Why aren't Christians doing greater "works" than Jesus did?

Question

He himself said they would (John 14:12)?

Why aren't they raising the dead, turning water into wine, feeding multitudes from a very small amount of food, walking on water?

Yes, sarcasm is added in the above inquiry...

Answer 1

Mark 16:15

"Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
And these signs will follow those who believe: in My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."

You've got a point there dude, I don't see modern-day christians doing any of that stuff either.

One thing that tickles me from some of their arguments is the whole: "Jesus only meant that for the disciples", but then conveniently say: "Jesus meant that for the world", when its in their best interest to say so.
Same with the letters from Paul, when disproven, some say:
"Paul was referring to the churches at that time", when clearly the majority believe that what Paul had written to those churches, in that period of time, was meant for us.

So please, make up your minds. Is it then or now?

Answer 2

Because many have been taught that they cannot attain the same level of spiritual development as Jesus. And......let us remember that the miracles Jesus performed perhaps should be considered from a symbolic perspective, rather than a literal one.

Example: turning water into wine....... turning something with a bland flavor (or perspective) into something with depth and richness. Our lives can be bland and meaningless until we apply the truths that Jesus taught, and then our lives evolve into something deeper and more meaningful.

Answer 3

Because they are too busy putting the onus on Him -- WAITING for Him to come back and do it all AGAIN. Because they miss the point of their bible, which is to teach us HOW to do what HE did, but they are so busy quoting passages and interpreting them literally and not realizing that there is much history AND prophecy AND instruction written in there.

I might be a baptized Christian, but I AM working toward doing greater works than Jesus did. I do not intend to raise the dead, but I do practice the art of alchemy and I acknowledge that the mind is SO much more powerful than anyone can even begin to imagine . . . unless you are ALREADY a telepath . . . and I intend to allow my body, mind and spirit to evolve so that I can reach the same journey's end as Jesus, Buddha, Jehovah, Adonai, Diana, Krishna, Allah, and all of the others who got there by walking a path of mastery.

Answer 4

Because the "greater" refers to greater in number not in quality. When Jesus was here on earth He was confined to his human body. After He went back up to Heaven He sent the Holy Spirit to indwell believers and so the Spirit of Christ could work through many people and accomplish a greater quantity of works than He could as a man.

John 14:12 "Truly, truly, 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. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. 15 "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

Romans 8:9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

Answer 5

In a sense as the gospel is preached the dead are raised. Atheists see the light, come to God, go from enemies of God to children of God, and enjoy God for etenity rather than becoming toast

That is great. Yes? Perhaps someday you will see the error of you ways and have an epiphany like Saul of Tarsus and end up singing on the way to work

Answer 6

A Christian marched on the Washington monument and changed the course of American history... he said, "I had a dream" and tens of millions came to share this dream. Martin Luther King performed a miracle that day.

A supernatural miracle? Perhaps not.

But a miracle nonetheless. And it is this things such as this that Jesus welcomed and foretold.

Answer 7

Healings are done in Jesus' name all the time. The disciples also healed and cast out demons in His name. There are still disciples being made all over the world. It will never stop.
You ask these kinds of questions because you do not know the truth, and you cannot understand the truth because you do not seek it.

Answer 8

Jesus was talking about His 12 disciples in that passage. Today we just are not capable of doing such things as raising the dead, etc. We do do good works. Jesus greatest commandment to us was to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind." His second greatest commandment? "Love your neighbor as yourself."

Answer 9

I'd like to know why christians are spending all their money on building big fancy churches to impress themselves rather than using that money to minister to the needy, as jesus would have done?

Answer 10

Because many of them are agnostic. But to answer your question, the biggest miracle in life is life itself. The beauty of knowing the truth about life. Its ups and downs.