12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that belicvcth on me, the works tluit I do shall he do also; and
greater works than these shall he o ; because I go unto iny Father.
13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it.
15 If ye love me keep my com- mandments.
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Com- forter, that he may abide with you forever ;
17 ^?;6« the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth liim not, neither knoweth him ; but ye know liim : for he dwelletn with"you, and shall be in you.
These verses are an example of our Lord's tender consideration for the weakness of His disciples. He saw them troubled and faint-hearted at the prospect of being left alone in the world. He cheers them by three promises, peculiarly suited to their circumstances. " A word spoken in season, how good is it ! "
We have first in this passage, a striking promise about the loorks that Christians may do. Our Lord
JOHN, CIIAP. XIV. gY
says, "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."
The full meaning of this promise is not to be sought in the miracles which the Apostles wrought after Christ left the world. Such a notion seems hardly borne out by facts. We read of no Apostle walking on the water, or raising a person four days dead, like Lazarus. What our Lord has in view seems to be the far greater number of conversions, the far wider spread of the Gospel, which would take place under the ministry of the Apostles, than under his own teaching. This was the case, we know from the Acts of the Apostles. We read of no sermon preached by Christ, under which three thousand were converted in one day, as they were on the day of Pentecost. In short, " greater works " mean more con- versions. There is no greater work possible than the conversion of a soul.
Let us admire the condescension of our Master in al- lowing to the ministry of His weak servants more suc- cess than to His own. Let us learn that His visible presence is not absolutely necessary to the progress of His kingdom. He can help forward His cause on earth quite as much by sitting at the right hand of the Father, and sending forth the Holy Ghost, as by walking to and fro in the world. Let us believe that there is nothing too hard or too great for believers to do, so long as their Lord intercedes for them in heaven. Let us work on in faith, and expect great things, though we feel weak and lonely, like the disciples. Our Lord is working with us and for us, though we cannot see Him. It was not so much the sword of Joshua that defeated Amalek, as the intercession of Moses on the hill. (Ex. xvii. 11.)
We have, secondly, in this passage, a striking prom- ise about tilings that Christians may get by prayer. Our