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.
John 14:12 · King James Version
Meaning
When Jesus spoke the words "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," he was emphasizing the power of belief and the potential for greatness that lies within each of his followers. By believing in Jesus and his teachings, individuals have the ability to perform the same miraculous works that he did during his time on earth. Furthermore, Jesus promises that those who believe in him will even go on to do greater works than he did. This is because Jesus was sent by God the Father to fulfill a specific mission, and by returning to the Father, he opens up the possibility for his followers to continue his work on a larger scale. This verse serves as a reminder of the incredible impact that faith in Jesus can have in empowering individuals to carry out God's work in the world.
Theological Overview
In this verse, Jesus is speaking to his disciples, promising them that those who believe in Him will do even greater works than He did. This statement may seem surprising, as Jesus performed incredible miracles during His time on earth. However, the theological interpretation of this verse suggests that Jesus is referring to the expansive reach of His followers' works. By going to the Father, Jesus would send the Holy Spirit to empower believers to continue His work on earth. Through this empowerment, believers would be able to spread the message of salvation far and wide, reaching more people than Jesus could during His earthly ministry. This verse emphasizes the importance of faith and the role of believers in continuing the miraculous works of Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit. It challenges Christians to step out in faith and allow God to work through them to perform even greater miracles for His glory.
John 14:12 in other translations
American Standard Version
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.
World English Bible
Most certainly I tell you, he who believes in me, the works that I do, he will do also; and he will do greater works than these, because I am going to my Father.
Douay-Rheims
Otherwise believe for the very works' sake. Amen, amen, I say to you, he that believeth in me, the works that I do, he also shall do: and greater than these shall he do.
Geneva Bible (1599)
Verely, verely I say vnto you, he that beleeueth in me, the workes that I doe, hee shall doe also, and greater then these shall he doe: for I goe vnto my Father.