By Mike Caton

John 14:12, “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.”

Jesus gives us a test here, a mark that we can use to measure our commitment to him and ultimately to the Father. If you ask Americans if they believe in Jesus, no doubt the overwhelming majority would say yes. If you asked them what they believe about Jesus, you no doubt will get answers from all over the place, that is not my point here. I think most people would tell you they have a belief in Jesus, in one form or another. And believing in Jesus is a great thing.

But then Jesus throws a marker in there, a standard, a test of what that belief actually means, or should mean, in your life. Jesus says if you believe in him, you will do the works he has been doing. So, to put it bluntly, your life ought to be marked by the same things Jesus did while he was on this earth. And what did Jesus do? He loved people, he cared for them, he taught them, he healed them (we do not have the miraculous gift of healing, but we can do things that will help ease their suffering), Jesus resisted temptation and was without sin (and though we are not perfect we are told to strive for perfection, to be holy as God is holy), we can go on with this list. When we think about our faith, our belief, how much of what Jesus did are we doing?

And how will we do greater things than Jesus did? We cannot perform the miracles he did; heal the sick, multiply food, raise the dead and so forth. Maybe the thought of greater is not that our works will be bigger and better, but that since there are so many more of us than the one Jesus, we can do a larger number of things. Think about what would happen in this world if every follower of Jesus would rise up and do one Jesus thing today. What if every Christian took a hungry person a meal, spent time with someone who was lonely, gave to someone in need, was in church this Sunday morning and the list goes on. I know we cannot control every other person on this planet, but we can control ourselves. So, what if you and I decided to do those things?

Father, help me do your work. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Mike Caton is the preacher at Mount Olive Church of Christ in Belhaven. He volunteers at the Ponzer Fire Department and works part time with Hyde County EMS. If you would like to receive daily devotions in your inbox, email mikecaton@centurylink.net.

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