John 14:12 states a follower in Jesus can perform any of his works and do it even greater. Would you mind perhaps resurrecting a dead relative or walking on water?
Or was Jesus just kidding here?
2006-10-17 13:46:50 · 26 answers · asked by skeptic 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
They will tell you that you "took it out of context" yet when they quote a verse it isn't taken out of context....
2006-10-17 13:52:18 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Who is Jesus talking too? I think perhaps you read something into this, that isn't there.
Jesus is talking to the Apostles. He gave the apostles His powers. The apostles passed these powers too NOBODY.
Miracles ended with the last apostle.
Do you see miracles today? No. You see the power of prayer working. Prayer is given through Grace, NOT miracles.
John 14:12
Jn 14:12 Very truly I tell you, all who have faith in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
Verse 12. Greater works than these shall he do - So one apostle wrought miracles merely by his shadow, Acts v, 15; another by handkerchiefs carried from his body, Acts xix, 12; and all spake with various tongues. But the converting one sinner is a greater work than all these. Because I go to my Father - To send you the Holy Ghost.
Verse 15. If ye love me, keep my commandments - Immediately after faith he exhorts to love and good works.
Verse 16. And I will ask the Father - The 21st verse, ver. 21, shows the connection between this and the preceding verses. And he will give you another Comforter - The Greek word signifies also an advocate, instructer, or encourager. Another - For Christ himself was one. To remain with you for ever - With you, and your followers in faith, to the end of the world.
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2006-10-17 21:20:19 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The first century Christians did do miracles. The purpose of these miracles was to confirm the word until the New Testament was completed.
The New Testament has been completed and so miracles are no longer needed today.
1 Corinthians 13:8-10 says that miracles shall cease "when that which is perfect has come".
"Perfect" means complete. James 1:25 calls the word of God "the perfect law of liberty".
Since this word has already been confirmed, it does not need to be confirmed again.
2006-10-17 21:05:13 · answer #3 · answered by JoeBama 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
John 14:12 actually doesn't state that Jesus's followers can perform any of Jesus's works better than He did. It says:
"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."
This is a good question. Charles Ryrie, a noted Bible scholar says this about "greater works than these shall he do":
"Greater in extent (through the worldwide preaching of the gospel) and effect (the spiritual redemption and placing in the body of Christ multitudes of people since the day of Pentecost). These will be done through prayer in His name."
2006-10-17 20:59:19 · answer #4 · answered by Iamnotarobot (former believer) 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This passage says, "anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing." The truth is that the kind of faith Jesus is talking about here is not something that many people have experienced. For even the disciples, as you read the Gospel record, sometimes couldn't cast out demons in Jesus name and so forth. Jesus told them it was because of their lack of faith. Being saved and having this kind of faith are two different things. But a very good question!!
2006-10-17 20:54:35 · answer #5 · answered by whitehorse456 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's true!You need to understand that miricles are performable only according to the amount of faith the person asking has in Jesus to work through His followers on His behalf.Somehow I don't think you'd be willing to believe for a miricle.God does on occasion permit miricles for doubters when it might legitimately help the person to truely believe.Sadly most people would continue in disbelief even if His followers were permitted even the miricle of raising the dead.
2006-10-17 21:02:23 · answer #6 · answered by skilledmgr 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
For God the Father to answer a believer's prayer in the name of Jesus, It has to be something that would glorify His name.
God is always the center of a person's prayers. All of the miracles of Jesus were to bring glory to God and to convince people who He was.
Also, to perform such feats, you have to have faith that the prayer would be answered without the slightest doubt.
2006-10-17 21:07:53 · answer #7 · answered by paulsamuel33 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it is possible for true born again believers to preform miracles, so you ask, "Why haven't I seen any?" I would ask, "Are you looking?" and "Why are you looking?"
There are certain criteria for miracles to take place:
Most require intense prayer and fasting. Any run-of-the-mill Christian here in the US is never even going to go for this step. This is because of the second criteria they don't posses faith in God's abilities. Finally miracles are not to show off to unbelievers. When the Pharisees requested signs from Jesus what did he say? Mostly it was that they would not receive one. Occasionally he told them to watch for a certain sign and that was his Resurrection.
2006-10-17 20:59:37 · answer #8 · answered by Jasey B 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Why do so many questions start with the word "If". This is exactly the way Satan started each temptation of Christ in the wilderness. "If thou be the son of God... It also shows the true nature of the person asking the question. Christ did not give Satan any satisfaction by showing him a sign to prove his deity, and you should not expect God to prove himself to you by granting your request. He has already given sufficient evidence of his existence and his interventions in human existence. You have not believed so far. In the words of Christ:
Neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead Luke 16:31
Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe Luke 22:67
Even if God spoke the 10 commandments with fire and thunder from the mountain, you would not believe.
If God parted the Red Sea so that you could walk across on dry ground. Still you would not be convinced.
If God predicted the future with unerring accuracy and impressed upon men to write it down in a book, you would find fault with the men who wrote it.
If God came himself as a baby, and fulfilled hundreds of predictions from the OT with his birth, life, death and ressurrection, you would still doubt.
And if God performed a modern day miracle in response to your request, you would find some "logical" explanation to explain it away.
Get thee behind me, Satan
2006-10-17 20:57:39 · answer #9 · answered by 19jay63 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no he was not just kidding but the bible also talk about the measure of faith. I believe, once we get saved, all get the same measure of faith but it is up to us to grow and mature in faith.
the Bible says that faith comes by hearing hearing by the word of God. meaning that when we hear or read and understand the word our faith grows. the more we understand the more we have faith. faith to heal, walk on water, raise the dead but it is not for all to walk on water or to raise the dead. God gave each of us a different gift, anointing or call in our life. And we as Christians have to live and walk in what God gave us.
2006-10-17 20:54:05 · answer #10 · answered by delo 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jesus was talking about his preaching ministry. His preaching involved mostly Jewsh territory. But his disciples would take Jesus' message to non-jewish lands--to the most distant parts of the earth.
2006-10-17 21:10:35 · answer #11 · answered by LineDancer 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋