ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
May 30, 2025
In John 14, right after the wonderful words where Jesus describes the many rooms in his father’s house, he says,
“Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the father.”
The preposition “ because” appears to be an important word in the passage as it directs us to the phrase that follows. The first half of the passage makes what some might determine to be a rather outrageous claim—that you and I will do the same works as Jesus. In fact, we will do even greater works than those works seen in the life of Jesus. I’m sure those words have brought many readers to an abrupt stop as they have for me on more than one occasion. I look at my life, and even though I try to do good things, my life falls far short of the life modeled in Jesus. Of course, like most passages of Scripture, these words are not directed toward an individual. The Greek words we translate as “ I tell you” (lego hymin) include the plural pronoun: you all. This is not going to be an individual effort, though it requires the effort of individuals. But like so often, Jesus is speaking to the community (the body) as the transformative power in the world. And when the author adds the prepositional phrase, “because I am going to the Father,” we find the link to our power in this great endeavor. Jesus returns to God, but sends the Spirit upon us fully empowered to create the Body of Christ known as the church.
Come again, Holy Spirit, and make us into the community that will help to reveal Jesus and his love to this world. Amen.
