This is part 7 of a 10-part series. View the entire series here.
“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in Me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in My name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father.” – John 14:12-13 NLT
None Are Good, No Not One
In Psalm 14, David remarks, “But no, all have turned away; all have become corrupt. No one does good, not a single one!” (Psalm 14:3 NLT). The apostle Paul would go on to quote this same passage in Romans 3 when commenting on the state of all humanity.
Despite our desire to do good, every person has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. No matter the good works we have done, they can’t remove the evil we have brought into the world.
But the Gospel speaks light into this dark place, offering us a shimmering hope to enter back into God’s goodness.
Kindness Moves Hearts
If someone told you that you would do greater works than Jesus, would you believe them? What if that person was Jesus Himself? Picture the disciples leaning in close to hear Jesus speak so intimately to them––sharing weighty lessons and profound truths. Then, in the midst of the discussion, He looks you in the eye with a glint in His and says, “And everything I’ve done? You’ll do even greater works.”
Surely He misspoke. Greater works? We can’t even do good works, because none of us is good. But this is the hope of the Gospel––that those who were far off might be brought near through the blood of Jesus.
Growing in Goodness
Unlike the fruit of kindness, goodness isn’t associated with outward acts. Goodness is a state of the heart. It is to be made whole––free from the sway of sin––so that we may perfectly reflect Christ in our lives.
Goodness is to partake in the very nature of God. To know right from wrong, good from evil. It is to stand before the Judge and be called righteous. It is, in all ways, to be found wholly and completely within the security of Christ’s salvation.
And from this unbreakable bond, the believer––you and me––might do greater works than Jesus, carrying on His ministry of drawing in those who are far off. Goodness is not something we can achieve on our own; it must be given by the One who is good. And as we grow in goodness, greater works will follow.
