Two truths from Jesus at the meal he ate before his crucifixion
By Dean Collins
Many Christians are thinking this week about the Last Supper Jesus celebrated with his disciples.
I wish I could have been there to see and hear everything that happened. The Gospel writers certainly did not record every word. I’m sure someone said, “Please pass the bread and the olive oil,” but we don’t know who or how often.
But the Gospel of John does give us Jesus’ farewell speech, filling five long chapters in the book. The first two chapters take place at dinner, and the rest seems to happen on the way to, and then in, the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus gave his disciples a lot of information. They probably didn’t understand what he said until much later. Probably fear and the beginning of a grief process kept them from comprehending all that Jesus was telling them. We may miss the significance of his words, too, reading these familiar passages haphazardly without embracing the amazing reality of the gift God gave us through him.
When I read the words of Jesus here, I see at least two takeaways I’ve sometimes missed, and maybe you have, too.
Do what I do
Here’s the first: Jesus said, “Whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do.” The challenge is as compelling as it is simple. You and I and every believer will do the works of Jesus. And thank God, some believers who came before us took this amazing truth to heart. If not, we wouldn’t be reading this today, and, more importantly, we wouldn’t know the love of our Savior!
The ministry of Jesus was filled with encouragement, love, generosity, compassion, mercy, and grace. And our spiritual ancestors throughout the history of the church did the same. Now it is our turn. We are called to do the works Jesus did. And while about a third of the world professes belief in Jesus, I suspect the number would be much greater if more of us did more of what Jesus did instead of just listening to sermons about what he did. And while I have repeatedly said we need to read our Bibles more, it is not more Bible reading or studying that Jesus told his disciples to do in his farewell speech. He called them to action, and much of the action had to do with loving others tangibly.
Do beyond what I do
Most of us would likely admit we could and should do more. I’m not trying to induce guilt by mentioning this, just reminding us of something most of us accept as true. But then Jesus said something that’s more difficult to grasp, and it’s the second takeaway in this passage: “Whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do.” Greater works than these?! This seems illogical if not impossible. How could we do anything in a greater or more expansive way than Jesus did in his ministry? The answer is also found in John 14. Jesus said he would send another Helper!
Here’s how it works: Our love for Jesus leads us to obey his commands, which can be summarized with “Love God and love everyone else the way he does.” Our belief and confidence in Jesus causes us to replicate his ministry with our time and talent. And the effectiveness of our ministry is that first, we have Jesus as teacher and example and second, he gave us the Holy Spirit as help. And then Jesus said he didn’t leave us as orphans; our Heavenly Father is still involved.
In us, through us, for us
If I understand this passage correctly, we are actually the fourth leg of the stool: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit involved in us, through us, and for us. If we believe that, then we can begin to imagine that our work actually can be greater than we ever dreamed possible!
Jesus in human form had all kinds of limitations. But the resurrected Jesus plus the gift of the Holy Spirit creates a whole new leverage of life-changing transformation. You know it’s true because this power has changed you. You and I have never seen the Jesus of the Gospels in the flesh, and yet Holy Spirit-filled believers shared his love with us, and we have changed and continue to be transformed by the life of Christ in us.
We have greater reach now than ever. Billions of people doing what Jesus did have worldwide and eternal impact. Whatever you used to think about what you have to offer can change today simply by embracing the truth of Jesus’ words he spoke just hours before he went to the cross.
As we consider this week the agony of what Jesus endured for us, let’s commit to offering not just our gratitude. Let’s take our love for Jesus to a whole new level this Easter as we awaken to the reality and power of the Holy Spirit living in us and enabling us to do greater things than we ever imagined!
Your time with God’s Word
John 14:12-31 ESV
Photo by Jametlene Reskp on Unsplash
