could do good works. He was given so that good works could be done to us as well. God the Father is the architect of our salvation; he is the designer of how we are saved. Jesus Christ the Son accomplished our salvation; he fulfilled the plan laid out by the Father. The Holy Spirit applies that salvation to us; he is the one who imparts the righteousness of Christ upon us. The death upon the cross, the price that was owed and paid by our Savior, the events of which we remember this day with our observance of the Lord’s Supper, all of those benefits are applied to us by the Holy Spirit. And his work does not stop there, because of Christ’s death, resurrection, and ascension, the Holy Spirit descends upon us. Because of this descending and resting upon us, we are able to do great things for God’s kingdom here on this earth. As we prepare our hearts to partake of these elements that represent the sacrifice of Christ, the body and blood of our Savior, I want you to think about something. I want you to ask yourself how you are allowing the Holy Spirit to use you and work through your life. I want you to think about how you see the Holy Spirit at work in the life of your church. God is at work all around us at all times, and when we are willing to let ourselves be diminished for His sake, then greater works hath no man ever done. Glory be to God; in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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