John 14:12–14
Bible verses · Also called: John 14:12-14, Greater works than these shall he do, Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, Greater works
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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.
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 any thing in my name, I will do it.
The text is the New Korean Revised Version (1998), shown under a licence from the Korean Bible Society. Wording may differ slightly from the Korean Revised Version and the Revised New Korean Standard Version. Read in the Korean Revised Version
The passage in which Jesus says that whoever believes in him will do the works he does and "greater works than these shall he do," and promises to do whatever is asked in his name. Discussion centers on what the "greater works" are and what it means to pray in Jesus' name.
Context
In the Farewell Discourse, Jesus says that whoever has seen him has seen the Father, and he tells his disciples that if they cannot believe that he is in the Father, they should believe him for the very works' sake (v. 11). In verse 12 he then says that believers will do greater works, giving as the reason "because I go unto my Father." This "going away" is closely tied to the sending of the Comforter, the Holy Spirit (14:16; 16:7).
Interpretation
- Greater in scale and scope: Many commentators understand the "greater works" not as miracles more astonishing than Jesus' individual miracles, but as the spread of the gospel throughout the world after the coming of the Holy Spirit, through which countless people receive life. Jesus' earthly ministry was confined to Palestine, whereas the ministry of the church reaches to the ends of the earth (Acts 2:41).
- A reading that includes miracles: Pentecostal and charismatic churches hold that "the works that I do" include healings and miracles, and so read the passage as a promise that believers can also perform such works through the power of the Holy Spirit.
- "In my name": A name signifies a person's character and authority. The common interpretation is that asking in Jesus' name is not a formula appended to the end of a prayer but asking in accordance with Jesus' will and authority. Interpreters often cite in support the purpose stated in verse 13, "that the Father may be glorified in the Son," together with 1 John 5:14, "if we ask any thing according to his will."
Controversies and Issues
Some ministers associated with the New Apostolic Reformation teach on the basis of this passage that in the last days the church will perform miracles greater than those of Jesus; mainline denominations and evangelicals criticize this as an interpretation taken out of context. Others caution that verse 14 should not be read as an unconditional guarantee that anything asked for will be granted. Conversely, some hold that the promise of answered prayer should not be weakened by hedging it with excessive conditions.
In the Korean Church
Most prayers in Korean Protestantism end with "I pray in the name of Jesus," and this passage, together with John 16:23–24, is frequently cited as the basis for the practice.
Related Passages
- John 16:7
- John 16:23–24
- 1 John 5:14–15
- Acts 1:8
See also 6
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