Jesus promised that those who believe in him will do the works he did and even greater works than those (John 14:12).  Pentecostals seem fond of this verse, because it seems to suggest that Christians should be going about doing miracles of great power.  What this implies is that we must have great faith so as to do great miracles, and failure to do such miracles implies a lack of faith.  The NIV translation of 14:11 lends weight to this idea as in place of ‘works’ it reads ‘miracles’.  I am not convinced that this is what Jesus meant here.  The Gospel of John uses the word ‘works’ in various contexts, many of which have nothing to do with miracles or healing.

As translations do not translate words uniformly, I will highlight the point by underlining the words which mean ‘work’ and ‘works’, and also underline the verbs which mean ‘working’ or ‘worked’.  I hope that this will make the flow of John’s argument clearer than it is in some translations.  The translation I am using here is the New Revised Standard, because it seems more consistent in its use of work/works.  I will work my way through in chronological order and come to a conclusion at the end.

John 3:19 And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. 20 For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. 21 But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.”

The works which are in view here are actions which either good or evil.  Evil works are done in darkness, and those who do evil works do not want to come to Jesus who is the light.  Those who do good works are those who are happy to let the light of Jesus shine on their works.  They are happy to have the light expose that their works have been worked in God.  Works are not anything miraculous here.  They are simply actions: either actions approved by God or not approved by God.

John 4:34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his work. 35 Do you not say, ‘Four months more, then comes the harvest’? But I tell you, look around you, and see how the fields are ripe for harvesting. 36 The reaper is already receiving wages and is gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. 37 For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.”

Jesus came to complete the work of God.  In the context the work of God involves harvesting the crop for eternal life.  The work of God which Jesus was doing in Samaria was gathering in people so that the Father would have true worshippers who would worship him in Spirit and in Truth.  This work is not miraculous in the sense of spectacular, although it is supernatural.  God’s work is here about bringing people to know him, because this is his greatest desire.

John 5:16 Therefore the Jews started persecuting Jesus, because he was doing such things on the sabbath. 17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father is still working, and I also am working.” 18 For this reason the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because he was not only breaking the sabbath, but was also calling God his own Father, thereby making himself equal to God. 19 Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise. 20 The Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing; and he will show him greater works than these, so that you will be astonished.

Since the Father is the one who works creation (Gen 2:3),[1] the work which Jesus is still working is also about creation, in this case a new creation.  Jesus has just given the man at the pool healed legs so that he could stop spending his life waiting for a possible cure.  The work is here is therefore a work of new creation.  There are greater works of new creation which the Father will bring about.  These may or may not involve miraculous physical healing.

Interestingly, the Jews (that is Jewish leaders) did not perceive the miraculous healing as a work of God.  This is because, in their view, it violated the Sabbath.  We should, therefore, be careful not to assume that a miracle is in itself necessarily a work of God and a work of God is necessarily a miracle.  The Jewish leaders were prejudiced against Jesus because of their expectations of what God would or would not do.  It is possible to have incorrect expectations about the works of God, because we have preconceived ideas about what God “must” do.

The works of God are mentioned again in this chapter of John.  To put this within the context, a summary of what Jesus says in John 5 is in order.  Jesus gives life to whomever he wishes, and this is given to those who believe in him.  He is given authority to judge.  So that we may know this John the Baptist testifies of Jesus, and so does the Father.  “But I have a testimony greater than John’s. The works that the Father has given me to complete, the very works that I am doing, testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me” (John 5:36).  These works involve what he has just done, in healing the man at the pool.  At least one purpose of these works is that the people would see them and believe in Jesus so he would give them life.

John 6:25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26 Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.” 28 Then they said to him, “What must we do to perform the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” 30 So they said to him, “What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? 31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” 32 Then Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

This statement follows the feeding of the five thousand.  The people wanted to see Jesus do miracles and give them free bread.  Jesus exhorts them to work for food that does not perish, and then he tells them that he is that true bread from heaven.  Within this the people ask what they need to do to work the works of God.  Perhaps they had in mind doing something to get more food miraculously.  But the only work which Jesus tells them to do is to believe in him.  The result is that people ask him for sign and a work to prove who he is.  This seems rather outrageous given that Jesus has just fed 5000 people with a few loaves.  In the context of this passage works of God has a twofold meaning.  For the crowd, it implies something miraculous.  But from Jesus’ perspective it is about doing something in obedience to the revelation of God in Christ, that is, believing in Jesus.  Works of God are not always miraculous, but they do involve faith.  The goal of God’s work is to reveal his Son and to give people life.  Raw miracles do not always do this, and can sometimes produce the opposite result.  That is, raw miracles can produce a fleshly reliance on the spectacular instead of faith in Christ.

John 7:1 After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He did not wish to go about in Judea because the Jews were looking for an opportunity to kill him. 2 Now the Jewish festival of Booths was near. 3 So his brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea so that your disciples also may see the works you are doing; 4 for no one who wants to be widely known acts in secret. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.” 5 (For not even his brothers believed in him.) 6 Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify against it that its works are evil.

Jesus’ brothers seem to be mocking him here because they do not believe in him.  They tell him that he should go out publically to show off his works.  In this instance they mean miracles.  But Jesus turns the notion of works on its head as he tells them that he exposes the works of the world as evil.  The works of the world are not miracles, but evil actions which are down in opposition to God.  This suggests that the works of Jesus are done in obedience to God in contrast to the works of the world, which are done in disobedience.  The brothers thought only in terms of miracles and being seen, but Jesus thought of his works as something which must be done at the right time and only in obedience to his Father.  The works of God are never done for the sake of doing something showy and spectacular.  They are done in the will of God to honour the Father.

John 7:14 About the middle of the festival Jesus went up into the temple and began to teach. 15 The Jews were astonished at it, saying, “How does this man have such learning, when he has never been taught?” 16 Then Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine but his who sent me. 17 Anyone who resolves to do the will of God will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own. 18 Those who speak on their own seek their own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and there is nothing false in him. 19 “Did not Moses give you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why are you looking for an opportunity to kill me?” 20 The crowd answered, “You have a demon! Who is trying to kill you?” 21 Jesus answered them, “I performed one work, and all of you are astonished.

Although no healing is mentioned here, one is implied by the verses which follow.  The work here is a healing, but it comes within the context of Jesus teaching the people.  The teaching of Jesus comes from the Father and can be understood only by those who seek to do the will of God and those who seek his glory.  This, then, is the way to discern the works of God as well.  The work (healing) of God does not make sense for those who do not seek to do the will of God or give him glory.  Outside these parameters, the work of Jesus seems to be something which breaks the Law of God.  Therefore many people sought to kill Jesus, because of his teaching and his work.

John 8:39 They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing what Abraham did [the works of Abraham], 40 but now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. 41 You are indeed doing what your father does [the works of your father].” They said to him, “We are not illegitimate children; we have one father, God himself.”

Here Jesus is speaking to people who claimed to believe in him, but would not accept that they were slaves to sin.  They claimed to be children of Abraham, something which defined them as Jews.  However, Jesus replied that true children of Abraham would do the works of Abraham, that is, they would act like Abraham.  Since Abraham is known for his faith (Gen 15:6; Gal 3:6) and for being called a friend of God (2 Chron 20:7; Isa 41:8; James 2:23), those who claim to be his children must also trust God and then they can then be called friends of God.  But these people instead did the works of their actual father, and that father is the devil – “You are from your father the devil, and you choose to do your father’s desires” (8:44a).  The works of the devil are different to the works of God in that they are opposed to what God desires.  The works of God are in keeping with the desires of God.

John 9:1 As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. 4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

There are two different ways in which we might understand the works of God in this passage.  The first is simply that the works of God involve the miraculous healing of the blind man, and as such the works of God are healings and miracles.  This is what Jesus came to do.  He came to heal the sick and feed people miraculously and demonstrate that he is powerful in supernatural ways.  This is true, but it is not the whole story.  Jesus came to be the light of the world.  When he healed the blind man he showed in a concrete way that he is that light.  The work of God, then, involves revealing the person of the Father by being the light of the world.  Jesus predicted that the time for working would be short because “night is coming when no one can work”.  He was to be killed and during his passion the light of the world seemed to be put out and unable to display the works of God.

John 10:23 and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. 24 So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus answered, “I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me; 26 but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. 30 The Father and I are one.” 31 The Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus replied, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these are you going to stone me?” 33 The Jews answered, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you, but for blasphemy, because you, though only a human being, are making yourself God.” 34 Jesus answered, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, you are gods’? 35 If those to whom the word of God came were called ‘gods’– and the scripture cannot be annulled– 36 can you say that the one whom the Father has sanctified and sent into the world is blaspheming because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? 37 If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me. 38 But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” 39 Then they tried to arrest him again, but he escaped from their hands.

It is interesting that elsewhere in the Bible when “good works” are mentioned they do not refer to miracles but to deeds of righteousness.  As the NIV translates this phrase as “great miracles” it has presupposed that Jesus must be referring to miracles here.  Jesus does many miracles in the Gospels, but we might equally say that Jesus does many deeds of righteousness.  He says and does whatever his Father tells him to do and whatever brings glory to the Father.  It is significant that the works are always done in relation to the Father.  The works are done in the name of the Father (10:25).  They are good works from the Father (10:32).  Jesus does the works of his Father (10:37) and these works are done so that they might know that Jesus is in the Father and the Father in him (10:38).  While these works are in many instances miracles, the primary focus is not the supernatural or the spectacular, but the Father.  The works of Jesus are works of the Father, done in obedience to the Father, and which point people to the Father.

John 14:10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. 12 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 works which Jesus mentions here are those which verify that he is in the Father and the Father is in him.  These are firstly related to the words which Jesus speaks.  His words are from the Father, who does his works in Jesus.  What Jesus says must therefore be part of the works of the Father.  The works which verify Jesus seem to be miracles or at least to include miracles.

John 15:18 “If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own. Because you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world– therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘Servants are not greater than their master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also. 21 But they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not have sin. But now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 It was to fulfill the word that is written in their law, ‘They hated me without a cause.’

The works of Jesus, along with his words, are something which will stand in judgement against those who failed to believe in him.  This is because Jesus said and did what no one else did.  He revealed the Father, but they did not know the Father and they hated him.  The disciples will also be hated on the same basis.  This is because they will speak the words of Jesus (who spoke the words of the Father) and do the works which Jesus did (as Jesus did the Father’s works).  The words and the works of the disciples will reveal the Father to the world and the world will either repent and turn to the Father or it will reject the Father and reject the disciples.  Whatever Jesus, and his disciples, do will reveal the Father and stand against those who see and hear if they do not repent.  In this sense the works, like the words, has a dual function in the ministry of Jesus – to save or to condemn.

John 17:1 After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4 I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. 5 So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.

The defining feature of this work is that Jesus did it in accordance with the will of the Father.  It therefore brought glory to the Father.  While some of that work involved healing and miracles, the glory to the Father comes through the obedient carrying out of his will.

Conclusion

The key to understanding what John’s Gospel says about works is the relationship between the works and the Father.  When works are mentioned in regard to people (not Jesus) these do not refer to miracles but to deeds which are either good or evil.  If the works of people are done to please God then these are good.  When they are done in disobedience, they are evil.  What distinguished good and evil is the willingness to bring the deeds into the light, and that light is Jesus.  Faith in Jesus means faith in the Father, and this faith is the ultimate determiner of a person’s works.  Doing works without faith means that a person is not doing the works of God.

When it comes to the works that Jesus does, he does works which he has been given by the Father.  These works are very often miraculous in nature.  But it is not the miraculous nature of them that is central to the point.  What is central is that they are done in obedience to the Father because the Father has sent him to do them.  Jesus does and says nothing which the Father has not given him to do.  The whole ministry of Jesus is done with the express purpose of revealing the Father through his works, and therefore bringing glory to the Father.

Since the same word is used of both ordinary people and of Jesus – ergon (work) – it cannot mean miracle as such.  Much of the work which Jesus does is miraculous, but the word does not have to mean miracle.  The fact that the Father gave Jesus these works to do is far more important than the fact that they are miraculous works.

The reason that I have stressed this common usage of the word – it is used of both Jesus and other people – is that many Christians assume that only the miraculous is demonstration of God and that anything miraculous is demonstration of God.  I do not deny that Jesus did many miraculous things.  What I do deny is that raw miracles produce discipleship and godliness.  The Gospel of John shows quite clearly that the people who saw what Jesus did fell into three camps: those who saw and believed and followed Jesus; those who saw and hung about Jesus for the entertainment value and the free food; and those who saw and hated Jesus because he exposed their hypocrisy.

If Christians think that raw miracles are what is needed and indeed what must be desired and strived for, then the will of the Father becomes secondary.  Instead of producing disciples who are obedient to the Father and willing to lay down their lives in order to follow Jesus, raw miracles (or whatever substitute for the miraculous we might produce) may only produce crowds of people who want to hang around for the entertainment value and the free food.  In our society we crave bigger and better entertainment.  Miracles and healings can be seen in this light.  Spectacular things can excite us and deceive us into thinking that the Christian life is all about doing amazing and powerful things.  This can also result in people exaggerating claims of healings and miracles in order to be considered more important and authoritative.

In all of this seeking after the exciting and the spectacular, obedience and discipleship are lost.  Instead of focusing on the statement in John 14:12 as a proof that Christians must do miracles all the time, we should focus on the relationship between our works (deeds) and the Father.  That is to say we must act in faith towards our Heavenly Father.  He is not obligated to give Christians power to do the spectacular, although this sometimes happens.  We are people whose lives must first be lived in faithful obedience to the Father.  It is this obedience which Jesus demonstrated and which showed that he and the Father are one.  Because Jesus is one with the Father he did not do anything which he was not given by the Father to do.

If Christians only said and did what they were given by the Father to say and to do, there would be a radical transformation of our country.  People would see the relationship of love between us and our Father in heaven by our radical obedience.  This may or may not involve healings and miracles.  It must always involve a deep relationship of faith and one which seeks the will of God before our own wills and before our own comfort.  Our nation will be divided by this obedience to God in the same way that Jesus’ relationship to the Father divided the nation in his day.  People will either be drawn to Jesus or they will hate him as their evil deeds are exposed by our obedient deeds.  Either way the Father will be glorified, not by the spectacular, but by the people of God faithfully submitting to his will.