John 14:12

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.

Verily {G281}, verily {G281}, I say {G3004} unto you {G5213}, He that believeth {G4100} on {G1519} me {G1691}, the works {G2041} that {G3739} I {G1473} do {G4160} shall he do {G4160} also {G2548}; and {G2532} greater works than {G3187} these {G5130} shall he do {G4160}; because {G3754} I {G1473} go {G4198} unto {G4314} my {G3450} Father {G3962}.

Yes, indeed! I tell you that whoever trusts in me will also do the works I do! Indeed, he will do greater ones, because I am going to the Father.

Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I am doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

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 the Father.

Commentary

Commentary on John 14:12 (KJV)

In John 14:12, Jesus makes a profound and somewhat startling promise to His disciples just before His crucifixion. This verse is part of His Farewell Discourse, a period of intimate teaching and comfort given to His closest followers in the Upper Room.

Context

This powerful declaration comes amidst Jesus' efforts to comfort His disciples, who are distressed by His impending departure. He has just assured them of His unity with the Father and that seeing Him is seeing the Father (John 14:9). The "works" Jesus refers to in the preceding verses (John 14:10-11) are His miracles, teachings, and the overall demonstration of God's power and presence through Him. Now, He extends this capacity to those who believe, linking their future impact directly to His ascension.

Key Themes

  • Empowerment Through Faith: The promise hinges on "He that believeth on me." True faith in Jesus is the foundational condition for believers to participate in God's work.
  • Continuity of Ministry: Believers are called to continue the types of works Jesus performed—healing, teaching, proclaiming the truth, and demonstrating God's love. This emphasizes that the mission of Christ did not end with His earthly ministry but continues through His followers.
  • The Promise of "Greater Works": This is perhaps the most striking part of the verse. The "greater works" (Greek: meizona erga) do not imply that believers will perform miracles of a higher quality or power than Jesus' own divine acts (e.g., creation). Instead, it refers to the vastly expanded scope and impact of the Gospel message after Jesus' ascension. During His earthly ministry, Jesus' reach was geographically limited. However, after His departure and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, His disciples would spread the Gospel globally, leading to the conversion of multitudes and the establishment of the Church across nations. This spiritual harvest, encompassing millions of souls brought into the Kingdom, far surpasses the numerical scale of Jesus' direct ministry during His three years.
  • The Necessity of Christ's Ascension: The crucial phrase "because I go unto my Father" explains how these greater works become possible. Jesus' ascension to the Father is essential for the sending of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter (John 14:16-17). The Spirit empowers believers to fulfill the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) and perform these "greater works" by divine enablement.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Verily, verily" (Greek: Amēn, amēn): This double affirmative, often translated as "Truly, truly" or "Amen, Amen," is a characteristic opening in John's Gospel. It signifies that Jesus is about to utter a solemn, weighty, and absolutely certain truth that demands attention and belief.
  • "Works" (Greek: erga): This term broadly refers to deeds, actions, or accomplishments. In the context of Jesus' ministry, it encompasses His miracles, teachings, and the overall demonstration of God's character and power. When applied to believers, it includes both supernatural manifestations and the spiritual work of evangelism and discipleship.
  • "Greater" (Greek: meizona): This comparative adjective means "larger," "more extensive," or "more significant" in terms of quantity or impact, rather than inherent quality or power. It highlights the vast reach and influence of the Spirit-empowered Church.

Practical Application

This verse offers immense encouragement and a clear call to action for believers today.

  • Embrace Your Calling: Every believer is empowered by the Holy Spirit to participate in the ongoing mission of Christ. Our "works" might include sharing the Gospel, serving others, demonstrating God's love, or seeing lives transformed through prayer and witness.
  • Rely on the Holy Spirit: The "greater works" are not achieved through human strength or cleverness but through dependence on the Holy Spirit, who indwells believers since Christ's ascension. This calls for a constant reliance on divine power rather than self-effort.
  • Think Globally: The promise of "greater works" reminds us of the global scope of God's Kingdom. Believers are part of a movement that is reaching every corner of the earth with the good news of Jesus Christ, a task far beyond the personal reach of Jesus during His earthly ministry.
  • Live by Faith: The condition "He that believeth on me" underscores the vital role of faith. Our capacity to do God's work flows directly from our deep and abiding trust in Jesus Christ.

John 14:12 serves as a powerful reminder that Jesus has not left His followers helpless, but has equipped them with divine power to continue and expand His redemptive work on earth, leading to the glorious fulfillment of God's purposes.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Matthew 21:21

    Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this [which is done] to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.

  • Mark 16:17

    And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

  • Luke 10:17

    ¶ And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.

  • Luke 10:19

    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.

  • Acts 3:6

    Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

  • Acts 3:8

    And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

  • Acts 16:18

    And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.
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